He started the whole 'Purpose Driven Life' movement.
It's like the shortest possible summary of what turns me off of religion.
Purpose #1: You Were Planned for God's Pleasure (Worship)
Purpose #2: You Were Formed for God's Family (Fellowship)
Purpose #3: You Were Created to Become Like Christ (Discipleship)
Purpose #4: You Were Shaped for Serving God (Ministry)
Purpose #5: You Were Made for a Mission (Mission)
--
This kind of thing is the worst though:
This spiritual servitude only has negative connotations in a culture that is obsessed with asserting the rights of the individual. Civil rights, human rights, gay rights, minority rights-we hear about this constantly. Instead of asserting our rights-even if we have the freedom to do so-we are choosing to set them aside for a greater thing: the opportunity to serve the living God. What are you setting aside in order to serve God? --
I don't get it at all. Hearing that sort of talk is the only time that I believe in the otherwise-unbelievable claim that "religion is the opiate of the masses".
Divorcing 'God's purposes' from actual human justice seems abhorrent to me, and I don't even believe in God.
Good point, (e:James). You don't attract bees with vinegar. I also hope this leads to something productive. I also like how you frame the ideological orthodoxy point - it's pretty clear that he does not demand this of his people, probably to the extreme frustration of the left wing, but it seems he doesn't want a bunch of one way thinkers surrounding him, a welcome change.
This is, again, the thing that astounds me about Obama, and something that I've wavered on in my own analysis. He's the one who has made the high minded speeches, which everyone claps for, cries for, and then forgets immediately after they hop in their car to go home. I doubted his sincerity, but it seems he is committed to some extent. There obviously must be something he likes about Rick Warren outside of the Prop 8 trash. It is indeed very surprising. I guess I don't see it as the worst sin Obama could commit.
I thought all marching bands were gay.
(please forgive me. Sometimes my inner-middle schooler can't be contained)
Seriously though, I agree with you, James/
So Warren has a crappy record on choice and GLBT rights.
But Obama is making considerable inroads with the Evangelical movement. This powerful block of voters can't be changed from the evil religious right to a more moderate constituency without engagement. Most Democratic presidents have paid them lip service. Warren reached out to Obama and it is nice that he is reaching back. I hope some dialogue is opened up.
Add to that:
A gay marching band will be with Obama on his parade to the inauguration. A first.
Obama has nominated the first openly gay cabinet member with Mary Beth Maxwell for Sec of Labor.
At the end of the inauguration vocally pro-GLBT rights activist and civil rights icon Rev. Joseph Lowery will be giving the benediction.
So far, the Obama administration has been one of pragmatism and does not demand ideological orthodoxy. So, I can live with a few Rick Warren's so long as there is a good long-term strategy. And I feel there is even with the oft neglected GLBT rights.
He put his influence and his money behind it. He directly told his congregation to vote yes. He wasn't THE leader in campaign, but he certainly was a leader.
I don't mind Obama reaching out, that's why I voted for him, but I'll continue to disagree with people he brings in that I don't see eye to eye with. I also don't consider this a slap in the face, but I did react viscerally to it when I heard and had to vent.
Did he lead the campaign against it? Or did he support it? A fine difference, I know, but I'm just curious.
On the other hand, he hasn't led a campaign AGAINST women pastors either . . .
But you are right. Reaching out pisses people off. Conservatives will get mad at Warren, too.
But my guess is that nobody even remembers who gave an invocation at any other inauguration. This choice won't affect anything. Picking Joe Biden was WAY more of a sellout and WAY more substantial.
I think I tended to interpret his "Bring America Together" comments as meaning that he would reach out to individuals across the divide; that he was going to reach out to and try to work with people he doesn't necessarily agree with. It's really hard to be inclusive without pissing someone off.
I think Obama is going to spend his presidency pissing off the extreme liberals and conservatives by reaching out to a variety of people with different political and social backgrounds to see if he can build some kind of consensus over any number of issues. But I'm okay with that because I'm tired of the extremists on either side battling it out and never giving on any issue.
FWIW, Rick Warren is a minister at a church that has no ordained female pastors, I don't believe. But I really don't consider that fact indicative of Obama's views on women or a slap in my face.
Actually, I agree with just one phrase of your post: the title. :)
I think we all do live a purpose driven life. Otherwise we wouldn't be living.
Yeah, the rest of the quotes etc are weird. I don't think the ideas in the quote-boxes fit the concept of a purpose-driven life. It sounds more like a someone else's whimsy driven life.
This is exactly why I didn't really want to vote for obama as preseident. Without the peer pressure of matthew and terry I wouldn't have. McCain wasn't any better of a choice, its just that I would have rather voted for neither. I mean who is he pandering to with this, he already won the vote.
Here are some quotes from a comment on :::link:::
"Of all the religious figures in America he chooses a God by-the-numbers mega-church celebrity??? Why also did he choose a supporter of Prop 8?"
"As an openly gay donor to Obama campaign the news of Rick Warren giving the invocation at the inaugeral ,is election night deja vu, all over again. Gays and Lesbians were celebrationg with all the rest of America the Obama victory, then at 11pm we get a shiv shoved in our back with prop 8. Rick Warren and the LDS elders were the MAIN SUPPORTERS which attacked LGBT families in CA, making us the ONE minority not covered by the equal protection clause.
I hope EVERY queer and our friends attending the Inaugeral, TURNS THEIR BACK to Rick Warren, a salute of a single finger wouldn't hurt ...either.
I am so disappointed the president to Bring America TOGETHER, chooses to tear us apart at his FIRST
CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE...what's this WE crud? "
Here's somebody else's response: :::link:::
I will write more later. I used to hate Rick Warren. But he did some amazing things that no other Evangelical mega-pastor had done.
He poured himself into AIDS/debt relief. Time, money, influence, everything. He took a hit for it (sad, I know), but never backed down.
Then, he broke with the republican crowd. Just suggesting that I person MIGHT vote for a candidate that is pro-choice used to be a career-ender for Evangelical pastors. He hasn't been a radical in this stand, but he has been even handed, which is enough to get him branded a heretic.
But lately, I've liked him less. He said some reall stupid things about war, and war with Iran in particular, and made a video about prop 8 that was not good at all.
Anways, he's a mixed bag. And if outrage gets him thrown out, then I will make myself available.
I am also willing to take the NY senate seat. :)
I can't believe Obama nominated him to be Secretary of State.
oh wait, he is just saying some godly shit at his inauguration.
While it is a disappointing choice, I understand that in politics you sometimes have to make nice with vile, loathsome people. Though, Obama's history with bizzaro church-folk is a little troubling. I didn't find Jeremiah Wright that troubling. Hey, if you are black you can god damn America all you like with my blessing. Then there was the anti-gay gospel singer Donnie McClurkin.
I mean, wasn't (e:Drew) available for the event?
The shorter, twitter version: RICK WARREN AAAAAARRRGH.