Weekend In Review: Rick Warren Edition
In terms of news, all I could do was think about Obama's announcement that Rick Warren would be giving the invocation at his Inauguration. I counted three moments where I freaked out about the news. Obama did not have to pick Warren. Before this dust up, how many people could recall who gave the last invocation? It's a nothing position. Now, it's worth something. Now, it means something.
Warren is the guy that wrote that "spiritual" life-guide paperback that you can buy in the Safeway checkout line. It's next to the gum. I'm not going to link to the book because its not worth it. But Warren is a guy who has a thing about donuts---if you give someone a donut it means you like them.
The Stranger has an awesome collection of Warren sermons. The stuff he says should provoke the media into a Wright-like frenzy. But it won't. He's just sexist and stupid (yeah, stupid). Here's Warren on what makes a good church:
"Before men climb aboard, they want to see a man — a real man — at the helm. Men appreciate a pastor who's bold and outspoken — one who shoots from the hip now and then. They also like pastors who do guy stuff. The more outdoorsy, athletic, or risky things you do, the more comfortable your men will be.
Most church buildings are adorned with quilts, flowers, lace, and banners. How do we expect men to connect with God in a room that looks like a beauty parlor?
Redecorate your worship space with men in mind. Take down the quilts and lace. Repaint using the colors of the field. Change your lighting. If you've got the guts, cover the walls with swords, shields, or maybe even mounted animal trophies."
Thanks Obama! This is some real change! TPM has the goods on Warren too. His church bars unrepentent gays from its pews. So please, can someone tell me why it is important for Warren to be included in this historic inauguration?
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8:10 am
On Proposition 8, he was silent.
On the US Veto of the UN Resolution for the decriminalization of homosexuality, he was silent.
On Don't Ask, Don't Tell, he says, "Wait."
And now associating with someone who compares me to a pedophile?
I never expected much from PE Obama on LGBT issues.
But I have to ask, "Where is the leadership?"
- Black Gay Americans Under the Obama Bus
9:27 am
It is odd that a man whose parents would have been prosecuted for being married in much of America in the 1960s chose a “preacher” who seeks to deny that same right to gays & lesbians. It’s becoming more clear every day that Obama just wants everyone to like him, & in the process, he may well end up having no one like him.
Warren is guilty of hate speech & inspiring physical attacks on LGBT people. Obama is a homophobe himself. Obama is already campaigning for 2012, but what he & his so-called smart advisers fail to realize is that the people who supported Obama are not the mindless idiots as portrayed by the media. We backed Obama because we believed his promises that he would change DC; instead, all he's done is more of the same old BS.
Appointing all the old, worn-out Clinton people [including Sen Clinton no less!], leaving the war criminal Bob Gates in charge of the Pentagon, & now choosing this idiotic "preacher" is not change - it's more of the same old neverending campaigns.
9:50 am
Remember that while Obama's Chicago church was progressive in many respects and the pastor reviled by the right-wing -- the theology of the African-American church for any of the various demonitions (AME, Baptist,etc.) is VERY very conversative when it comes to LBGT issues. Not that far from Rick Warren.
Remember that with Clinton the gays in the military sunk his first term. We need to think of this in terms of a longer view strategy. Using a stick to poke someone in the eye pisses them off, landing body blow after body blow makes them pay attention. Let's concentrate on the things that are meaningful and important -- Rick Warren doing the invocation is just noise.
1:19 pm
Contrarian, Trinity is a UCC church -- not exactly "VERY very conservative", but in fact one of the most liberal Christian denominations, and far from Rick Warren.