Rick Warren Says Candidates Must Believe in God

[tteotdead]

& the constitution is clear on this; "...no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."

[tteotdead]

What?! haha.

Obviously he didn't know many of the founding fathers did not believe in god.

But also, the "In God We Trust" does not relate to anything religious.

[SoSincereful]

he makes real pastors and real christians look bad this upsets me since a large majority already dont like christians they got another reason cuz of this dude but just for the info this isnt how the real christians and real pastors are this dude is just not ignorent

[feedtherich]

So let's believe in a magical shit-fairy to solve our problems. Retard.

[TheLiberalSoup]

that is disgusting, you fucking prick warren.

[JanusChristIsRisen]

If President Christian was running for President of Youtube, he would lose by a landslide since the majority of Youtubers are atheists.

[pchtermino1]

And us poor atheists are stuck with some SOB that believes some guy in the sky will answer their prayers. I was christian for the first 2/3 of my life and the only super natural being that answered my prayers was Santa! I do have to say on his behalf he got it right most the time.

[Diomedes01]

So can he vote for a Buddhist? They don't believe in a god. But they are a religion.

:-D

[Kingkalty]

google Doe's Account.

[Jeycuasi]

he is really undermining human capabilities by saying that they cant make decisions without a supernatural been holding his hand

[dylnc14]

@Jeycuasi and ur mom's cock is bigger than yours lol!

[Jeycuasi]

@dylnc14 if you're the one defending religion they are doomed for sure

[poisonapple16]

Rick Warren = Bigot

[poisonapple16]

When is this guy going to be outed with a male prostitute?

[CanadiaNecro1]

I'll bet he also couldn't vote fore someone who wasn't male, white, and heterosexual.

[Danowar1990]

"The presicency is a job too big for one person." That's what he has an entire board of advisors and a full-time staff hired to help him with whatever he needs.

[garethac81]

Warren's thinking is so ass-backwards, it's hard to decide whether it's amusing, or just appalling.

It is ARROGANT for a politician to claim that they have a personal relationship with a superbeing. "Vote for me...'cos God thinks I'm awesome!" And yet Warren somehow manages to twist his logic into believing that is arrogant NOT to make such a claim...*facepalm*

[fallbread]

isnt that why he the president has advisers? what a fool this guy is

[MrChayeah]

Rick Warren is an ignorant fool. I was kind of pissed when Obama had him speak at his inauguration.

[Jimlon0]

I'm British and therefore not familiar with Rick Warren. Is he an escaped mental patient? That was some of the worst reasoning I've ever heard.

[FaganRoberts]

Warren is an ass.

[mtngx]

god is a joke.. it does not exist...

[chinchonchinchon]

How can you prove that?

ps.I'm not a religious freak.

[SirGriefALot]

So Rick Warren won't vote for somebody unless they think a supernatural being is going to give them help from another dimension? Those kinds of people would fit better in a straitjacket than the white house.

[dylnc14]

@SirGriefALot u suk cock...

[eviltreemonster]

Fuck him. Ho Chi Minh for President!

[Wallyrus]

So, Rick Warren is essentially saying, using nice sounding Christian words, that he hates democracy because it allows atheists to run for president.

[ULAPZ]

load of shit, we should rely on our own damn selves, not the magical sky man who created himself and then all of the universe, dumbfuck theists can be really one sided sometimes

[weirdgirl27]

oh this is bs. "someoen greater than ourselves'?

that is why there are advisors and experts to give help. god can't tell you how to make more jobs for people but an economist can. fuck you rick warren.

[AdderallApocalypse]

how do I express my gratitude for the person who shared this video while also expressing my disagreement with Rick Warren's statements in this video? should I rate it high or low? anyone know how that works?

[weirdgirl27]

thats a good question actually...

[PianoWallaby]

Very good question.  Was thinking the same thing.

[Iconoclastithon]

Jefferson was an Agnostic-Deist and a hardcore materialist and epicurean. Lincoln was a deist. Deists are "practical" atheists in that we believe in a non-interventionist first cause creator that is'nt concerned with us arrogant little homosapiens, it is not human limke or human centered.

Clearly Warren is a dumbass. I'd welcome an atheist president with hopen arms if he/she was a good person and qualified, same with deist or agnostic but never an evangelical christian/muslim/jew.

