Pat Robertson has provoked much anger and ridicule by maintaining that the because of the events of about 200 years ago, the nation has been cursed with all kinds of troubles.

In these kinds of circumstances, it’s wise to separate fact from speculation. Robertson is correct in maintaining that the Haitian people were under that heel of the French. Like many other Caribbean nations, they were a colony. As the desire for independence grew, in 1791 a voodoo priest named Dutty Boukman mobilized some Haitians in the north to begin a revolt not unlike the revolt in the American colonies against the English. There were no eyewitness reports about the meeting, so the details are obscure. Some later accounts suggest that because the French oppressors were being rejected, the God they spoke of should be rejected as well. Therefore, those who took part in the revolution should turn to whatever deity or deities they embraced before the French came to the island. (Historically, many had roots in the animism of Africa because that was their original pace of origin.)

The rejection of the French and their faith on the part of some has been described as some kind of pact with the devil. At best, that overstates the case. At worst, it’s a massive fabrication.

Whenever a nation claims to follow the Christian faith but does not apply the principles of justice and kindness, it invites rejection of the faith it bears. It’s not surprising that the abuses of colonization caused a backlash against Christianity in many places in the new world. Where moral principles of the New Testament were applied with love and sacrifice, good resulted. Where greed and power ruled, Christianity was rejected. Hypocrisy always invites rejection of faith and does not require some kind of contract with Satan.

Secondly, there is no biblical precedent for some kind of agreement between a nation and Satan to shape the future of a people group. Yes, Satan is called “the prince of the power of the air.” He does have regulated influence in the world. The book of Job illustrates that Satan is on a tight leash by God. In Luke 10:19 Jesus gives his disciples power over this enemy. This isn’t the place for an extended look into all the Bible says of Satan, but the overall picture does not depict him as one who rules over nations. The concept of a “pact with the Devil” makes for interesting drama in movies and books (Anyone remember The Devil and Daniel Webster?)

Some will refer to a heavenly messenger who meets with Daniel to help him understand a vision in Daniel 10. He mentions that the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood him. (See Daniel 10:13.) Some have concluded that there are some kind of national malevolent spirits who may rule over nations. That conclusion reads too much into the text.

Satan’s malevolence touches all nations and all human hearts, seducing us from loyalty to God and enticing us to the same self-sufficiency and arrogance that Adam and Eve chose. Jesus described him as “a liar and the father of lies.” There is no biblical warrant, however, to conclude that entire nations are forever under the domination of Satan as Robertson suggests.

It must be added that there is a link between some of the brokenness in the Haitian culture and the common practice of voodoo. Historically, voodoo does not inspire its adherents to acts of mercy, love and kindness. It does not engender altruism, self-sacrifice, grace, or the elevation of the human condition. Like secular humanism, it lacks the moral foundation that biblical Christianity offers that can produce the best loving and nurturing environment possible.