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A preference for Pat
Tim Stafford's not-so-flattering portrayal of Pat Robertson ["Robertson R Us," Aug. 12] was provocative but omitted reference to the daily Newswatch program that precedes the 700 Club. Our family videotapes Newswatch every day for later viewing. However, we intentionally do not tape the latter portion of the 700 Club, due to our lack of theological affinity for some of the nuances Stafford addresses.

Newswatch is the only daily television newscast that we can trust. It's the reason we subscribed to cable tv. We would "rather" watch Pat than Dan, Tom, or Peter.

Doug and Linda Gwinn
Pasadena, Calif.

Tim Stafford wrote an excellent article on Pat Robertson, perhaps the best ever written on the religious broadcaster. As a former Robertson devotee, I was surprised at Robertson's concession that he doesn't expect a revival in America.

Will Robertson be remembered in 20 years? Yes, he will, but he won't be missed. Pat Robertson is one of the main reasons our organization monitors the Religious Right. He is also one of the many reasons I converted to Judaism.

After Christians tire of "end time" theology, I think there will be revival in righteousness, but it may come through Judaism and not Christianity.

Skipp Porteous
Institute for First Amendment Studies
Great Barrington, Mass.

* I loathed Pat Robertson. I saw nothing in him not crass, cheap, and self-centered. But your story changed my mind. I am crass, cheap, and self-centered. And I cannot claim to have evangelized millions. So thanks to you, I will try not to judge so quickly in the future. Thank you for a provoking article.

Gregory Yeager
Tacoma, Wash.

* Your profile of Pat Robertson was a gracious one. You seemed to grant that the political/social agenda he champions is compatible with biblical Christianity. In fact, Robertson's mix of nationalism, capitalism, and political ambition couched in biblical language has turned many people off to the gospel who would otherwise be receptive. There is no question that Robertson is one of the most influential American Christian figures of the late twentieth century, but much of that influence has been negative. Robertson is not us.

Jeff Hittenberger
Salinas, Calif.

I'm sure many would consider Tim Stafford's article on Pat Robertson to be a balanced report-perhaps it is in this P.C. world. When he says Pat is considered a nut in some quarters, I recall Noah building the ark and what happened to the jesters when the rains came. As to the "strange stuff"-many of us worship a supernatural God who can and does control hurricanes, heal the infirm, and speak to us when we take time out to listen. Experience is greater than knowledge.

Sally Wright
Columbus, Ga.

The article was well written and contained a fascinating look at Pat Robertson and at evangelicals as a whole. Stafford, however, made one statement that contained a significant error and indicated a surprising lapse of research. He states that "No one professionally involved with religion-no priest or minister-had ever been a serious candidate for the presidency."

President James A. Garfield was an ordained minister in the Churches of Christ and the Christian Churches. For many years prior to entering politics he served as the preacher of the Miles Avenue Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio. He also was instrumental in founding, and served as the first president, of Hiram College [originally called the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute], a school that held the original purpose of training young men for the ministry.

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October 7 1996, Vol. 40, No. 11