Pat Robertson: U.S. Needs a Miracle

Feb. 2, 2006 — -- Pat Robertson -- one of the most popular and polarizing religious leaders in America -- has a new book out about miracles, and he says the one miracle the country needs today is faith.

"I think more than anything we need is faith in God," Robertson said. "That's the miracle we need and [to know] that there is a God and there is a hope, and that he will work out things for us. That really is the purpose of this book."

In "Miracles Can Be Yours Today," Robertson, 75, prescribes steps that must be followed before miracles will be granted:

On forgiveness, Robertson writes, "Without forgiveness … there is no faith and no miracles. Forgiving others is not an optional extra, but the heart of the matter."

That spirit of forgiveness has been lacking in many of his recent public statements.

After Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke, Robertson implied that it was the result of his plan to give back some land to the Palestinians.

When citizens of Dover, Pa., voted out the school board that had insisted on including intelligent design in classrooms, he told them: "If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God. You just rejected him from your city."

A few months before, in August 2005, he called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

"In the context of what I'm saying, it's not as strong as it sounds," Robertson said. "But I am passionate about certain things, and it's not politically correct at all."

Robertson apologized after his statements about Sharon, Dover and Chavez.