[writcheyc]

President Obama extended his hand to Warren when he invited him to give the customary invocation at the inauguration. This is the way Warren repays a generous gesture. Whatever good will may have come Warren's way will not be arriving now. The entire world can now see how shallow and empty this miserable wretch really is.

[kcorstanje]

Rick Warren is a dumbass.

He does know that people who believe in God are just as, if not more hypocritical than people who don't?

We've had multiple presidents who have been atheists, like some people said, Abraham Lincoln. He wouldn't have voted for good ol' Abe?

Also, I'm guessing this guy is is heavily Christian and Rightwing right?

[PreparationH]

I've been told Abraham Lincoln was an atheist. :0

[ThePsychoguy]

Depending on the source. Of his two main biographers, one his best friend and one his wife (if I recall correctly), one claimed he was an atheist and the other claimed he was either a deist or Christian. He was most likely an atheist at at least some point of his life - I heard he went through periods of re-evaluation often and changed his positions on these things lots, so it's hard to say exactly what he was.

[Iconoclastithon]

Deist

[Iconoclastithon]

Deist

[LordMalice6d9]

I honestly don't see how voting for someone who doesn't beleve in God would be any different from a person who does.

[Morderkaj]

Jebus! That's all I can say, really. Too stupid to bear. When will America enter the 21st century with the rest of us, and let decisions be up to real life humans of flesh and bones, and not some dogmatic 1st century deity?

[nonbe1iever]

As long as you beleive in one of the many imaginary gods you've got ricks vote!!!!

[UrinationNation]

What if I believe in Santa will Rick vote for me then, I mean I send Santa letters, and he checks on me if I've been good or bad and I try to be good for you know goodness sake and so I get presents. I don't think I'm the most powerful person, everyone knows the FED controls everything, so if I believe in the FED can I have your vote, please??

[Jyotinanda108]

i believe in God but disagree with this guy, an atheist could be just as good a leader, look at Bush,

[NykuG]

You are a communist.

[thplatypus]

Warren's got the problem completely backwards. We just had eight years of a president who felt he did not need anyone else to help in making his decisions. By attributing his own faulty decisions to his imaginary deity, he was the one going it alone. I cannot wait for an atheist candidate who relies on the good counsel of real people and real science.

[jackthetwist]

I hate these "We need god, therefore one exists" arguments. It's entirely consistent to believe that "we need somebody greater than ourselves to help us" and also believe that that "somebody" doesn't exist. What a moron.

[kissfan7]

"I think the presidency is a job too big for one person."

There's this great invention called the Cabinet, Rev. Warren.

[GrigoriSom]

Well, fuck him.

[ruin3r]

This man is disgusting. HE is an atheist towards the muslim, jewish and hindu gods.. not to mention all the 10's of thousands of other gods imagined throughout history, by his definition nobody is qualified for office because they don't believe in MOST gods. atheists in America just happen to believe in one fewer god than he does.. yet because of that they're not qualified for any public office? sickening. Why does Obama even waste his breath talking to this pig?

[alexjohnc3]

How does not believing something exists have anything to do with the belief that one does not "need anybody else"?

[TheFluffyDuck]

A little arrogant? And beliving that we are made in the image of the creator of the universe and that becasue of which we are the most importnat thing in the universe next to GOD. That such a being takes special interests in my affairs and has a relationship with me is somehow less arrogant? Rick I dont have the ego to belive in a god. I look at this universe of ours and I just cant belive its here for me. I dont have a big enough ego to belive in god :(

[trumansburgnews]

A little arrogance?  It seems that it's Rick Warren who is the arrogant one.

[ChoofMonster]

Unfortunately, polls suggest that around half of Americans agree with him. Other countries fare slightly better.

[Konform2zoidberg]

Isn't it arrogant to believe that the supreme potentate of the universe is aiding some worthless little blue speck?

but not even that some hunk of surface area on said blue dot

[hemiforever]

Larry should have followed up with, "so you would vote for a Wiccan or Muslim?"

[alexjohnc3]

Damn, that would have been good...

[MaBu888]

Fukkk Rick Warren's opinion this matter. Now that is my opinion LOL.

