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Salvation for Sale
Gerard Thomas Straub, a former producer of the 700 Club, reveals exclusive, previously unpublished evidence that Pat Robertson believes he is in direct communication with God and that he has been personally appointed by the Almighty to be the chief usher at Jesus' imminent Second Coming.
Salvation for Sale takes us behind the scenes at the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). We get to know Robertson as the viewers never see as a power-hungry administrator who controls the lives of his employees "with an iron fist" even while his paternal, kindly television persona convinces the American public of his fairness and brotherly love. This book raises serious questions about the effects Robertson's beliefs could have on national and global affairs. How would a head of state conduct government affairs if he is convinced that he is Christ's anointed, with all the self-righteousness that phrase implies? As Straub says, "I'd be very concerned about a man sitting next to a button who believes Jesus is telling him to press that button."
Salvation for Sale takes us behind the scenes at the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). We get to know Robertson as the viewers never see as a power-hungry administrator who controls the lives of his employees "with an iron fist" even while his paternal, kindly television persona convinces the American public of his fairness and brotherly love. This book raises serious questions about the effects Robertson's beliefs could have on national and global affairs. How would a head of state conduct government affairs if he is convinced that he is Christ's anointed, with all the self-righteousness that phrase implies? As Straub says, "I'd be very concerned about a man sitting next to a button who believes Jesus is telling him to press that button."
369 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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September 3, 2013
This book written by a former employee of Pat Robertson who worked on the 700 Club might lose some credibility for some because the author was fired, but it really paints a horrible picture of what went on in television empire of Pat Robertson. Nowadays, no one takes Pat Robertson seriosuly, but when this was written, Robertson was running for president and had even won a primary. Straub describes a fanatic who believed that the country need to be reclaimed for Jesus even to the point of throwing atheists and gays in jail and esablishing a true theocracy. Even more disturbing, He was a warmonger who believed that Jesus' second coming could only be achieved through a nuclear war. It would have been a truly terrible thing had he been elected president- the world might not have survived.
Sraub tells the story of a deeply disfunctional working environmemt ruled tyranically by Pat, where no one dared disagree no matter how outrageous his views and statements, where employees spied on one another to report any "ungodly" behavior, which could be as simple as having a drink. Where women were undervalued and not allowed to have any kind of authority (a woman who was being beaten by her husband was told not to leave him and even told that she would lose her job if they divorced) The way Straub tells it, being fired was the best thing that could have happened to him, as he came to realize the hold the fanatical beliefs (he used the term "cult" ) had on him, his self esteem, and his life.
My only problem with the book is that its told in a very haphazard fashion, flasbacks and commentary and first hand accounts all kind of thrown together in random order. It had good info but was not very well written.
Three and a half stars, really
Sraub tells the story of a deeply disfunctional working environmemt ruled tyranically by Pat, where no one dared disagree no matter how outrageous his views and statements, where employees spied on one another to report any "ungodly" behavior, which could be as simple as having a drink. Where women were undervalued and not allowed to have any kind of authority (a woman who was being beaten by her husband was told not to leave him and even told that she would lose her job if they divorced) The way Straub tells it, being fired was the best thing that could have happened to him, as he came to realize the hold the fanatical beliefs (he used the term "cult" ) had on him, his self esteem, and his life.
My only problem with the book is that its told in a very haphazard fashion, flasbacks and commentary and first hand accounts all kind of thrown together in random order. It had good info but was not very well written.
Three and a half stars, really
Displaying 1 of 1 review