Warren is both “hopeful and pessimistic.”

Question: What is the state of religion in America?

Warren:    Well I’m both hopeful and pessimistic.  I’m pessimistic when I watch television or watch a lot of the stuff that reflects culture, because I do see a deterioration of some of the values that I think Americans have been known for.  But I also see a resurgence of hope in that I see churches coming to the table and saying it’s not enough for us to just talk about the souls of people.  We also need to talk about their bodies.  When I see churches that are coming to the table and saying let’s not just talk about people’s salvation; but let’s talk about the fact that the people that we’re trying to bring salvation to also are hungry.  They’re not wearing any clothes.  They don’t have a way to make a living.  They’re sick.  They have HIV.  They don’t have access to good water.  They don’t have access to good healthcare.  When I see the marriage of those two ideas together – caring for the body and the soul, and a lot of churches realizing that’s our responsibility – to me that gives me a lot of hope.