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The Myth of the Evangelical Voting Bloc

Megachurch pastor Rick Warren on the 2008 campaign.

By Lisa Miller | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Nov 30, 2007 | Updated: 2:12  p.m. ET Nov 30, 2007

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  • Posted By: pashnada @ 02/26/2008 1:34:52 PM

    Comment: two comments:
    (1) stop_it_already sounds extremely bitter. his/her belief in nothing beyond his/her comprehension is a belief system as much as a religious person's belief system. he/she cannot really believe he/she knows everything?????????????
    (2) I'm glad Rick Warren points out what many evangelical christians with a liberal political view have always know, evangelicals are not a block. there is a whole movement that sees poverty as the number one issue that christians should be concerned with rather than abortion and homosexuality

  • Posted By: lmperkins @ 02/25/2008 10:38:38 PM

    Comment: I am glad someone is telling it like it is. There is no Evangelical Voting Bloc. The media just does not get it. Yes people of faith often vote for the same person. People of faith have like views on many subjucts and will vote for the person who supports many of their views. They do not get together to form a voting bloc

  • Posted By: lmperkins @ 02/25/2008 10:33:21 PM

    Comment: I am glad someone has pointed out the truth about the Evangelical Voting Bloc. The media just does not get it. Yes, people of faith may vote for the same person but it is not because they have formed a voting bloc it is because they have like values and vote for the person who holds as many of those values as possible.

  • Posted By: outbackjack @ 02/25/2008 9:12:08 PM

    Comment: I have already cast my vote and that is for God's Kingdom. People need to realize that God's Kingdom is a real government with a real King, Christ. One can only support one side, either God's Kingdom or rule by man. Very soon God's Kingdom will "crush and put and end" to all earthly governments. (Dan. 2:44) They will all be destroyed. (Rev. 19:19-21) Jesus said his Kingdom was no part of the world. We all must one day "vote" - God's rule or man's

  • Posted By: outbackjack @ 02/25/2008 9:11:01 PM

    Comment: I have already cast my vote and that is for God's Kingdom. People need to realize that God's Kingdom is a real government with a real King, Christ. One can only support one side, either God's Kingdom or rule by man. Very soon God's Kingdom will "crush and put and end" to all earthly governments. (Dan. 2:44) They will all be destroyed. (Rev. 19:19-21) Jesus said his Kingdom was no part of the world. We all must one day "vote" - God's rule or man's

  • Posted By: frankco @ 02/25/2008 8:41:44 PM

    Comment: Sorry, But the guy who says you can't vote and worship God. is silly. Although the Country believes in seperation of Church and state... Any decenc y left in this country is because of the Worship of God. And how how do you know Jesus didn't vote. The Bible doesn't tell about His whole life... Jesus wasn't Roman. So he probably wouldn't join the Roman Army.. Your obviously intimidated by Jesus and who He is. God. And you don't like Christians. But that's OK. I'm sure you vote every election. And faught in every war since Vietnam. And of course you salute the emporor when he comes to town. So your opinion really matters. I just can't believe Jesus wouldn't vote. He so mean. Ha Ha

  • Posted By: jobla604 @ 12/02/2007 4:09:25 PM

    Comment: What? mfenwick ? You can't vote and worship God? Voting and worshipping God are not mutually exclusive! Voting is not worship! What you do in your heart is worship! Not your outward actions! Bowing your head, kneeling, or singing are not worship in and of themselves! Your heart must be worshipping. It's irresponsible to say that because Jesus didn't vote we shouldn't either. It's like saying that because the Bible didn't show Jesus eating any chocolate we shouldn't either. Both are ridiculous.

  • Posted By: loverds @ 12/02/2007 4:08:35 PM

    Comment: What? mfenwick ? You can't vote and worship God? Voting and worshipping God are not mutually exclusive! Voting is not worship! What you do in your heart is worship! Not your outward actions! Bowing your head, kneeling, or singing are not worship in and of themselves! Your heart must be worshipping. It's irresponsible to say that because Jesus didn't vote we shouldn't either. It's like saying that because the Bible didn't show Jesus eating any chocolate we shouldn't either. Both are ridiculous.

