Sistertech draws upon remarks made by the Rev. Pat Robertson (founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network) from the ABC’s Good Morning America website:
Enter the Rev. Pat Robertson, who always seems to have a ready answer for the unanswerable.
“You know … something happened a long time ago in Haiti. … They got together and swore a pact to the Devil,” Robertson said on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s “700 Club” Wednesday.
“They said, ‘We will serve you if you get us free from the French.’ True story.” That’s right: Robertson seems to suggest the Haitians brought the earthquake on themselves, in a deal with Satan.
“And so, the Devil said, ‘OK, it’s a deal.’ And they kicked the French out,” he went on. “You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after another.”
Sistertech knows that Robertson’s views are based in centuries of theological teaching. The history of this kind of theology is indisputable. This doesn’t mean, however, that it was ever sound or that we should continue to accept it now that it is clear that it is unsound. Sistertech thinks back to E. B. Tyler’s “doctrine of survivals”: we do still say “Gesundheit” or “God bless you” when someone sneezes. Why? Why still bring The One In Charge in to the mix? Because of this leftover superstition that evil spirits or worse were attacking or involved with the poor soul who was sneezing. There’s a survival of these superstitious views that are so lodged into society that various remnants of these behaviors persist.
Sistertech also knows that Robertson has never meant any harm to come to the Haitian people. It’s just that they’ve been cursed, that’s all, he says. It’s not as though Robertson is putting a curse on them or asking The One In Charge to harm them in some way. Quite the opposite. I’m sure The Inbox records show Robertson has sent many, many prayers for Haiti. I have an inkling that he’s probably done more for the people of Haiti than have the people excoriating him over his comments about Haiti.
The interesting thing, nay, the creepy thing, about his remarks is that I can’t help but recall clients who were sure their computers were “cursed”. I know that there are bad and evil people in the world. Some of them are hackers who spread damaging viruses all around the world. I don’t know whether lives have been lost because of a malicious worm–and who wouldn’t call one of those dastardly things a curse?–that some person without a sliver of goodwill in his or her heart inflicted upon the rest of the world. But our peace of mind suffered. Huge amounts of time was lost never to be regained. Businesses, families, and individuals have lost money.
Are certain software products cursed? Are all products by a certain computer maker cursed? I don’t think so. On the other hand, in Sistertech’s ministry we deal with the all too predictable consequences that happen sometimes when, you know, certain programs are used. I’m just sayin’…
