Reverend Pat Robertson spoke openly about the political party divide, the United States’ involvement in Iraq and the Islamic religion Tuesday during a videoconference.

Robertson, a televangelist and political activist, told C-SPAN 3 and students at George Mason University, Pace University and the University of Denver that because there is so much turmoil and dissension in the executive branches of American government, nothing can or will be resolved.

“ The nation will be torn apart if these houses stay divided,” Robertson said.

Among the topics that are dividing the nation are prayer in school, separation of church and state and the Iraq War.  Robertson supports prayer in public schools saying it is a long standing tradition where children used the Bible to learn to read, after Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation.

“Education of the young was a religion exercise,” he said.  “But we do have to draw a line somewhere. We must never establish a national church and a paid staff of clergy.”

Although Robertson supports freedoms and the First Amendment, he disagrees with the separation of church and state.  Robertson said this notion was created over years and years of court cases discussing the topic.

“It does not appear anywhere in the Constitution,” said Robertson.

Robertson said he is morally and ethically opposed to war, saying it is a terrible thing.  But despite how much he said he hates war, he said he felt obligated to support the troops overseas because they are helping those who are suffering.

“Righteous people must stand up against dictators,” Robertson said, “otherwise, evil will reign.”

Throughout his career, Robertson has been known to defend Christianity while abusing different religions due to their different ethics and beliefs.  Robertson had similar sentiments to the Islamic religion.  He said the Islamic religion wages continuous war until everything is within the realm of Islam, or submission.  

George Mason University is very diverse campus; many students are of the Muslim or Islamic religion. Two Islamic students attended the conferences and were offended by Robertson’s remarks.

Duha El-quesny said: “I don’t know where he got his information from. His view of Islam is so skewed.”