Rick Warren's Invocation Invokes Judaism, Islam

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Lizzy of CA 12:38PM April 28, 2009

Just wanted to draw some attention to the details that Giovani has revealed his own ignorance with.

"Muslims are circumsized like Jews although Christians don't follow this not based on Jesus's teachings but Paul who lived 100 years after Jesus and simply removed the 7 th commandment a power that Jesus said eh didn't have....or when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Getsimidy....he prayed on his knees and placed his forehead on the ground...just as Muslims do...But remember like everything in life we are all on the same path religiously to make it to heaven and different people take different routes but one thing as loing as your route makes sense to you then you are on the right path for yourself. If something doesn't make sense you have to question it...all three Abrahamic religions states this........but IGNORANCE WILL ALWAYS BE THE DOWNFALL LIKE MR UNAMED "

First of all, Paul lived around the same time of Jesus - and was involved in many discussions and ministries that overlapped with the Apostle Peter - who was obviously alive in Jesus' time. Secondly, Paul was not referring to physical circumsicion - he was referring to assuming the spiritual equivalent, and expressed frustration for the Jews that insisted that Gentiles have to be circumsized to be saved, which decreased the sufficiency of Christ's death on the cross as payment for all mankind's sin. Read Acts, Hebrews, Galatians and Peter's epistles for your facts.

Finally, and most importantly, Jesus clearly stated that HE was the only way to Heaven in John chapter 14. There is no mistaking His claims to being the Son Of God, and He is the ONLY risen savior - all other great, wise, religious leaders of old are still in their tombs. Not all paths lead to heaven, and not all religions are right. Please don't say Jesus came to unite - He came to save, even at the cost of division. Read John for that answer.

Jim Harding of ME 8:49AM April 28, 2009

God has already blessed America. His blessings are waning. Blessings are being removed on a daily basis due to the toleration of wicked practices in our society and political relm. WAKE UP!

Matthew of ID 11:04PM April 24, 2009

RICK WARREN IS A RELIGIOUS LEADER WHOSE PRIORITIES OR BELIEFS ARE HIS OWN. GOD REVEALED IN THE BIBLE HIS OWN THOUHGTS AND PRIORITIES. ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT ONLY GOD'S THOUGHTS AND PRIORITIES WILL BE OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE. THEREFORE WE ARE WISE IF WE ALIGN OURSELVES WITH GOD'S THOUGHTS AND PRIORITIES NOW AND NOT RICK WARREN'S THOUGHTS OR PRIORITIES.

IRAN

IRAN PYNE 5:30PM April 07, 2009

Come on people build bridges not walls...obviously the quote by unamed stated he was quoting the Bible and not the others....for one who cares and for two the old testament is technially Jewish scripture cause all three follow and adhere to the Old testament. Obviously there will be similiarities for example all Muslims greet May the peace and blessing of God be upon you....Muslims greet this way as Jesus did. Muslims are circumsized like Jews although Christians don't follow this not based on Jesus's teachings but Paul who lived 100 years after Jesus and simply removed the 7 th commandment a power that Jesus said eh didn't have....or when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Getsimidy....he prayed on his knees and placed his forehead on the ground...just as Muslims do. But remember like everything in life we are all on the same path religiously to make it to heaven and different people take different routes but one thing as loing as your route makes sense to you then you are on the right path for yourself. If something doesn't make sense you have to question it...all three Abrahamic religions states this....but IGNORANCE WILL ALWAYS BE THE DOWNFALL LIKE MR UNAMED.

Giovani F of FL 2:27PM February 04, 2009

Obama is Christian, Warren is Christian, and the vast majority of Americans are Christian. This country was built by Christians, and its been mostly Christians´ blood shed throughout its history to keep it alive and well. Here you are perfectly free to practice whatever religion you wish, or none if you wish - good for you. Christian Americans appreciate their Jewish, Muslim, Bhuddist, Hindi, Sikh, agnostic or athiest neighbors and would never think of deserving more rights than anyone else simply because of their faith. But we have a right and even an expectation of a Christian leader to give thanks to his Savior in a country where most people are doing the same. Deal with it. Your whining is a real turnoff.

Don of AZ 7:56AM February 04, 2009

God Bless the President. God Bless Rick Warren......God Bless America

Cavell 10:13AM January 24, 2009

What we need to realize is that this country isn't an atheistic/agnostic/Buddhist/Hindu/Muslim/<insert religion here> country with Christians living in it. It's a Christian nation with followers of other faiths/or no faith living in it. Patrick Henry once said, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ!" This next line from Henry as he continues, speaks volumes about WHY atheists and Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, etc., have the religious freedom they do. "For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here." I find it ironic, that those very same citizens with differing faith-expressions who are afforded the freedom to live here based on our Christian principles, are offended when someone utters the name of Jesus - the person to whom the credit is owed for the freedom and liberty THEY enjoy. If it destroys you so much who wish to try to stop it, you have the freedom to live here as much as you do to get out.

However, this petty grievance draws focus away from the work that needs done to heal the soul of this Nation. Winning the "Was Rick Warren's Invocation Less Inclusive Than He Let On?" debate is like putting a bandaid on a fatal wound.

of IL 5:47PM January 21, 2009

I am heartened by Obama's decision to allow a variety of religious perspectives to be represented at his inauguration. It represents a trend toward a new kind of inclusiveness. I was glad to hear each religious leader pray an authentic prayer consistent with his religious tradition. Personally, I've grown weary of these generic "civil" prayers, offered to a generic god or gods, designed to be surrogate prayers for everyone. Civil religion is dying in America; authentic faith is on the rise. We must learn to listen to each other, respect each other, and stop isolating ourselves in our little subcultures. These generic prayers end up excluding people who actually take their faith seriously because the prayers say nothing. Perhaps you'd prefer, "May the force be with you!" I'd prefer gutsy prayers that actually say something even if I disagree with some of the content. I expect a Christian to pray a Christian prayer, a Jew to pray a Jewish prayer, and a Muslim to pray a Muslim prayer. I hope that I'm mature enough to listen respectfully and "amen" that which I affirm.

I question this notion that the free expression of the majority population should be suppressed because it makes the minority feel "uncomfortable." If you are in the minority, I sympathize with you. Bullying the majority, however, will not empower the minority. Most of us find ourselves in the minority at some point in life and, yes, it is uncomfortable. These times are tests of our courage and authenticity. We must all find our voice. Free expression should be protected for everyone.

America has elected a Christian to be president; let him be a Christian. As I understand Obama, his Christianity teaches him to respect the rights of every person. I like that. Let's hold him to it. I'd be more nervous about a president whose inclusiveness was purported on the basis of his/her lack of strong religious values.

John Wallace of NC 8:28AM January 21, 2009

I was heartened to listen to Reverend Warren's prayer. The story does not take his comments out of context at all, it gives them exactly as he said it and as I heard it live. As I listened I heard him use Christian, Jewish and Muslim references together. All Muslim's hearts stir when they hear "the compassionate, the merciful" because of the Qur'anic reference. The fact that this is said in the bible as well only reinforces our brotherhood as descendants of Abraham (peace be upon him). And his reference to the Shema was clear and unequivocal. This was a prayer of unification and of looking forward. I for one was pleasantly surprised by his ecumenical tone and applaud him for it.

Imam Salim Chishti of NY 5:18AM January 21, 2009

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Dan Gilgoff covers religion for U.S. News & World Report. He is the author of The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America are Winning the Culture War, and is a former politics editor at beliefnet. E-mail Dan at godandcountry@usnews.com.

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