The Power Of Prayer

In a country which supposedly has a constitutionally mandated separation between church and state, why is a Reverend giving the President-Elect's inaugural invocation?

tired and old

the problem is drug users do hurt other people literally not some weird metaphorical hurt...

but literally having not the judgment or clarity to not hurt other people... the ramifications of drug use can be far reaching

two adults who love each other ...who are cognitive and mature hurts NO ONE .

This is the problem with the choice of Rick Warren, Barrack Obama would have never chosen the guy if he said what he said about homesexuals about African Americans. Never! And, although, I really like Obama and still have faith he will be a great President, he did not consider gays and lesbians in his decision to choose Warren, Period! And, I am sick and tired of being a 2nd class citizen in a country where I pay the same taxes as everyone else.

I don't really see what the problem is. He is inviting someone to pray. It is stupid to say we are praying to God while stating that God is ok with homosexuality. Now if he was looking for an interior designer or a party planner but can you really be a christian pastor and believe homosexuality is ok? Barrack wanted a Christian to open the day with prayer. He could not have chosen a pro-homosexual pastor for that because there is no such thing.

You so-called "gays" need to understand Pastor Warren is not going to "PREACH" FOR OR DURING THE INAUGURATION; he' has ONLY been asked to PRAY. You appear to be upset because he believes in one principle while you believe in another. Pastor Warren DID NOT WRITE THE BIBLE; HE IS A MESSENGER FOR THE BIBLE ! Exactly whom should the President-elect have selected to deliver the invocation prayer, SOMEONE OF YOUR SICK CHOOSING? Why don't you people just go "DO" what you know best and stop attempting to pawn your ways on the rest of the American people? Instead of attempting to "WRITE" THIS GARBAGE, these two individuals need to read Genesis Chapter nineteen, verses 1 through 28.

HEY ! SEABISCUIT.

YOU TELL BLOGGERS TO " SHUT UP ".

YOU CALL THEM " IDIOTS " AND YOU SAY THEY ARE " INSANE ".

YOUR ANGRY AND INTOLERANT.

YOU SAY YOUR GAY ?

All Rick Warren did was state an opinion held by nearly 100% of the population 20 years ago, that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Even still the great majority of Americans believe this.

It seems ironic that Obama's choice of a person holding the majority view would cause such an uproar. Almost certainly, if he picked someone with the other view there would be much less fuss. How strange! The majority view cannot be publically stated! It seems like some sacred cow has been offended here.

I have nothing against gay people, but marriage is NOT a civil rights issue. I am offended when gays equate their right to marry with slavery or the thousands of people who were lynched or those considered 1/3 a human being or those denied a book to read or those who were sold like cattle or couldn't drink water from the whites only fountain or even today are killed for driving while black. If gays want to go through the level of crap endured by those who have really struggled just to stand on the corner without getting arrested or lynched then they can sound the alarm for civil rights. I think if gays want the law changed so they can marry, I would hope they would not attach themselves to the civil rights movement. To do so shows a level of mis-education and ignorance and it is offensive. Not to be for gay-marriage is not a stand against gay people, but a stand for traditional marriage. Rich Warren is not homophobic. I haven't read anything that gives me the impression he is. He is neither angry or hostile. He has simply stated what his faith dictates.

I am a gay male and I heartily applaud President-elect Obama's invitation to Reverend Warren, despite Warren's opposition to gay marriage. The way I see it, there are always two roads to effecting positive change that is long - in this case, GLBT people achieving full recognition as people deserving the same rights as everyone else.

One approach is extremist and polarizing - the "with us or against us" view favored by Ms. Renna. Such an approach accepts no compromises and anything short of capitulation by the opposition does not represent victory. Hers is a perfectly legitimate viewpoint - but it simply does NOT work. Rather, it results in everyone refusing to talk to anyone who doesn't share their strong conviction. A classic example is the pro-life/pro-choice issue, where positions are now so thoroughly encased in concrete that any kind of universal agreement is almost impossible.

The other approach takes the view that all progress is incremental (and usually, very slow), but that progress IS inevitable, so long as the quarreling parties recognize their opposition's viewpoints. This approach DOES work. Tt is this gradualist approach that Obama chooses to follow - EXACTLY as he promised, during his campaign.

I wish progress wasn't so damn slow, but I'm convinced that Obama's approach - one that seeks to build on points of agreement, rather than areas of disagreement - is the ONLY approach that will ever move us forward. It will take awhile, but we WILL get there.

Living a gay lifestyle is sin or wrong or whatever you want to call it. Yea i know most of them say they were born that way and i believe them. but i also believe there were people born with a natural desire to steal or lie and does that make it right? NO!! But we do live in this great country of freedom so if they decide to live that way so be it but all i ask is that they would shut up and start focusing on things that are more important than themselves

Why is that gay and lesbians are never satisfied? They constantly bicker over something just to bring attention to themselves. The media should stop giving voice to them. They seem to think they are the only slighted people to have ever lived. Get over it and live your life the way you want to just leave the rest of us out of it. We are tired of hearing all the complaints. If being gay was right in God's eyes you would not be so unhappy with your lives!!!

I have never commented in this fashion on any subject, even though I've been very passionate about many. My comment is because I believe that our President Elect Barack Obama is being viewed harshly on the subject of selecting Pastor Rick Warren to give the Invocation or say the prayer during the Inauguration Ceremony. I think that this dialogue is a great idea, thanks Newsweek. I applaud Chris Crain for the consistency of "common ground" and knowing which fight to pick. As children when a fight or disagreement would "break out" our parents would always say, don't fight, you should get along, find common ground. It's a miserable person who always finds something negative. My mom would say, look for the positive. Don't be so controversial, when it's not applicable and "not the fight." She would always say, "give the other person the benefit of doubt." President Elect Barack Obama echos this statement that has become in many ways ...his signature, "we can disagree without being disagreeable."

I believe that as human beings we should receive our God given rights....inalienable ....life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And yes, all people are humans. If you happen to be in the minority as I am, a 55 year old African American woman , you know the definition of this statement in the absence of those rights. You know the great joy of having access to those rights, as well. There are varying views, even among those with the same sexual preference and religious foundation on the subject of marriage for gay people. I stand with your analogy Chris, even with the fact that I am not gay, and don't believe in same sex marriage. I should also say that I don't believe in divorce either, unfortunately it happens, is legal, even though it hurts so many people.

I support our President Elect Barack Obama in his efforts to bridge the divide. We are not going to agree with all of his decisions, but I believe that they will be well thought out, and moved upon as a beacon of hope for this great nation. In order to move forward, we must work together for all people. Change we can believe in.....