Considered by some to be the most well-known Christian pastor in the United States, California megachurch founder Rick Warren has often found himself at the center of political controversy during the last few years.
Although he does not claim to actively seek out political media attention, his straightforward comments concerning his right wing views have certainly garnered plenty of spotlight during the last decade.
His conservative stances on both abortion rights and gay marriage are at the forefront of Warren's highly debated opinions.
SPECIAL: Prayer Changes Your Brain in 4 Amazing Ways
He has often made it clear that he is not afraid to openly disagree with others in terms of his beliefs. At the risk of inflaming the majority, Warren has continued to advocate for what he claims to be the truth.
Here are some of Warren's boldest and most frequently remembered hot-button statements:
1. "Worry is really just a form of atheism. Every time you worry, you're acting like an atheist. You're saying, "It all depends on me." That's just not in the Bible," Warren once famously asserted to his readers in a daily devotion on his website. This line has been quoted in many publications since.
2. "I'm opposed to redefinition of a 5,000-year definition of marriage. I'm opposed to having a brother and sister being together and calling that marriage. I'm opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that marriage. I'm opposed to one guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage,"
Warren told Beliefnet's Steve Waldman, essentially comparing gay marriage to incest.
ALERT: When Do You Think Christ Is Returning? Vote Now
3. "Marriage can only be between a man and a woman," Warren memorably said in a speech at the Vatican, citing a passage in the Bible which describes marriage as a reflection of Christ's love for the Church,
as reported by Christian Today.
4. President Barack Obama is "absolutely" unfriendly to religion and his administration's policies have "intentionally infringed upon religious liberties," he once said in an
interview with The Huffington Post. His newfound anti-Obama stance came as a surprise to many since he once described the president as a man with a "commitment to model civility."
5. "I believe he, like Mandela, is a man of peace and his leadership is a model for Christians around the world," Warren once said of the controversial Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola, whose anti-gay law proposals have been compared to the ideologies of Nazi Germany. Warren's backing of such an extreme figure is one of his most memorable and polarizing moments in the limelight.
6. "I have all kinds of feelings in my life and it doesn't necessarily mean that I should act on every feeling. Sometimes, I feel attracted to women who are not my wife. I don't act on it. Just because I have a feeling doesn't make it right. Not everything natural is good for me," he explained about his reasoning for his stance on gay marriage.
SPECIAL: Can Prayer Heal You? Dr. Crandall Discovered the Truth
Related Stories: