Megachurch's Get
Barack Obama and John McCain have agreed to back-to-back appearances 8/16 at the Rev. Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, in Lake Forest, Calif. The event would mark the candidates' only semi-jointish show before the party conventions -- despite McCain's repeated urging for Obama to join him in a series of town hall meetings throughout the summer.
Instead, Obama and McCain -- at Warren's request -- will visit Saddleback for a forum about a series of issues of interest to the spiritual leader and author of the best-selling book, "The Purpose-Driven Life": AIDS, poverty and the environment.
“I just got to thinking, you know what? These guys have never been together on the same stage, it would be a neat way to cap the primary season before they both go to the conventions and things go dark for a couple of weeks,” Warren told the NYT. “I’ve known both the guys for a long time, they’re both friends of mine, and I knew them before they ran for office, so I just called them up.”
Warren's church draws 22K worshippers a week, according to his Web site. The presidential candidates have both openly courted evangelical voters, and leaders, throughout the contest. For Obama, whose Christian faith has been challenged via Internet e-mail smears suggesting he's a Muslim, the outreach aims to clarify questions about his faith. Meanwhile, McCain's support from evangelical leaders has been tepid to date, and he urgently needs Christian conservatives, who twice helped carry George W. Bush to the White House, to win the presidential election.
Reports are circulating today, too, that Focus On The Family's James Dobson, who has vigorously resisted a McCain endorsement, is weighing whether to officially back the GOP nom. Dobson would be a critical get for McCain, who, as a supporter of stem cell research and an opponent of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, has struggled to spark enthusiasm for his bid among evangelicals.
(JS)
Warren's book was one of the bigger wastes of my time and money I've ever spent. And that Warren calls Obama a friend would have me running from that church.
No accusations about being a Muslim here. I concede that Obama attended a church that has some background in the Judeo-Christian heritage. But his belief that there are many roads to salvation are decidely un-Christian. I think the word for his brand of theology is universalism, but it's not Christianity. Add to the mix his ghoulish position on abortion, and I don't see how Obama gets his foot in the door of any Christian church.
I have heard more than enough about the candidates' religion this election cycle. There's nothing to be said that hasn't been said already.
Evangelicals as an interest group have no place in politics. If individuals who happen to also be evangelicals want to support a candidate because they share views that's one thing. As a group, evangelicals want to imprint their views on a party that's where the trouble (and pandering) begin.
Religion is a private matter and should stay that way.
Can't believe I'm saying this, but I totally agree with corinne. :)
SAM - "I think the word for his brand of theology is universalism, but it's not Christianity."
I would term it the "Got Problems? Blame Whitey!" denomination of Black Liberation Theology. Little fuzzy here, but I believe I've heard that if BLT churches think God isn't for their plans - then they should "murder God". I guess thats the ultimate "if you ain't for us, your against us" policy. lol
Corinne - "As a group, evangelicals want to imprint their views on a party that's where the trouble (and pandering) begin. Religion is a private matter and should stay that way."
Suuuure! Thats totally unlike leftist groups, who'd never DREAM of imprinting their agenda and views on a party. lol I sort of agree with your premise though... I think whether your more or less prone to receiving an aids infected load of semen in your anus is a private matter - and should stay that way. If Evangelicals, as a group, have no place in politics - then neither does any other interest group.