dagblog - Comments for "Rick Warren: It's only a prayer, for the love of God"

Thanks, Terri. I'm very glad

Orlando — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:15:14 +0000

In reply to Orlando, I am one of those

Thanks, Terri. I'm very glad to hear that. Although sometimes passionate advocacy for the positions I believe in leads me to be a jerk, the best conversations I've had about issues are the ones where all sides listen as much as they talk.

I hope you'll keep coming back to Dagblog. Our conversations here are generally like that (so far).

Orlando, I am one of those

Terri — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:58:05 +0000

In reply to Another thing strikes me as I

Orlando, I am one of those "people on the right" and am also a Christian. I would like to say this was a great post and a very good discussion from all. There were so many issues touched on throughout the discussion. On many points I found myself nodding my head in agreement to the discussion and on others I natrually disagree with. But the one thing I noticed while reading your post is that I never felt attacked for how I think or believe just because mine is different from yours. Plain, respectful discussions such as this ON BOTH SIDES would go a long way in bringing people to a point of compromise that would be acceptable to all. Thanks!

Another thing strikes me as I

Orlando — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:43:24 +0000

In reply to Rick Warren: It's only a prayer, for the love of God

Another thing strikes me as I continue to hear about this subject. Now, as I'm reading other thoughts and opinions, I still have mine, but I have DF in the back of my head, making his case. I haven't changed my mind, but I'm also seeing things from his perspective more than I was two days ago. And that is another reason I think reaching out to evangelicals by having Rick Warren at the inauguration is not the worst idea ever. When we know each other, even a little bit, we are more respectful and more open. It's a lot easier to be dismissive of an idea when you have never spoken to or never met the person expressing it. We don't know whether the people on the right will ever be open to us or even reasonable, based on what we've seen for the past 20 years. But we've got to at least try to change the debate or we'll be stuck in the same cycle for the next 20. I don't think I could stand that.

See. Obama's got us finding

Orlando — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:26:53 +0000

In reply to There would appear to be some

See. Obama's got us finding common ground already and he's not even president yet.

There would appear to be some

DF — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:19:16 +0000

In reply to See what you started,

There would appear to be some validation of your point that this cut both ways in this observation that some of Warren's followers aren't thrilled with the idea either.

See what you started,

acanuck — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:36:12 +0000

In reply to Rick Warren: It's only a prayer, for the love of God

See what you started, Orlando? A good, reasoned discussion, with lots more respect for opposing opinions than most websites are offering up on this topic. Dagbloggers are a class act.

What few seem to have noticed is that Warren is not getting a spotlight all to himself. He will deliver the invocation -- whatever that is -- but Rev. Joseph Lowery will do the actual benediction or blessing. And Lowery, from what I read, is a strong advocate for gay rights.

By bookending things this way, I suspect Obama thought people would get his underlying message of inclusion. He misjudged how much bitterness Prop. 8 left, and how easily Warren's notoreity would push Lowery off the stage. But it's a done deal; he can't disinvite him now. Live with it.

(In passing, everyone must realize the prayers of both men will be carefully scripted, or at least vetted, by the Obama team: the words "gay rights," "abortion" and "same-sex marriage" will appear in neither.)

Some people are irate that the inauguration will give Warren unwarranted validation. But it cuts both ways: By accepting the honor, Warren is validating Obama's administration to his followers and like-minded evangelicals.

And that, folks, is political capital you can't buy (ask Gov. Blagojevich). When, during his first year in office, Obama scraps "don't-ask-don't-tell," and Warren raises just the mildest peep of disappointment, think ba ck to the debate we are having here tonight -- all praise the wisdom of Obama!

I hope that he's right about

DF — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:47:51 +0000

In reply to Hah! The current brouhaha is

I hope that he's right about this being a move that will allow Obama to smooth things over with evangelicals.

I can tell you that at least

DF — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:47:47 +0000

In reply to I don't blame people for

I can tell you that at least in my experience here, there is definitely the perception that Obama was silent on Prop. 8. There doesn't seem to be confidence that he is really behind the gay rights movement and that's absolutely part of this. Watching Warren bless his presidency will sting a lot for some people.

I would also say that I don't think that it's anything near hatred or even vitriol. It's more like a very heartfelt disappointment, almost as if it doesn't quite jive with what he claims to be. I don't think that it's the sort of thing will linger at all if he actually is able to truly make progress for gay rights.

Wright would have been priceless. Or maybe Farrakhan? They could fist bump.

Actually, I think the best curveball of all would have been this guy:

Nice link to Frank "Genghis"

Michael Wolraich — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:36:37 +0000

In reply to Hah! The current brouhaha is

Nice link to Frank "Genghis" Schaeffer. He said it better than me.

I don't blame people for

Michael Wolraich — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:33:39 +0000

In reply to I tend to agree about

I don't blame people for being outraged at the choice of Warren, but I think that Obama's position on gay marriage is more outrageous than his choice of minister for the inauguration. It just doesn't look like he's prepared to go to bat for gay rights, where I think that he could make a difference.

But if Obama does apply political capital gained through symbolic choices like Warren to effect concrete actions on gay rights, like a national civil union law, then I think those choices are worthwhile. Trading symbolism for action is a bargain.

PS Wright would have been a most amusing choice.