To paraphrase the late President Ronald Reagan: “There he goes again!” Apparently, it's not enough for CNN weeknight host Piers Morgan to be the target of petitions to the White House demanding him to either be sent packing to his native England or be forced to remain in America because “No one in the U.K. wants him back.”
Then on Christmas Eve, Morgan used his interview with evangelical Pastor Rick Warren -- author of the popular “Purpose Driven Life” book -- to charge that “the Bible and the Constitution were very well-intentioned” but are “basically inherently flawed,” thus requiring an amendment to the Bible.
The CNN host of “Piers Morgan Tonight” pointed to a passage that states adultery is punishable by being stoned to death, which Warren replied was “a civil law” for the nation of Israel and not a “moral law” that has a wider application.
Morgan then asserted that the Bible should be amended based on changing cultural viewpoints, particularly same-sex marriage. “Hence the need to amend it.”
“My point to you about gay rights, for example, it's time for an amendment to the Bible,” he stated.
Warren's reply was short and to the point: "No."
The host then jokingly remarked that Warren “should compile a new bible.”
"Not a chance," the pastor responded.
“I do not believe the Bible is flawed,” the pastor of the Saddleback Church in southern California added. After all, “why does it say 'Holy' on the Bible?”
“And I willingly admit, willingly admit that I base my worldview on the Bible, which I believe is true, and truth,” Warren stated. “My definition of truth is if it's new, it's not true. If it was true 1,000 years ago, it'll be true 1,000 years from today.”
“Opinion changes, but truth doesn't,” he noted.
"We're going to agree to disagree on that," Morgan stated.
The host also challenged Warren regarding his views against homosexual marriage, asking: “Why do you have such a problem with a man who, quite naturally, falls in love with another man?”
Warren responded that his opposition to same-sex marriage is not a “love issue.”
“The Bible says you can love anybody,” the pastor noted.
There is nothing in the Bible that says a man can't love a man. In fact, there are many examples of men loving men in Scripture. The Bible says you just can't have sex with everybody.
“I'm commanded to love everybody,” Warren continued. “I, as a believer in Jesus Christ, I am not allowed to hate anybody. I'm not allowed to disrespect anybody. I am commanded -- in fact, Jesus said if you don't love everybody, you don't really love me.”
As NewsBusters previously reported, this wasn't the first time Morgan has pushed for changes in the Bible.
During an interview with comedian Jeff Foxworthy on August 21, the host asked this ludicrous question:
How literally should people take the Bible? And should the Bible be an evolutionary thing, rather like the Constitution was amended a few times?
Nevertheless, the Christmas Eve discussion ended amicably, with Warren telling Morgan that “we need more of this kind of talk.”
Morgan agreed, stating that “the debate should always be respectful.” After noting that the same should be true during conversations with politicians, he added that “the moment it becomes disrespectful and discourteous, and then rude and then poisonous, you never achieve anything.”
We can only hope the British host remembers that statement the next time he interviews someone who supports gun rights and the Second Amendment.