  • Posted By: mfenwick @ 12/02/2007 10:39:22 AM

    Comment: Did Jesus ever vote? Did he ever join the Roman military? Did he salute the emperor when he came to town? Did he ever pledge allegiance to the Roman flag? Did he worship the State? Then why do all the Bible thumpers and pew jumpers do all these things. You cannot be a Christian and a patriot at the same time. You cannot worship both God and Uncle Sam.

  • Posted By: barracuda_trader @ 12/01/2007 9:55:20 PM

    Comment: Rick Warren = compromise

    "Rupert Murdoch is a born-again Christian and Rick Warren claims to be his pastor," says Chris Rosebrough, head of the Christian Accountability Network. "As a Christian, Murdoch is committing an egregious sin by owning, expanding and profiting from pornographic channels, and Rick Warren, his pastor, has a biblical duty to call Murdoch to repentance and/or put him out of the church."



    The ties between Warren and Murdoch go beyond the spiritual. Murdoch also owns Zondervan, the company that published Warren's explosive bestseller "The Purpose Driven Life."

    "We hope that Warren's business ties to Murdoch's company haven't clouded his judgment and impacted his resolve to carry out his biblical duty as Murdoch's pastor," added Rosebrough.

    News of Murdoch's hard-core porn venture broke in the London publication The Business late last year. The story alluded to the seeming contradiction of a "born-again Christian" building a hard-core porn network.
    .

  • Posted By: LouisSnyder @ 12/01/2007 8:18:59 PM

    Comment: I am continually amazed at anyone professing the doctrine of Jesus can support wars. I thought and still do think Jesus can be summed up in two principles: Love and Compassion. Living in the Roman occupation of the holy land this Jesus did not even pick up a sword. Yet his followers are ardent militarist. They support things like semi automatic assualt rifles with high capacity clips, and capital punishment. And anti muslim rhetoric spotes from these sheep. Strange, I conclude.

  • Posted By: garylhern@hotmail.com @ 12/01/2007 5:41:50 PM

    Comment: God, has put into the minds and hearts of all his children who will know him, and these will be known
    to Christ his son who will acknowledge these children as the gateway to heaven. Thus says the Lord
    Jesus Christ! And He will send us an advocate to say what is needed to say..

  • Posted By: stellafrodo @ 12/01/2007 1:36:15 PM

    Comment: When I read the comments of WAKE UP AMERICA I am struck by the illogical conclusions. I agree with the comments that state the need for separation of church and state. I do not want the government involved in the practice of faith anymore than WUA want faith involved in the practice of government. WUA's ideology, however, is troubling. The fact that anyone with a faith based world view is somehow deficient speaks to the unbalanced logic of such individuals. Why is an atheistic worldview better than one based in faith? What is inherently more acceptable about a hedonistic, self-actualizing, -reliant, and -indulgent worldview. I am sure that WUA's railing against faith views and their infringement on a particular worldview would not give those from a faith based perspective the same leeway. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

  • Posted By: Dolly @ 11/30/2007 11:05:55 PM

    Comment: Inspite of our common ground on a number of issues.. Rick Warren and his Saddleback "Club" do not represent all Evangelicals, by any means.

  • Posted By: gary_s_paxton @ 11/30/2007 8:23:41 PM

    Comment: Well, we ARE a voting block and we're voting Huckabee.

  • Posted By: coolclipse @ 11/30/2007 8:06:05 PM

    Comment: "Wake Up America"...I think it is perhaps you who are being judgmental here. "First, we didn't have a pulpit, second it wasn't a church service. It was a conference, bringing in people from every walk of life from around the world. I would never, ever have a politician address the congregation in a worship service. " That sounds like Mr. Warren has a pretty good idea of the separation of church and state.
    This article wasn't about separation of church and state in the first place. It had to do with public appearances of presidential candidates.
    Next time you want to post a diatribe, at least stick with the topic.