[Whoo69]

What kinda shallow thinking is it that prevents you from voting against someone or for someone simply based on something so petty as religon??? I don't give a fuck! I found it hilarious how the "real" Christians in the GOP gave Romney flack for being a Mormon, and I thought it was a waste of time, just like I think it's a waste of time to bitch about atheists in office. Who cares??? Look at their record, not their faith. Atheists don't have a disease that makes it harder to govern.

[Whoo69]

Being an atheist isn't "arrogant"! IT's just rational. It's a lot more sensible than claiming some imaginary friend in the sky you have no proof of's existence telling you how to live. Or claiming he wants you to bomb certain areas, like Iraq. Atheists are also more likely to respect individual liberty and be progressive and not conform to extremely rigid, primitve morality. We don't think things are immoral simply b/c they're "unnatural", like premarital sex. Nothing wrong with it.

[Whoo69]

What is arrogant is thinking you're so much better than someone who refuses to believe in God that that somehow is a factor in your voting. Or making laws preventing atheists from running for office. Or banning gay marriage b/c your "god" says it's wrong. So don't even get me started on arrogance.

Yeah, some atheists are arrogant, but you fundies have been 10X more arrogant.

[Whoo69]

So, Rick Warren is basically saying "Our president should take marching orders from 'god' and do what 'god' tells him to". Even if that president is a schizophrenic?? Then "god" might tell him to do something crazy, like, I dunno, BOMB IRAN!!! God, you're an ass, Rick. You try to hide it and act all "nice" and say in that stupid Saddleback Forum "I don't agree with everything both candidates stand for." Oh, please. We know you're in the tank for McCain!

[Whoo69]

We don't NEED God to do a good job in politics! That's just silly. More often than not, religion and politics only creates division and screws everything up. Keep religion OUT of politics! So, what Warren basically means is that he'd LOVE if this country were a theocracy. He'd LOVE the president to talk about God all the time and act like he's "God's rep." Sickening. Warren is like Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson without all the homophobia and antagonistic way of speaking.

[mjr256]

Christianity is the biggest threat to Human dignity, freedom, exploration, education, scientific advances, tolerance, progress, and even survival.

[MaBu888]

YES, it's up there with the best of the trouble-makers of civilization.

[nightflyer28]

What an asshole. The founders made their views plain when they wrote Article VII, saying no religious test would be required for office.

As far as I'm concerned, this idiot and all the other idiots who think that religious belief should be required can suck it.

[ronpaul2020]

The guy is entitled to his own opinion whether or not you like it. As a matter of fact, you are just as intolerant as this guy is judging by your comments.

It is one of the main reasons I don't tell people I'm atheist... because of the angry atheist types. You are no better than a fundamentalist christian. But, at least you are better than a fundamentalist muslim...unless you've killed someone because they believe in god. Have you? I'm sure the thought crossed your mind.

[nightflyer28]

Bullshit. Yes, he's entitled to his opinion. Did I say he wasn't? No. He has his right to his opinion, and I have my right to mine, which I gave.

Disapproval doesn't mean I think the prick shouldn't be able to speak. So don't try to read my mind, you're not good at it.

[nightflyer28]

Further, the fundie comparison is way out of line. Yes, I'm 'angry." Why? Because for the last 20 years, I've been watching the religious reich in our country gain more and more political power as they gut the basics of our Constitution & BofR that make it something to admire. I've seen the concept of compromise become "We won't take it all now if you'll just give it to us piece by piece." I've seen any criticism of their actions labeled "Anti-xtian bigotry."

Angry? You bet. With good reason.

[ronpaul2020]

You're fucking out of your mind. "Last 20 years", "religious reich"? Seriously, take some meds dude.

The constitution is "gutted" when SCOTUS judges decide the government can conduct a land-grab of property at will to merely turn it over to a private developer.

Vote democrat to ensure justices are on the bench that make it happen! There have been people who suffered over this. I have yet to be forced at gunpoint into a church.

You're a fucking retard.

[nightflyer28]

And you're an idiot who hasn't been paying attention.

Dobson, Falwell, Robertson, Ralph Reed, the Xtian coalition. Any of these ring a bell? They've been pushing fundamentalist candidates into office for many years. Reed & others used to call them "stealth candidates," guys who'd describe their views in conventionally tolerable terms and tone down the extremist stuff, then start working on the real fundie agenda once they got in. This is documented, their own words. Look it up.

