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{"id":506,"date":"2008-08-17T10:28:17","date_gmt":"2008-08-17T18:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/poptheology\/?p=506"},"modified":"2008-08-17T10:28:17","modified_gmt":"2008-08-17T18:28:17","slug":"were-here-and-were-religious-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/poptheology\/2008\/08\/were-here-and-were-religious-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"We're Here and We're Religious, Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

$\"\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

It is understandable, though unfortunate, that CNN\u2019s coverage of last night\u2019s Saddleback Presidential Forum was most likely overshadowed by Phelps-mania<\/a>.\u00a0 Thankfully, the only event that coincided with this important religious\/political discussion was the women\u2019s marathon (zzzz).\u00a0 Hosted by Pastor Rick Warren, who Time<\/em> magazine recently called America\u2019s most powerful religious leader<\/a>, this question and answer session with presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama is just what we need more of in the run-up to the election.<\/p>\n

Warren introduced the appropriately titled Saddleback Civil Forum<\/a> by saying that it is high time we reach a point in our political debates and discussions where we can disagree without demonizing.\u00a0 The audience erupted with cheers and applause.\u00a0 He then introduced Senator Obama and began an hour-long series of questions that he would then repeat for McCain.\u00a0 Unlike the Compassion Forum<\/a> that CNN covered several months ago, Warren threw out some serious questions as opposed to the relatively pointless, \u201cWhat\u2019s your favorite Bible verse or story?\u201d<\/p>\n

Warren\u2019s questions included \u201cAt what point does a baby have rights,\u201d \u201cHow do you define marriage,\u201d and \u201cWhat is worth sending American troops to war for?\u201d\u00a0 Of course, we will all disagree with both candidates on a variety of issues.\u00a0 We cannot disagree, however, on the value of such discussions\u2026calm and civil versus quick and degrading.\u00a0 However, at times, I felt like Warren was too eager to move on to the next question when he could have ommitted one or two like \u201cName three people you listen to\u201d for the sake of more time for more important questions.\u00a0 I felt that while both candidates ocassionally toed the party line, they frequently offered genuine, thoughtful answers to tough questions.\u00a0 Hopefully, the up-coming debates will be just as fruitful and informative\u2026I\u2019ll definitely be surprised if they are.<\/p>\n

For those of you who missed any or all of the forum and did not DVR it, it will re-air on CNN tonight at 8 pm (eastern time), midnight (eastern time), and 3 am tomorrow morning (eastern time) in case you want to watch or record it.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"