  • Posted By: gary_s_paxton @ 11/30/2007 8:02:52 PM

    Comment: Well, we are a voting bloc...and we're voting for Mike Huckabee.

  • Posted By: coolclipse @ 11/30/2007 8:02:33 PM

    Comment: How sad, WAKE UP AMERICA, that you took an article that Pastor Warren clearly states his belief in separation of church and state, "First, we didn't have a pulpit, second it wasn't a church service. It was a conference, bringing in people from every walk of life from around the world. " Maybe it is you who is the judgemental person here?

    • Posted By: mynamer is sue @ 02/25/2008 20:52:20

      Comment: NEVER WOULD I VOTE FOR HUCKABEE IF HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON RUNNING, DIDN'T WE GET ENOUGH PROBLEMS FROM HOPE ARK,

  • Posted By: walkman @ 11/30/2007 6:32:38 PM

    Comment: While I think the story was overall good, I really wonder about the motivation for the story. Specifically, at the end of the story the interviewer implies the Pastor Warren has said something that would have led her to believe he was leaning toward voting for one party over the other. Nothing could be further from the truth and the fact that it was brought up makes me think that this was what the interviewer wanted to suppose/suggest to anyone who may read this story.

  • Posted By: walkman @ 11/30/2007 6:31:27 PM

    Comment: While I think the story was overall good, I really wonder about the motivation for the story. Specifically, at the end of the story the interviewer implies the Pastor Warren has said something that would have led her to believe he was leaning toward voting for one party over the other. Nothing could be further from the truth and the fact that it was brought up makes me think that this was what the interviewer wanted to suppose/suggest to anyone who may read this story.

  • Posted By: WAKE UP AMERICA @ 11/30/2007 6:23:38 PM

    Comment: You religious folks need to realize that the (attempt) at separation of church and state exist for a reason. Leave your religion at home on voting day. A non-religious person can be smart, effective and inclusive running a government that is truly accepting of ALL Americans. This is NOT a theocracy. The way a person runs a government and what their spiritual beliefs are are two separate things.

    Please, for the sake of humanity, try to take a step back and realize that religion creates a more narrow view than a non-religious world perspective. We would all be fine knowing that there is no god (of any variety) because we could then evaluate who we are and what our real needs are. Religion is divisive. Being a religious person does not automatically make you a good person just as being a non-religious person does not automatically make you a bad person. I beg you all to think of humans first and spirituality second.

  • Posted By: Sonia4Him @ 11/30/2007 4:31:06 PM

    Comment: I am a Proud Conservative Christian. My beliefs are Bible based, not man based. I do would not vote for Ms. Clinton. I am voting for a Conservative candidate who believes in and stands up for God. Also, this interview should have been about the candidates not about Rick Warren! Also, how you accuse him of leading a "cult"! Christianity has nothing to do with a cult, it has everything to do with Bible based teachings!Period.

    • Posted By: jb.in.nc @ 12/01/2007 00:00:34

      Comment: I guess the story was about whatever the reporter asked the questions about. Why should Warren answer the questions in a different way they were asked?

      The truth is there are some people out there who just don't like Warren because they are more traditional, don't understand him, or have been sold a bunch of hooey from more traditional (and perhaps some "professional jealousy") pastors and bloggers and will never believe anything good about him. I know personally Warren's theology and politics are conservative.......but he is taking the Bible's admonition to care for the poor and sick seriously. That rankles SOME fundamentalists who seem only to care about salvation. Biblically, we are to care about it all!

      Lastly, when we make Christianity about political parties we needlessly offend half the people on non-essential issues.

