McCain and Obama to attend faith-based forum

I just learned that Barack Obama and John McCain will appear together on the same stage for the first time in the presidential race. What is the incredible force bringing them together? Evangelical megachurch leader and best-selling author Rev. Rick Warren. The forum at Saddleback Church will also be co-sponsored by Faith in Public Life.

Mr. Warren, the author of the best-selling book “The Purpose-Driven Life,” said he had called each man personally to invite him to his event, which will focus on how they make decisions and on some of Mr. Warren’s main areas of focus, like AIDS, poverty and the environment.

[...] Mr. Warren said he would devise his questions with input from the Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders associated with [Faith in Public Life].

“Since I’m their friend, I’m not going to give them any gotcha questions,” Mr. Warren said, adding that a typical query would be, “What’s the most difficult decision you’ve had to make, and how did you make it?”

Mr. Warren said he would have Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama, of Illinois, appear on stage together momentarily at the event, though, he added, he would also “see if they want to get a little personal time behind the scenes.”

- NYTimes.com: McCain and Obama Agree to Attend Megachurch Forum, 7/21/08

Last I checked, Faith in Public Life was not limited to the big three Abrahamic faiths (although they're not exactly reaching out to us Buddhists, either). I wonder if any of you readers who are Muslim, Jewish, or Christian feel represented by Rev. Warren, and what your hopes might be for this presidential forum.