By Jennie
Earlier this week, controversial televangelist Pat Robertson of “The 700 Club” caused a bit of a kerfuffle with his advice to a woman who’d written to the show asking how to trust her cheating husband again.
Presumably wearing his “pragmatic generalizer” hat and not his “someone who knows and believes in the Ten Commandments” hat, Robertson told the woman that her husband is “a man” (good to know!) and that married men have “a tendency to wander.”
Robertson put the onus on the betrayed wife by telling her to focus on making a home “so wonderful that he doesn’t want to wander.” I sure hope she doesn’t have a full-time job or kids or any other responsibilities that might get in the way of frantically trying to make her husband content every minute of the day!
He also told the wife to ask herself some basic questions, such as:
1) Does he provide a home for you to live in?
2) Does he provide food for you to eat?
3) Does he provide clothes for you to wear?
All of which can be summarized as, “Does he have a job?” – which, hopefully the answer is yes, because if not, he has a lot more time for adultery, and you’re going to have to step up your efforts even more in an attempt to keep him happy.
On the other hand, if he *does* have a job, that’s dangerous because he probably works around women and you know, married men have a tendency to wander.
Other questions Robertson raised:
4) Is he nice to the children?
Hopefully yes, but if not, that’s probably your fault too.
5) Is he handsome?
No uggos, please!
Now, to be fair, the woman did ask for advice, so in a way it makes sense that Robertson’s focus was not on condemning Mr. Wandering Eye but on figuring out what the wife can do. It’s still bad advice, and strangely not really rooted in religious belief, that I can see. How about marriage counseling through the lady’s pastor or church? How about telling her that her feelings are valid, that marriage is a covenant, one that her husband has broken? How about not making it seem like the husband cheated because the wife didn’t make the marital home (and presumably herself) attractive enough to keep him faithful?
Robertson’s advice is outdated, and so is he – perhaps it’s time for him to retire?
Jennie has contributed to Imperfect Women since its inception in 2009. She writes about politics, celebrity news, and anything else that catches her interest.
PUKE followed by more VOMIT.
Reading that made me feel like I was caught up in a time warp!
I will need to settle down before I can comment further,
🙁
LOL, Deb.
I felt basically the same way. Are we living in the 50s? I hadn’t heard about this but I don’t follow anything to do with Pat Robertson or The 700 Club.
Another good example of a man making excuses for me by blaming it their inability to control themselves! What a load of crap!
Seriously? That’s the biggest pile of steaming $hit I’ve read in a while. What a douche bag!
He does not know how to have a healthy relationship, his advice is just crap and I would never give him the time of day.
Can’t believe he said that and so sad to think people are looking up to him and following his advice when he is just a freaking idiot!
Wow. Beyond the fact that I love the word kerfluffle – I don’t really have anything important to add to this discussion. Just unbelievable.
Oye vay!
That’s all I can say!
Wow! What an idiot! I agree I think its time to either keep up with the times or retire.
You know there has been so much scandal in the evangelist sector. (Not recently but a couple come to mind.)
And boys will be boys.
Jennie, I wish you were the one counseling the woman, your advice is sound.
I really hope this poor woman isn’t relying on Robertson’s advice. Although if she is a follower/viewer of his, she would have to have some idea what he is about. Google “Stupid Pat Robertson Quotes” and you get about 220,000 results. Who can forget his statements after the Haiti earthquake?
.
Really, in my personal opinion, he is a terrible spokesperson for Christianity.
All I have to say is WOW… what a butt head.. That poor woman..
OMG, Patty- “Oy Vay!” was my thought too. Is this for real?
Wow. What a pig!
Glad I caught this story. I hadn’t heard anything about this. I am not shocked. Some things never change. My eyes are rolling in a big way.
I hope the next generation is counseling differently. If your marriage is based on survival, provisions are a good thing. Most hope for more than being housed, fed and clothed by someone who is nice to the kids.
I guess he didn’t tell her if he cheats again she might want to lock the door.
What Bible is he reading? He isn’t even addressing the adultery. I don’t understand how true Christians can look to him for leadership and let him continue in his so-called ministry.
Very disconcerting to hear this….the poor woman…I hope she reads her bible to weigh this bad advice against it. Marriage is hard but it takes both people to make it a happy home, not just the wife.
I can not watch Pat Robertson on the 700 Club! I knew he was controversial, but this is bad advice! It is not the women’s fault when a man cheats on her!!! After reading this, post I will never read or listen to Pat Robertson because he sounds like he is blaming the wife because her husband cheated.