Robertson: God is smiting Sharon

"Christian" nutbar Pat Robertson (who advocated assassinating Venezuelan socialist president Hugo Chavez) said that Sharon's stroke was more related to God's displeasure of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, and less related to being old and obese and having hypertension. Observe:

US evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson suggested Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine retribution for "dividing God's land" of Israel, igniting his latest trademark controversy.

As the Israeli prime minister battled for life, Robertson seemed to suggest to viewers on his "700 Club" television show that Sharon was being punished for his policies in Gaza and the West Bank.

"The prophet Joel makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who, quote, 'divide my land.' God considers this land to be his.

"You read the Bible, he says, 'This is my land.' And for any prime minister of Israel who decides he's going carve it up and give it away, God says, 'No. This is mine.'"

If I'm understanding the reverend correctly, he maintains that Gaza was part of "God's Land", and that Sharon ceding the land just pissed of the Creator to the point of blowing up Sharon's brain vessels.

Before someone blasts me for being anti-Christian, you need to understand that (a) I believe in God as described in the Bible, (b) I believe the Bible is the Word of God, and (c) I feel that Christians should feel free to rebuke their own when the need arises. This is such a need, IMHO.

I'm not debating whether or not it was wise for Sharon to cede Gaza. There are valid and reasonable points to be made on both sides of that debate, though for the record, I didn't think it was a wise move. However, you'll have to forgive me for being just a tad bit skeptical that God leveled Sharon's noggin as retribution for giving up Gaza. The Anti-Defamation League said it best:

"His remarks are un-Christian and a perversion of religion. We would hope that good Christian leaders would distance themselves from Pat Robertson's remarks," the ADL said in a statement.

"It is pure arrogance for Robertson to suggest that he has divine knowledge of God's intent and purpose based on his interpretation of scripture."

I wonder how Robertson feels that he shares similar (albeit for different reasons) sentiments of Iran's mad mullah-in-charge, Ahmadinejad?