Evangelical Pastor Rick Warren Addresses U.S. Muslims

Counter to some of his fellow conservative Christian critics, Rick Warren, pastor of the enormous Saddleback Community Church in Orange County and one of the most prominent religious leaders in the country, told several thousand American Muslims of the Islamic Society of North America on Saturday that "the two largest faiths on the planet" must cooperatively work together to dispel stereotypes and address global problems. Warren said Muslims and Christians ought to be partners in helping to end what he calls "the five global giants" -- war, poverty, corruption, disease, and illiteracy.

Though some of his more evangelical-fundamentalist positions make me a little uneasy, I thoroughly appreciate and respect Pastor Warren's outspoken attitude and practical action toward mainline Muslim communities since 911. It marks a sense of hope for interfaith dialogue and social action toward peace and reconciliation among our more conservative and evangelical-minded brothers and sisters.

Sarah Karush of the AP writes this article at Faith in Public Life outlining Warrens recent extent of solidarity and support to American Muslims.