I've pretty much been working, watching amazing volleyball or attending Christmas parties for the last 48 hours, so I was blissfully unaware of a number of happenings around the world during that time. (But you say, 'Wait a second ... isn't knowing what's going on in the world exactly what your work is?' To which I respond, 'Yup. I could tell you most everything important that's happened in Nebraska during that time. Which is, well, not much.')
So I fired up the ol' computer this morning to find out Deep Throat had died ... two days ago. (And Paul Weyrich, too. If there was ever a most underrated 20th-century conservative, it would be him.)
I also found out that Rick Warren has been chosen to give the prayer at Barack Obama's inauguration next month. It's prompted the standard roll-your-eyes responses, as well as an interesting discussion at Slate's XX Factor. (To start at the beginning of their discussion, scroll to the bottom and read your way up.)
It's fascinating to see views I find completely normal, like anti-abortionism and the idea that there's eternal importance in sharing one's religious views with the rest of the world, elicit such panic and repulsion from people who've rarely encountered them beyond a ideological-bogeyman level. Ummmm ... you do realize that about a third of Americans hold each of those views? They can't possibly be as extreme and ultra-ultra-conservative as you make them out to be.
I think the Warren pick was a fine one politically on both sides. (Though I do agree with several of the XX bloggers that Jim Wallis would have done just as well for Obama while avoiding the ire from the left.) But I know, as one of those bloggers notes, that there are many conservative Christians who have long seen Warren as a sellout for taking the kind of stands on things like creation care that made him even plausible as an Obama choice. It reminds me of a classic Calvin and Hobbes quote: A good compromise leaves everybody mad.
So what do you think?
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2 comments:
I've been annoyed by the reaction, too.
First off, he's just giving a freaking invocation. He's far from being a Billy-Graham-equivalent to Obama. It's a hypocritical to get up in arms about the idea of Warren being a spiritual influence on Obama when we elected him with full knowledge of Jeremiah Wright.
Second, Obama is doing exactly what he said he would: striving toward unity by reaching across tables, and that includes evangelicals. Unity does not mean tactfully getting everybody to believe what you believe.
I will have to disagree, though, Coddster on the idea that Jim Wallis would have done as well as Warren. Wallis, gets ire from the Right and from Christians (including his own alma mater, my and your Dad's Trinity). He wouldn't be seen as much of a compromise. Warren is, I think, perfect for the role as he holds the stereotypical views of an evangelical, but is able to put them aside to unite behind a bigger cause (and has already been lauded by some liberals for his superb action against impoverishment). He's not Jim Wallis, but he's not Pat Robertson. He's right between.
okay so i didn't read the stuff on slate, but i've been reading some other sites.
I think the crazy thing for me is that the US still has invocations....i don't like it. (it's the same feeling i had when Donald Miller gave the invocation at the Dem convention).
I guess it puts on all these alarm bells about separation of church and state and hoping that the separation does more to protect the church than the state. Seriously, why do we like the put this veneer of religiosity and christianity into our politics. It just serves to tarnish and water-down the gospel and help those in the rest of the world associate Christianity with the every step and mis-step of the American government. It's sad, whoever gives the invocation.
But in domestic politics as they are, I think Warren is a very astute choice. James is right, Wallis doesn't have the wide appeal. This wasn't about reaching out to lefty-Christians (like me) who voted obama, but more about helping to ease the fears of those who are worried that obama may be the most liberal president of our time. This is also why I'm sure Obama is loving all the current headlines that he is supposedly angering his liberal base because of his centrist cabinet choices. Anyway, it's all about playing the political game, and Obama does it absolutely masterfully.
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