.: The Allen Hunt Show : Well done Warren : Where Real Life and Faith Come Together Blog :.

Rick Warren did it. And he did it well.
He helped many Christians get out of the muck of being toadies for the Republican party.
He demonstrated that Christians can be intelligent, compassionate, and diverse.
Best of all, Rick showed America the best of the faith.
The Saddleback Civil Forum on Saturday night was brilliant in its conception and its execution.
Rick gave both candidates time and space to answer as they wished. He asked incisive and insightful questions. He did not wade in with his own views on any given issue.
In short, he was brilliant. Amazingly, even the Washington Post saw that.
And he raised questions that Christians should be interested in, whether they are or not. E.g., the fact that there are more than 150MM orphans in the world today. How does the Church partner with the government to do something about that?
All in all, it was a great night. Both candidates seemed comfortable. Rick plainly stated that he is "friends" with both Obama and McCain while not agreeing with everything either of them espouses.
He re-introduced civility into the American political conversation. Here's wishing the rest of the media would follow suit.

Comments

Erik

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 10:16:22 AM Quote Selection | Permalink

He demonstrated that Christians can be intelligent, compassionate, and diverse.

I guess he's the exception that proves the rule.

It's disgusting and shameful that our Presidential candidates have to submit themselves to examination by a fundamentalist uber-hick like Warren.
How is this guy even relevant. Because he wrote a best-selling self-help book? Why don't we just get Randy Pausch's re-animated corpse to interview the candidates?

there are more than 150MM orphans in the world today. How does the Church partner with the government to do something about that?

I would suggest supporting the use of birth control, but I guess I'm just crazy like that.

Andy Borgmann

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 10:44:09 AM Quote Selection | Permalink

How is this guy even relevant.

For the same reason J.K. Rowling was relevant at Harvard's graduation: his book was on the NYTimes (that's no Fundie list) best seller for 174 weeks and it has sold over 50 million copies. You might not agree with him, but he is at least relevant.

Funny you mention that. I keep a condom I got in South Africa on my desk at home to remind me to pray for Africa. Why? Because I found it ironic when working with Orphans in Africa that millions won't use birth control because they interpret it as "white, western people" are trying to eliminate their race and/or tribe. And when you think about it, while not true at all, if a bunch of people came to you, not speaking your language, from a foreign land, and said here use this so you don't reproduce anymore, what would you think?

There are always cheap answers and solutions from people who have never been in the foxhole. I respect Rick and Kay for getting out of their OC life of luxury and getting in the foxhole.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 11:41:39 AM Quote Selection | Permalink

For the same reason J.K. Rowling was relevant at Harvard's graduation: his book was on the NYTimes (that's no Fundie list) best seller for 174 weeks and it has sold over 50 million copies.

Another shame. Rowling's books are shallow, poorly written, escapist junk.

I don't think this is a good way to judge relevance though. That lame DaVinci Code book has sold 2x as many copies as Warren's book (source: NYTimes), yet I don't see Dan Brown moderating any debates. Maybe we should get The Secret authors to do the VP debates.