November 26, 2002

(AgapePress) - Pat Robertson is not backing down. He says all the politically correct language coming from the White House and major news media about Islam is leading to "needless confusion."

Pat Robertson has been making a lot of headlines over his recent comments about Islam being a violent religion. Secretary of State Colin Powell has responded angrily, calling such remarks "bigoted" and accusing Robertson and other evangelicals of generating hatred.

The president, as he has over the last year, continues to insist that Islam is a "religion of peace."

In an interview with The Washington Times, Robertson puts his reaction to the president's pro-Islam comments in very blunt terms. Bush, he says, "is not elected as chief theologian."

As for the media, Robertson says the public would be better served if news agencies would investigate the content of the Koran and its many passages that incite Muslims to kill non-believers.

As an example, Robertson points to the persecution Christians have been facing at the hands of Muslims in Sudan and Nigeria. He says that violence stems from Shariah, or Muslim law -- a clear indication that such behavior is tied to Islamic beliefs.

Read the Koran
Rob Schenck of the National Clergy Council was offended by Powell's comments targeted primarily at evangelical leaders. He says by taking issue with the comments of those leaders, Powell is being intellectually dishonest and denying reality.

"[Powell] is absolutely wrong on this one," he says. "Islam in this nation and around the world is a 'Trojan horse.' If you look at the basic elements of Islam, no matter how you interpret them they are in absolute conflict with the principles that form our American republic."

Like evangelist Pat Robertson, Schenck says only one conclusion can be drawn by reading and studying the Koran: Islam is anti-Jewish and anti-Christian -- and it leaves open the use of violence to convert or destroy those who are not Muslim.

One-Way Street
Although President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell have been quick to condemn Christians who criticize Islam, it appears they do not have a problem when the reverse occurs.

The leader of an American-Muslim group recently compared Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell to Osama bin Laden. But the White House has not condemned the Muslims' remarks even though Bush did condemn remarks made by some evangelical leaders who said Islam is not a religion of peace.

Joe Glover, president of the Virginia-based Family Policy Network, says the White House is sending a confusing message. "A lot of people that I've spoken to are scratching their heads and wondering when the born-again, evangelical nature of Bush's life really is going to come out," Glover says.

Glover's comments, reported by Family News In Focus, were made last week on a New York radio show.