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 ...
I know, I know...but..but..
the man leaves me cold, chilled in fact.
If Rick Warren was over reacting to Obamas statements Obama would not get to finish his uh uh uh uh uhs
I’ll admit RW is asking better questions than I thought.
You said it. This is really quite lame. I’m glad most everyone in this country are watching the Olympics..and not this drivel.
Rick Warren does not impress me in the least.
Teachers unions paying attention here...
God, just answer yes or no!
Hooah.
I don’t think this guy’s purpose is to be like Russert. he’ll ask the questions and let the public make up their minds.
Discriminated against re: fed funding.
Hmmm... like reparations or his communist plan.
BTW Warren, re: Katrina Catholic churches housed and got those kids into school quick, meanwhile a year down the road...
Exactly what has Obama ever done legally. What did he do when he was president of the Harvard Law Review?
"As a general principle, that we're not using federal money for discrimination..."
Maybe you should go vote in one of those Chicago [if you lived there] places where people who have already passed away are having there names stuffed (at the end of course so no one gets hurt.
Fewer questions = more time to drill down on the important ones. Rick Warren’s really showing his butt on this deal.
Falwell must be turning in his grave.
He is just arrogant enough to THINK he is smart.
RW- Define rich. Obama it it it it.....
LOL!!!
I tink teachers should feel they are judged fairly?
HELLO!!!
not about them...
about the kids and education— not teachers’ feeeeeeeeeeelings
You may want to skip it- he’s a socialist through and through...and..you’ll get some soundbites later :)
Warren asks him to “define rich”..
RW asks “define rich”.
another good question imho
Define rich.....
Baloney.
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