Saddleback Forum Critics Misunderstand Religion's Role in Politics
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Below is an excerpt from "On Faith," an Internet feature sponsored by The Washington Post and Newsweek. Each week, more than 50 figures from the world of faith engage in a conversation about an aspect of religion. This week's question : At the Saddleback Church forum, pastor Rick Warren began his interviews with John McCain and Barack Obama by saying: "We believe in separation of church and state, but not faith and politics." What's your response to that and to the forum?
And lo it is a few days after the Saddleback Civil Forum and the republic is still safe. Extremists on both sides of religion and government issues are deeply disappointed.
The thin slice of religious people in America who are theocrats have long viewed Warren as an enemy. The civil forum confirmed their worst fears. Warren held a civil conversation with people whom he is not in agreement. He was polite to the ''enemy'' and yet he has not yet been smitten with boils or some other sign of displeasure.
The loud but small segment of the population that is extremely secular is also displeased. After all, Warren asked questions about the religious views of the candidates. Next thing you know, candidates will be taking the presidential oath of office on the Bible!
Some of the commentary on the Saddleback event misunderstands the role of buildings and the pastor in much of Evangelical Christianity. These easily worried commentators also act shocked and feign fright that pastors would be heavily involved in American politics when there is nothing new about it.
We have never been a theocracy, Saddleback is no sign we are becoming one, and Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain are behaving no differently than Abraham Lincoln in seeking the support of prominent pastors.
-- John Mark Reynolds, associate professor of philosophy at Biola University
To read the complete essay and see more "On Faith" commentary, hosted by Jon Meacham and Sally Quinn, go tohttp:/
