Has Rick Warren had a conversion experience?
He's America's most high-profile preacher. He not only prayed in the new president at the inauguration, but his church hosted the first televised unofficial debate involving both main candidates for the world's most powerful job, from the stage of his church in California. Rick Warren is also a phenomenally successful writer, whose books dominate the global religion market. When he speaks, many people pay attention to what he says. So when he entered California's controverisal Proposition 8 debate, last year, and gave his support to the legislation banning same-sex marriage in that state, one might expect that his comments carried quite a few votes.
But now the charismatic preacher says he's not anti-gay, he's not even opposed to gay marriage particularly, and he appears to rather resent the suggestion that he might ever have been. His appearance this week on Larry King Live, in which he makes those denials, has provoked a new controversy about what Pastor Rick actually said about Proposition 8, and a previous Beliefnet interview in which he suggested that homosexuality was equivalent to paedophilia. His critics say he is now trying to rewrite the past in the context of a progressive new political dispensation -- and it won't work because there are transcripts. His supporters, I suspect, will claim that the pastor is trying to bring some balance to a sometimes extremely nasty public debate by calling on everyone to deweaponize their arguments. You can decide for yourself.
Here's the of his interview this week on Larry King. (Or watch the interview .)
Here's the he gave to Beliefnet.
Here's his of Poposition 8, broadcast to his church members.
Comment number 1.
At 10th Apr 2009, Dylan_Dog wrote:If Rick Warren changed his mind-fair enough-everyone is entitled to do so.
However it appears in this case that Mr Warren told a lie-indeed a double lie. I don't think that his god will be too happy with him. However it is hardly news that an evangelical/fundamentalist turns out to be a liar and a hypocrite.
Anyway Will,
It was great to meet you in real life the other week! Really enjoyed the 'Inherit the Wind' event. The two hours flew in and enjoyed the talk before and after. Like yourself it's one of my favourite films and I must have watched it over 20 times-especially in my teenage years-had a really profound effect on me-perhaps more than any other film.
Regards
DD
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Comment number 2.
At 10th Apr 2009, MarcusAureliusII wrote:He wouldn't be the first cleric who wishes he could eat his words. Unfortunately for him, in this era, there are potentially an infinite number of copies so he can't possibly make them all go away. Confronted with his past, he'd do better to eat crow instead and take his lumps. I'll even let him use my line; "the devil made me do it." No charge for royalties Pastor Warren. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." How's that pastorphillip? When do I get to preach in front of your congregation. Just practice in public speaking for me of course. How about the topic; Is eating more than one quart of chocolate ice cream a day a sure road to hell?
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Comment number 3.
At 13th Apr 2009, John Wright wrote:I was fortunate enough to be among the 50,000 people attending Warren's Saddleback Church here in Southern California yesterday morning for an Easter message (. I say "fortunate" because the man is a truly great communicator and gave what I'd describe as the best primer on the evangelical Christian worldview I've ever heard. It was 'Christianity 101' presented in five Acts of history and interspersed with some fantastic original music by a very talented stage full of musicians and singers. Although I'm something of a postevangelical (William says "nervous liberal"!) these days, I have to say walking through the beautiful Saddleback campus with thousands of others in the Easter morning sun did something for me. :-)
As for the gay thing, who cares what Rick Warren thinks?
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Comment number 4.
At 13th Apr 2009, jovialPTL wrote:John how can you say 'who cares what Rick Warren thinks?' when you just made the case for him as the best communicator of conservative Christianity in America?
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Comment number 5.
At 15th Apr 2009, John Wright wrote:PTL, it was my way of saying that he's a wonderful communicator and I have a fondness for him, but I'm not going to consult him on issues like gay marriage.
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