Posted on 08/16/2008 11:59:35 AM PDT by XR7
LAKE FOREST, Calif. When John McCain and Barack Obama appear on the same stage today, they will vividly demonstrate the reach that has made the Rev. Rick Warren among the most significant evangelists of his generation.
He's a megastar who leads the nation's fourth-largest church and reaches thousands of ministers through the Internet and crusades against poverty and AIDS. That globe-trotting work and his successful book "The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?" puts him at the vanguard of a movement that inspires young, socially conscious Christians.
But his willingness to soft-pedal political issues once central to U.S. evangelicals, such as opposition to abortion, has opened him to criticism that he has strayed from his calling to spread the Gospel.
Today's forum also is a sign of religion's importance in the 2008 presidential campaign, and the emergence of a new style of evangelical leadership on the national stage that is not tied to a single party and has broadened its social agenda beyond that of the religious right.
"This is absolutely a changing of the guard, and it suggests that the new guard of the evangelical movement is able to generate the attention and focus of both parties," said D. Michael Lindsay, a sociologist at Rice University and author of "Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite."
Warren personally invited the two candidates "friends of mine" via their cellphones. His event at the Saddleback Church will be broadcast live on CNN and Fox News Channel and streamed on the Web. It has among its aims "helping the church regain credibility and encouraging our society to return to civility," he said.
It's likely that fans and critics will be watching closely...
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
There is a massive difference between voluntarily giving of yourself to help out folks down on their luck or trying to get a leg up in this world and forcing people to do so.
The former is what is morally right; the latter is morally wrong, and it is what lords, kings, and rulers like Obama and McCain want us to do, all the while using our money to buy votes to prop their power up, and of course, justifying their actions through pretty words like "justice" and guilt tripping citizens and taxpayers by talking about "God's children."
Musical group is on their website now singing about ragdolls and puppies and calling it Gospel music.
Sorry all....won’t be able to stomach Warren’s little soapbox afterall.
He’s not going to hold their feet to the fire.
____________________________________
No probably not..
But I will be ODed on popcorn ..
And have quite a nice sugar buzz from REAL Coke
(Coca Cola, that is)
And if it is longer than I can stay awake...
I’ll sleep through it like a Babe...
Bring on the dancing boys...
I’ve got the C-Span stream warmed up ...
http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN_wm.aspx
It won't be. There will be morality questions, but they are framed to stay away from the hot buttons.
I think what will occur is that we will see and hear questions and answers that you will never see at a political debate, and these questions may reveal the candidates depth of character in a way never seen before, and that is why I plan to watch the show.
If I want religion, I'll watch the debates to come. This should have some good stuff, and I plan to tune out the fact that it's a church group.
**Is this Rick Warren fellow a conservative or lib?
He is pro-abortion and pro-gay rights....McCain is gonna get ambushed.**
How can Rick Warren claim to be a Christian then? I am really puzzled by this post.
This is likely to be an obama benefit....
I agree.......... Barry would not have accepted to do this unless it was skewed in his favor.
Hey friend!!! You’re right in your tag line!
How have you been? ;-)
AKA as the “Pandering for the Christian Vote” event.
It doens’t work for me!
They are neither one men of God as our current president is.
This is cunningly staged, but not from their hearts.
Sporting a golden tan from Hawaii. Oh, wait....
Rick is a globalist. The folks he hobknobs with should raise anyone’s eyebrows.
I think so too. I don't trust Rick Warren.
Hey TOL, anyone keeping score how many aaas & ums Barry will say
Trust me - if I were the moderator, both Obama and McCain would be sweating bullets.
Big loser tonight is probabaly Warren unless he makes it clear that the murder of innocent babies is a greater crime than driving an SUV.
No Christian can be pro abortion
This isn’t a debate, just two separate interviews.
I’m not sure I can stand watching this...we’ll see.
Meanwhile- I checked batteries and supplies in case Faye comes our way..you ready?
Thanks. FNC’s Julie Banderas has been Obama pandering for the last half hour.
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