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Robertson made his remarks while being interviewed by Fox News Sean Hannity at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, La., on May 30. Hannity raised the topic of Robertson being suspended from Duck Dynasty by A&E Network officials, an action that sparked a nationwide debate over free speech and religious liberty. The backlash over the suspension forced A&E to reverse it decision after 10 days in late December. Hannity asked Robertson, When the controversy arose were you surprised?
Robertson said, Surprised, not at all. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you, when they insult you and reject your name as evil, Jesus said, because of the Son of Man. Leap for joy because great is your reward in Heaven. It goes with the territory, spiritual warfare. There is a Satan out there, an evil one, and if anyone that looks at our culture doesn't believe it, I would simply say, what, are you blind? It's pretty rough out there.
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From left, Phil Robertson, Jase Robertson, Si Robertson and Willie Robertson from the A&E series, "Duck Dynasty."
Hannity then raised the issue of speaking about political or social issues in a spiritual way in the public square. See, when you use these spiritual terms some people get, oh, you can't say that, he said. Robertson answered, We took the Ten Commandments now, were removing them from the courthouses and we're getting them out of our psyche. We took God out of our schools. He then argued that if the Ten Commandments were taught and promoted, particularly to young people, it would improve America.
Well, if you started with young people, said Robertson, and you taught them, you rebuked them, you corrected them, you trained them, you instructed them to obey their father and mother, honor their father and mother, don't murder, don't lie, don't steal from a young age -- is anyone trying to tell me that we wouldn't have a better society? I mean, it's nuts.
Robertson was also asked in the interview, What in your mind, is sinful? and he said, Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men. Robertson then paraphrased Corinthians (I,6:9-10), Dont be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlersthey wont inherit the kingdom of God. Dont deceive yourself. Its not right.
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The Ten Commandments on a public monument in Austin, Texas.
When those comments surfaced in other media, gay activists complained to A&E, as did many liberal commentators, and the network suspended Robertson on Dec. 18. The suspension was ended on Dec. 27 after a national outcry in defense of Robertson. Duck Dynasty is the most popular reality-TV program in cable history with an average 12 million viewers per episode. Robertson, who has admitted that he had a serious drinking problem in his 20s and had lived a sinful life as he saw it, turned himself around about 35 years ago. He is a member of the Whites Ferry Road Church of Christ. Robertson frequently speaks about Christianity and he is a strong opponent of abortion.
Duck Dynasty?s Phil Robertson: ?There is a Satan Out There, an Evil One? | CNS News