In a World Net Daily piece called Rick Warren: ‘I always own up to my mistakes’ we’re told that, “Many false claims, [Warren] contended, have taken on a life of their own on Internet blogs, such as assertions he was mentored by positive-thinking pastor Robert Schuller.”

Then Purpose Driven Pope Rick Warren says: “I’ve only met Robert Schuller twice, I believe. I’ve never had a one-on-one conversation with him. Not once. So how do I even know him?” The WND story goes on to inform us:

Warren said some criticism is simply baseless, charging many “don’t do their due diligence on research.” The Robert Schuller “mentorship,” for example, likely originated with a statement the Crystal Cathedral pastor made on CNN’s “Larry King Live”… The claim was furthered by author George Mair in a biography of Warren called “A Life with Purpose” then spread like wildfire among Internet blogs.”

Well, Mr. Warren Apprising Ministries certainly doesn’t want to be among those who don’t “do their due diligence on research.” However, it sure appears to be Rick Warren who needs to be set straight because here’s what Robert Schuller’s Hour of Power website says right now:

We are the founders of the Possibility Thinking Community Church Movement in America… We are the home of the world’s first Church Growth Institute, -launching the mega-church movement in the 20th century. Tens of thousands of pastors, including famous graduates Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Bishop Blake, Walt Kallestad, and Sundo Kim of Korea, were mentored here. (Online source)

I went through this with Richard Abanes back when he was a Warren apologist. And in The Real Facts About Rick Warren’s Ties to Robert Schuller Chris Rosebrough cites the Christianity Today article where Warren’s own wife Kay clearly says that Schuller “had a profound influence on Rick.”

So Mr. Warren, has Robert Schuller failed to “do due diligence” for the “Who are we?” presentation at the Hour of Power website? And tell us, is your wife a liar too?

*UPDATE* It seems AM isn’t the only one concerned with the spin doctoring of Rick Warren. Consider the following from the comments section of the Watcher of Watchdogs website CRaM.Info from one of their own contributors and someone who has been directly involved with Saddleback:

Comment from JohnD
Time: December 12, 2007, 11:49 am

I was in sales in 1996, when I was led to Saddleback Church and heard a simple message that I matter to God. The rest is history. Rick Warren had a profound effect on my life with that simple message and I will be forever greatful [sic] to my Lord and Savior for using the ministry of Saddleback Church to restore my faith.

I just wish Rick had fessed up to Schuller having had a profound effect on his ministry 18 years ago instead of trying to dodge the bullet by referencing the fact that he has never had a “one on one” conversation with the man. That’s the kind of spin doctoring that gets us all into trouble.

In the words of one famous spin doctor, it always depends on what the meaning of the word “is” is . . . (Online source)

See also:

SOUTHERN BAPTIST PASTOR RICK WARREN IS PROMOTING APOSTATE ROMAN CATHOLICISM

ROBERT SCHULLER MENTOR TO RICK WARREN ON THE LOVE OF MAN: CHRIST DIED FOR NEGATIVE SELF-IMAGE

ROBERT SCHULLER: “GOD DOESN’T DREAM UP FAILURES…”