Pat Robertson, a Baptist pastor, and avid politico, passed away at the age of 93 on Thursday, June 8, at his home in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
He was instrumental in mobilizing Christian conservatives into a potent coalition that helped Republicans win control of both chambers of Congress in 1994.
The Christian Broadcasting Network, which Robertson established in 1960, made the announcement of his passing.
As a Christian Politician
Robertson founded a university, a law school, and a widely-watched TV channel based on his Christian beliefs.
Born from a political family, he ran for president of the United States as a Republican in 1988. He left his position as a Baptist pastor in response to accusations that he was attempting to blend religion and state, as reported by The New York Times.
In spite of the setback, he continued to pursue politics and eventually founded the Christian Coalition, which helped fuel the conservative faith-based political comeback of the 1990s and beyond.
Robertson had the gentle demeanor of a pleasant neighborhood preacher, and he could pull it off in front of the pulpit, on the stump, or on the television camera. On the other hand, he often said things that were wildly off-base and potentially contentious, fueling the fires of his critics.
According to The New York Times, one of his claims was that the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001, were caused by the sins of its citizens. He reportedly said that the 2010 Haitian earthquake was divine punishment for a pact the Haitian people had made with the Devil in exchange for his assistance in achieving independence from France in 1804.
He said that liberal Protestants exemplified "the spirit of the Antichrist" and that feminism encouraged women to practice witchcraft. He specifically demanded the death of Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez. The storms, he added, had been prevented thanks to his prayers.
Early Life and Family
Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson was born to Absalom Willis Robertson and Gladys Churchill Robertson on March 22, 1930, in Lexington, Virginia. His father was a senator and representative from Virginia for 36 years.
According to The Guardian, he joined the 1st Marine Division as an assistant adjutant after graduating from Washington and Lee University and spending time in Korea. After graduating from Yale Law School, he decided not to practice law after failing the bar test.
In 1952, Robertson and his future wife, Adelia "Dede" Elmer, crossed paths at Yale. She was Catholic and working on her Master's in nursing, whereas he was a Southern Baptist. After dating for 18 months, they secretly tied the knot in front of a justice of the peace over the disapproval of their respective families.
Dede Robertson told the AP News in 1987 that Robertson was involved in politics before he discovered Christianity. He took her by surprise by dumping out their booze, tearing a nude picture off the wall, and proclaiming he had discovered the Lord.
