Comments on: Now Rick Warren is in REAL Trouble

By: yrtimenow

yrtimenow — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:16:36 +0000

I think separation of church and state does not mean that we should exclude God from government, but that government does not have the right to force a particular religion on the citizens the way the British tried to do it in the times leading up to the revolution. That is why the founding fathers included it in the constitution. We need God’s direction in all decisions especially the ones the government has to make effecting millions of citizens here and abroad. Supporting this and our heritage with prayer at government sanctioned events is acceptable.

By: Henry Neufeld

Henry Neufeld — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:11:52 +0000

I’m obviously more conflicted on this than you are…

By: Caraleisa

Caraleisa — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:57:22 +0000

Warren has made it very clear what he stands for — or more accurately, what and who he stands AGAINST. A single gracious statement does not change who he is. He does NOT belong at a government… nor does Bishop Robinson, whose inclusion was a simple blatant attempt to shut him up. Surprisingly it worked.

Warren is especially offensive as he preaches exclusion, however noone should be PRAYING as part of a government sanctioned event. Neither should an atheist be asked to make a statement against the existence of gods. GODS don’t belong in government.

The separation of church and state means just that – the government is neither run by religion NOR HAS IT THE RIGHT to regulate religion.

Warren and Robinson, as part of this inauguration, have effectively consented to the removal of the tax-free status of churches, which is legally withdrawn when the church participates in government.

By: Eric Helms

Eric Helms — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 02:39:55 +0000

Of course, there is a more fundamental question about who prayer should be “for”–which is a problem I have with all forms of public prayer.

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:10:36 +0000

Bishop Robinson was interviewed on NPR earlier this week, and he discussed his thoughts on crafting a prayer which was true to his own Christian faith while being a prayer, not just for Christian Americans, but for all Americans. It was an interesting conversation, available at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99311912.

By: Henry Neufeld

Henry Neufeld — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:46:56 +0000

I don’t always agree with Rick Warren, but I think he has behaved well throughout.

By: Peter Kirk

Peter Kirk — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:24:30 +0000

Well done to Rick Warren for giving a genuine Christian response, refusing to expect the President to go against the spirit of the Constitution by taking sides on religious issues. In doing so he has given a positive Christian witness by showing himself to be far more gracious than Robinson, who

joined other homosexual activists and their supporters in condemning Obama for inviting Warren, saying “it was like a slap in the face.”