Evangelist Rick Warren wants to solve global problems by partnering with Muslims. Apparently if you can’t beat them, join them.
In a speech to several thousand American Muslims on Saturday, Warren said Muslims and Christians should be partners to end what he calls “the five global giants” of war, poverty, corruption, disease and illiteracy. (Someone really needs to inform Warren that most wars are caused by religion … but whatever.)
Later in his speech, Warren urged Muslims and Christians to speak out against stereotyping of any group and to respect each other even while disagreeing. He urged those in the audience to help “the newcomers learn what it means to be American.” (Does that mean they will stop stereotyping atheists too? Woohoo!)
A Muslim woman from the audience commented on Christianity:
“The basics are the same,” said Zahra, of McLean, Va. “No religion teaches cruelty or disrespect or hatred.”
So the lesson learned from Warren’s speech:
The basics of Christianity and Islam are the same. Sure Muslims will burn in hell fire for eternity. But Christians need their help to solve the world’s problems today before they are infinitely tortured in the afterlife. God and Allah bless America!
Tags: Christianity, Corruption, Disease, God, illiteracy, Islam, Jesus. World, Mohammed, Muslim, Poverty, Rick Warren, Speech, War
July 6, 2009 at 1:17 am |
Muslim leaders don’t – and don’t want to – stop illiteracy because that’s what keeps the people faithful.
July 6, 2009 at 5:15 am |
Nor corruption.
July 6, 2009 at 11:14 am |
Same with the Roman Catholics Ubergotten. These primitive beliefs flourish where there is poverty and ignorance!
July 6, 2009 at 6:23 am |
“No religion teaches cruelty or disrespect or hatred.” Wise words indeed!!
July 6, 2009 at 10:12 am |
Seriously! Talk about denial!!!
July 7, 2009 at 9:53 am |
Westboro Baptist Church
July 6, 2009 at 7:28 am |
Newsweek “debate” featuring Rick Warren and Sam Harris
July 6, 2009 at 8:06 am |
Rick Warren: What a maroon!
July 6, 2009 at 10:24 am |
Rick Warren will say whatever will help him at the time. Especially if it will keep him in the press and on top 10 lists in major publications.
July 6, 2009 at 10:38 am |
“(Someone really needs to inform Warren that most wars are caused by religion … but whatever.)”
American Revolution was caused religion? I thought it was about political freedom for America. Same for War of 1812…
Napoleanic wars were caused religion? I thought it was fought over the ideals of the (church-free) French Revolution being extended to the rest of Europe.
Civil War caused by religion? I thought it was fought over preservation of the union and slavery.
Spanish American War caused by religion? I thought it was because the Spanish blew up an American battleship and we wanted their empire.
WWI caused by religion? I thought it was about German militarism and expansion.
WWII caused by religion? I thought it was because we were attacked by the Japanese and because Hitler wanted to take over Europe.
Korea caused by religion? The North Koreans and Chinese were oficially athiests.
Viet Nam caused by religion? The N. Vietnamese were communist athiests – which religion were we fighting for?
Gulf War 1991? It was fought over oil.
Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – see above.
So where are these wars caused by religion?
July 6, 2009 at 11:16 am |
Ignore the troll, BEattitude, or this thread too will be taken over by the zealots!!!
July 6, 2009 at 1:02 pm |
Yeah, ignore it.
Counter-assertion: Wars are caused by rationalism – as in “our national interest/freedom is at stake”.
Just when was it: “our religion is at stake.”
July 6, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Paul M–
You can ignore religion’s part in the wars you listed if you want to.
There are 3 things that start wars. Greed, power and religion. Take your pick, but typically the power and greed is justified by a god. They are justified in their violent actions because it is their “god’s will”.
Exhibit A:
July 6, 2009 at 9:46 pm
So absent religion, every war since the American Revolution would not have been fought? I don’t think so…
Power and greed do not need God’s approval to cause wars. Rationalism can and does justify them.
July 6, 2009 at 11:10 am |
There is one purpose behind Warren`s stratagem here, and one purpose only. These primitive, regressive, authoritarian, ideologies may differ fundamentally on many issues, but they ARE united in their total opposition to gay rights, women`s rights, freedom of speech, individual liberty, and so on. We have similar “inter-faith” initiatives going on here in Europe ( see http://freeethinker.co.uk/ ), and that is all that they are really about. These religiots are becoming paranoid now that their power base in society is slipping away, and they will do absolutely anything – including making a pact with the Devil himself – to cling on to whatever power they have left! Rick Warren isn`t interested in ending war and poverty – he`s an American for Christ`s sake!! (Apologies to readers of this blog!)
July 6, 2009 at 1:26 pm |
Looking at your post so far I see Warren saying that the two should work together, not that they are the same. What is the over-arching point of this post? I don’t get it. It’s pretty disjointed.
July 6, 2009 at 2:38 pm |
The post is to point out how ridiculous Rick Warren’s speech is. He believes Muslims are going to hell since they reject Jesus, but he wants their help to solve the world’s problems.
And to top it off, his message was completely misunderstood by the audience as seen in the quote above. The Muslim woman took Warren’s message to be saying Christianity and Islam are basically the same.
This is not what Rick Warren believes. Note Reginald Selkirk’s quote from Warren above to see what he really thinks about the Muslim faith.
July 8, 2009 at 10:50 pm |
We can even assume that he has the best possible motives and it’s still offensive.
The guy thinks everyone should be Christian. According to Christian theology, if you don’t believe Jesus is the son of God, you go to hell. Muslims don’t believe that. So, even if he wants to convert every Muslim he works with, he still doesn’t believe that there should be any Muslims at all, because they’re wrong.
From experience, it’s tough to keep two groups of people together on a purpose when they both are utterly convinced that the other is entirely wrong.
July 6, 2009 at 3:38 pm |
Chasing Willow Creek or In search of Saddleback
http://thinkpoint.wordpress.com/2007/04/23/chasinf-willow-creek-or-in-search-of-saddleback/
July 14, 2009 at 5:43 pm |
Read this depressing report: http://www.africanveil.org/uganda071.htm
Do these Christians not read their Bibles? “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (II Cor. 6:14-15).