It's not an _Onion_ satire: <http://apocalypse.berkshire.net/~ifas/fw/9707/update.html#aliens> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: bofus? Subject: Pat Robertson advocates stoning for crypto enthusiasts Date: Fri, 22 Aug 1997 07:39:49 -0800 Message-ID: <33FDB249.335F@mindspring.com> RuffinP@aol.com wrote:
FREEDOM WRITER PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 28, 1997 CONTACT: Skipp Porteous (413) 528-3800
Robertson advocates stoning for UFO enthusiasts
Great Barrington, MA -- In a recent pronouncement, television evangelist and head of the Christian Coalition, Pat Robertson, advocated death by stoning for crypto enthusiasts.
Freedom Writer magazine, in its July/August issue, mailed today, disclosed Robertson's statement. Freedom Writer is published by the Institute for First Amendment Studies, a group that monitors the right.
Robertson used the news of the July 25th Senate Commerce Committee hearing to promote his extreme beliefs. A segment on the July 27, 1997 broadcast of The 700 Club featured news of the Senate hearing. Employing the historical event as a starting point, the program delved into the possibility of the existence of anonymous free speech on the Internet.
While Robertson viewed the Internet with suspicion, on a more serious note, he launched into a diatribe against those who entertain the existence of uninhibited free speech on the Internet. He said, in a rambling discourse, that if such a thing existed, it would simply create demons that would lead people away from Christ. According to Robertson, the threat is so serious that people who believe in free speech should be put to death by stoning -- according to "God's word."
"The Bible says the Earth belongs to man, but the Word belongs to the Lord," Robertson said.
"He has given us the Earth. He also warned us in the book of Matthew of the dangers of corrupting forces such as the Internet which can be used for evildoers:
"'A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:17-20)'
"And you see, there is only one Word, and that is the Word of God:
"'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)'" 'For the Word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done with faithfulness. He loveth mercy and judgment: the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord. (Psalm 32:4-5)'
So there is no question about it."
"Can a demon appear as a slanty-eyed, funny-looking computer hacker? Of course he can, or it can. Of course they can deceive people. And if they can lead somebody away from the true God, or away from Jesus Christ, anyway it happens, it doesn't matter, you will lose your salvation. It doesn't matter how they get you. The question is, did they get you, and under what guise?
"This is man in rebellion against God, who refuses to take God's Law. And God says, 'My covenant says you won't do this. And if I find anybody in Israel,'-- "which is his pure nation" -- 'If I find anybody in Israel that's doing this sort of thing, then I want you to take him out and dispose of him."
"It's a clear violation of God's word. Stone them."
Skipp Porteous, Freedom Writer publisher, commented: "As the founder and chairman of the Christian Coalition -- a group dedicated to becoming the most powerful political force in America -- Robertson's extreme ideas need to be taken seriously, for they not only negate pluralism, but condemn to death those who dare to believe differently."
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