  • Posted By: RTGO @ 11/30/2007 4:04:07 PM

    Comment: douglassoileau,

    You ought to be ashamed of yourself! For one thing, this whole interview was about Pastor Rick Warren making it clear that he doesn't speak for either political party. You really need read the interview again! Second, how dare you accuse Pastor Warren of leading a cult! Have you any idea of what a cult is? A cult certainly doesn't go around the world helping people.

    Please tell me douglassoileau, what is it about Rick Warren and his MINISTRY that causes you to declare it a cult? Have you even read any of Pastor Warren's books. Have you listen to any of his interviews? Have you notice the GOOD works his ministry has done, is doing, and plan to do?

    Just because Pastor Warren is just as accepting to a Democratic candidate as he is to a Republican candidate doesn't make a person a cult leader or follower. If there is one thing about the Republican party I would like to see change is their nasty behavior when someone disagrees with them and how accepting they are immoral behavior just because the offender is "one of them".

  • Posted By: RTGO @ 11/30/2007 4:03:45 PM

    Comment: douglassoileau,

    You ought to be ashamed of yourself! For one thing, this whole interview was about Pastor Rick Warren making it clear that he doesn't speak for either political party. You really need read the interview again! Second, how dare you accuse Pastor Warren of leading a cult! Have you any idea of what a cult is? A cult certainly doesn't go around the world helping people.

    Please tell me douglassoileau, what is it about Rick Warren and his MINISTRY that causes you to declare it a cult? Have you even read any of Pastor Warren's books. Have you listen to any of his interviews? Have you notice the GOOD works his ministry has done, is doing, and plan to do?

    Just because Pastor Warren is just as accepting to a Democratic candidate as he is to a Republican candidate doesn't make a person a cult leader or follower. If there is one thing about the Republican party I would like to see change is their nasty behavior when someone disagrees with them and how accepting they are immoral behavior just because the offender is "one of them".

  • Posted By: douglassoileau @ 11/30/2007 3:12:02 PM

    Comment: it's great that clinton participated...Rick Warren ??? This guy doesn't speak for conservative Christians, he has his own (cult), i mean show..

    • Posted By: Sonia4Him @ 11/30/2007 16:40:43

      Comment: You sadly remind of those ignorant bigots back in the days of slavery and racism. It's sad at how people confuse( on purpose) a Bible based-non-denominational church with a cult?!? I have you and people like you in my prayers.

      • Posted By: al_g @ 12/01/2007 03:46:10

        Comment: Bigotry like "Vex the Midianites and smite them" (Num. 25:17), or racism like "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God has chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth" (Deut. 7:6, 14:2)? Or slavery like "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence of the Lord (Col. 3:22)?
        Either way, the last thing I want in the white house (other than the dumbass there now) is someone put there by those who take that archaic made-up drivel literally! The only difference between a religion and a cult is the number of adherents and whose point of view you're listening to.

        • Posted By: stop_it_already @ 02/26/2008 09:54:18

          Comment: I am with al_g... the old testament is littered with archaic messages of bigotry, sexism, racism etc... and you can't accept one half of the bible as law and ignore the old testament! The amount of cognitive dissonance involved in this "thought" process should be irreparable but when powerful speakers like Rick Warren come along, logic is thrown out the window and paved over by soothing messages of hope and charity. Not that these are bad messages; Warren has done many wonderful things to facilitate social awareness and change. But when they are used as tools to suture the wounds in the brain that logic and reality have torn open, they become a destructive, degenerative force that end up hindering human progress.

          I classify all religions as cults, no matter how many followers. It's all outmoded superstition with different mythology, and there is NO place in the White House for someone that still believes in fairy tales! What our we going to do, PRAY out way out of the monstrous debt Bush created? Ask Jesus for health care?

          Six years ago, my parents were on the cover of Rick Warren's Christmas pamphlet PRAYING for the salvation of my soul.... they were linking hands with him and crying their eyes out. All that did was solidify my belief that religion has an equal ability to tear apart families and cultures as it does to bring them together. And why bother when there are other principals to rally around that are virtuous in their own right?

 
 
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