[TheAgnosticAspie]

eah, ever happened to "there say be no religious test for anyone who wants to hold public office" or along those lines.

What makes a believer so much more credible than a non believer?

The answer is NOTHING!

This is just pure bigotry.

[unitedlive99]

For starters:

John Adams

Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Second President of the United States

[I]t is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue.

John Quincy Adams

Sixth President of the United States

The law given from Sinai was a civil and municipal as well as a moral and religious code; it contained many statutes . . .

[edeaki]

bravo..

u need more courage to insult a God's servant.

[TheAgnosticAspie]

Rick Warren is just another fake evangelical Christian pastor who capitalizes on the weaknesses and emotions of people to milk his flock of sheep of all their money. When you step into his church and ministry he does not see you as a person who needs salvation or redemption, he sees you as a dollar sign, just like everyone else.

[mjr256]

So I guess George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Abraham Lincoln can never become presidents.

[unitedlive99]

Sorry but you're an idiot. George Washington was the biggest Christian of them all.

[mjr256]

That's seriously your response. I name 5 major secular presidents & your response is an ad hominem & the erroneous claim that 1 in the list was a Christian?

Washington subscribed to the religious faith of the Enlightenment: Like Franklin and Jefferson, he was a deist. [Flexner, James Thomas Flexner, Washington The Indispensable Man. New York, 1974: New American Library, 1974. p. 216]

[ronpaul2020]

George Washington took his oath of office by placing his hand on what is now known as the "George Washington Inaugural Bible". I'm sure that irks you. All the people you mentioned certainly believed in God, so your original comment makes absolutely no sense.

Larry King: Does a person have to believe in God to be president?

Rick Warren: I would say so, I couldn't vote for a person who was an atheist.

All those people you mention? NOT ATHEISTS, DUMBASS.

[mjr256]

That's your evidence? Seriously? Washington has stated himself that he is a Deist. I think he'd know. And it's laughable that you think Thomas Jefferson was a Christian. I suggest you look at The Jeffersonian Bible. Do you think Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin were Christians too? Why we're at it, maybe Osama bin Laden's a Christian too. And let's just say The Pope is Protestant. If we can just throw out all the inconvenient historical evidence to the contrary, why not?

[ronpaul2020]

Are you fucking stupid, dude? A DEIST IS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN GOD.

Jesus christ, man. You have your head straight up your fucking ass.

[mjr256]

Deists DON'T BELIEVE IN A PERSONAL GOD. They don't believe in a divine explanation for morality or that any god interferes w/ in human affairs. Deism is the closest an intellectually honest person could be to an atheist at a time before scientistis like Darwin rendered the notion of a first cause creator unnecessary and implausible.

[ronpaul2020]

What is shitty is historical revisionism, whether conducted by those promoting religion or bashing it. People have an agenda to promote their cause and then re-write history to fit their needs. Atheist websites are SHIT and I'd practically consider myself an atheist myself. I hate fucking angry atheists that obsess over it. They are absolutely no different than the ones they hate, IMO.

You'd have to phrase another question to ask this clown before you can make your bold statement.

[mjr256]

"They are absolutely no different than the ones they hate, IMO." -Yeah, writing books & giving lectures is the same thing as forcing 8 year old girls to get married, blowing up abortion clinics, picketing funerals, & fatwas for suck up to an imaginary being.

This whole video is irrelevant as atheists are not even allowed to run for public office in several states. If it wasn't for angry atheists fighting for their rights, you'd have likely been burned at the stake by now. Wake up!

[ronpaul2020]

Once again, I'll point this out:

Larry King: Does a person have to believe in God to be president?

Rick Warren: I would say so, I couldn't vote for a person who was an atheist.

THESE PEOPLE YOU MENTION ARE NOT FUCKING ATHEISTS.

But yet you say "Oh, that means he wouldn't have voted for George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, etc." and then point out that George Washington was a deist which is someone who believes in GOD.

HE FUCKING DOES'T SAY "I wouldn't vote for a non-christian."

[mjr256]

The Deist creator for all intents & purposes isn't a god. It's just way of explaining the origin of life from non-life.

