Classical Values :: It is not for us to understand why?

It is not for us to understand why?

Pat Robertson has managed to grab yet another headline for yet another odd pronouncement. This time, God, he claims, has told him that America will be "lashed" by storms:

Robertson said the revelations about this year's weather came to him during his annual personal prayer retreat in January.

"If I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms," Robertson said May 8. On Wednesday, he added, "There well may be something as bad as a tsunami in the Pacific Northwest."

Instead of braying that Robertson is a kook, let's look at this logically.

In logic, Robertson simply says that God said something. Robertson is either lying or he is not. If he is lying, then the statement is utterly without merit.

If, however, Robertson is telling the truth (or believes he is), that might mean any of the following:

God did tell him that the American coasts will be "lashed";

God said nothing, but Robertson only thinks (or imagines) that God said something;

God said something, but Robertson misinterpreted what God said.

What is sorely missing from the media accounts is the reason. Why did God decide to do this? That is why I am intrigued by the word "lashed" -- as lashing implies punishment. And if God decided to punish the United States (more particularly Seattle) and communicated that decision only to Pat Robertson, did he supply a reason or did he not? If he did, is the reason being edited out?

Will we ever know?

(One of the problems with logic is that it will only get you so far.)

Comments

Oh yeah? Well God told me that I could expect either partially cloudy skies with a 30% chance of rain, or the sudden violent death of all my enemies. Take that Robertson!

Beck · May 18, 2006 03:24 PM

John, I know you and I do not know Pat Robertson. Therefore, your assertion will not be treated to the same logical analysis.

I am 100% convinced -- to a moral certainty -- that God did not actually speak with you.

That means that you must be either lying, insane, or in an altered state of mind. Or all three!

Nothing personal.

(As it happens, insane and inebriated liars are usually the best truth tellers. )

Eric Scheie · May 18, 2006 04:42 PM

Meanwhile on the northeast coast of the U. S. there's been persistent rain. Is there a deeper meaning? Or did a whole bunch of people wash their cars?

Alan Kellogg · May 19, 2006 12:05 AM

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