Robertson claimed “evolutionists worship atheism,” evolutionary theory a “cultish religion”

Written by Sam Gill

Published

On CBN's The 700 Club, host Pat Robertson claimed that “the evolutionists worship atheism” and that because “evolution becomes their religion” it is “an establishment of religion contrary to the First Amendment.” Robertson went on to suggest that evolution advocates were “fanatics,” stating further, “it is a religion, it is a cult. It is cultish religion.”

On the December 15 edition of Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club, host and Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson claimed that “the evolutionists worship atheism” and that because “evolution becomes their religion,” it is “an establishment of religion contrary to the First Amendment.” Robertson was reacting to a ruling by a federal judge that it was unconstitutional for Cobb County, Georgia, to require the placement of stickers in biology textbooks, reading:

This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.

That decision is currently under review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. The suit that led to the decision was initiated by a group of parents -- in conjunction with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) -- who argued that the sticker constitutes an endorsement of religion in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Robertson went on to suggest that evolution advocates are “fanatics,” stating further, “it is a religion, it is a cult. It is cultish religion.”

From the December 15 broadcast of Christian Broadcasting Network's The 700 Club:

ROBERTSON: You know, what we have got to recognize just there in this case is that the evolutionists worship atheism. I mean, that's their religion. And evolution becomes their religion. It is a matter of religion. So this is an establishment of religion contrary to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. And the fact that somebody comes along and says, “We are not sure that it's accurate, it's a theory and not a fact” -- how can you say it's a fact? You are talking about 10 to 15 billion years ago. Who was there?

TERRY MEEUWSEN (co-host): Scientifically, you would think that the scientific community would rise to the occasion and say, “Absolutely, let's keep an open mind. Let's continue to discover and search.”

ROBERTSON: Yeah, well, a lot of scientists are. More and more are. They are saying there are just too many things that can't be explained by evolution. But, I mean, these fanatics, I mean, it is a religion, it is a cult. It is cultish religion, and whenever you start talking about the origins of life, you now get into religious matter, and theirs is just as much religion. The only difference is that even questioning, questioning that -- the ACLU says even if you question our religion, you are guilty of violating the First Amendment. I mean, give me a break.