They're not talking about a Deist creator; they are talking specifically about a god that interferes w/ human events & defines morality. This is implicit in the question. Why would a theist prefer a Deist candidate over an atheist if neither claims to get their morals from a god?

[ronpaul2020]

It is a ridiculous arguement at best because he is from our current timeframe and if he was born back then, who the fuck knows, eh?

Who fucking cares? Are you fucking begging for the vote of his wacky followers? That would be like John McCain trying to get the vote of deadbeat welfare niggers.

[mjr256]

If you think the deist is exempt from Warren's bigotry than you've missed the whole point. Do you even know who Rick Warren is? He wouldn't vote for a Jew, let alone a deist. None of the presidents I listed would get Warren's vote based on their public criticisms of Christianity. & yes, w/ the possible exception of Washington who rarely talked about religion, they were very critical of the church. Along w/ Ben Franklin & Thomas Paine they were the Dawkins, Harris & Hitchens of their day.

[bobcarp23]

So basically what this guy is saying is, he could vote for someone who believes in a FALSE god, but not no god. So I guess he would never vote for Einstein or Stephen Hawking, or Bill Gates or Warren Buffett.

I guess that makes since in the religious, brainwashed, don't wanna be educated world.

[zapopaul]

holy shit. and this guy sells more books in a week than dawkins, hitchens, harris or dennett do in a year. we really are in deep shit.

[cubstrek85]

religious people are dumb

[Eddy438]

But their preachers are making a lot of money on the shit they preach!

[FlyingHamsta]

If you're a fundamentalist please go shoot yourself

[bobcarp23]

If they did, the average IQ of Americans would increase dramatically. On the other hand, if they did there would be a major shortage of workers in the fast food industry.

[Prometheus3641]

"The Presidency is too big for one person"

Isn't that what the V.P. and Sec. of State are for?

[MercifulMing]

Gee, in school they taught me that politicians were accountable to their consituency. That certainly constitutes someone greater than themselves. And unlike magic sky man, they might actually hold him accountable!

[jerrydoubleu]

Rich, fat, did I mention rich, preacher man shoves the Xtian agenda up everyone's asses.

[Maggotpunk]

So he's saying he'd vote for a satan worshipper over and Atheist. How cute.

[dylnc14]

@Maggotpunk I would! Atheist think they're all bad, and we're weak for believing in a god, well i kicked an atheist's (excuse language) Ass last time he said something to my face and I'll sure as heck kill you without a second thought!

[QuixoticTendencies]

@dylnc14 You could try, you asinine cunt. Excuse language? Really? Fucking pussy.

[dylnc14]

@QuixoticTendencies wow i guess i win because appearently i got to you because you're losing you're head... /\./\

[QuixoticTendencies]

@dylnc14 No, I just felt some real vitriol was in order for someone as shit-dribblingly stupid as you.

[TalmadgeG1]

What an ass.

[voyzovrezon]

Interesting. Warren admits he'd trust someone of another faith, just as long as they put faith in something greater than ourselves. So, he would trust another god? Interesting.

[SeenAndNotSeen]

Yet another Christian whoinsists that atheists hate God. Being an atheist doesn't mean one "denies that we need somebody greater than ourselves to help us." It simply means that one doesn't believe that God exists. An atheist might wish there was a god to help him, just like I wish that Santa Claus was real to bring me presents. Disbelieving in Santa doesn't mean that I am too arrogant to admit that I can't buy my own presents; it just means I'm not going to rely on an imaginary man to help me.

[SeenAndNotSeen]

Besides, why does disbelief in God automatically mean that someone rejects outside help. Presidents have Cabinets, advisors, secretaries, Congress, and opinion polls to help them make decisions. All of those people people combined certainly qualify as "someone greater" than the President.

[SeenAndNotSeen]

Very telling is Rick's statement that he might vote for someone of a different religion. He doesn't even care if the divine advice is real! Rick certainly thinks Krishna or Brahmin is imaginary, so wouldn't that make a Hindu president worse than an atheist in his eyes? The Hindu is appealing to and relying on an imaginary authority, while the atheist is not.

Besides, wouldn't Rick's god help anyone who really needs it? Or does He just give special powers to Christians and perhaps Jews?