Ga 4:29
[YT="Off with his head.” ~ The Red Queen, Alice in Wonderland”]Eobuu-IexvI[/YT]
Praying football coach creates a mess
- Thread starter Jose Fly
- Start date
[YT="Off with his head.” ~ The Red Queen, Alice in Wonderland”]Eobuu-IexvI[/YT]
That's basically what I'm hearing.
Frankly, the way that the social liberal rhetoric, ideaology, etc. is leading us, the way that the courts are going...it scares the tar out of me.
It reminds me of the French revolution and of the reign of terror. "Believe whatever you like in the confines of your own mind, but outside of that, you belong to us! Burn, monasteries, burn!"
Jose Fly
New member
Yes it is. Why else do you think companies have codes of conduct and dress codes?
Nope. But what if I bought a book on Christianity and the cashier says "Oh, I wouldn't read that. Christianity is nonsense." Do I have a reason to complain to the store manager?
But what if you say "Coffee is of the devil and everyone who drinks it is evil"? I have a feeling the employer might have something to say to you about that.
Yep. Already posted.
Except there's no law or court rulings prohibiting the government from promoting beef jerky. There is OTOH, law and court rulings prohibiting the government from promoting religion. Thus, you can say "I love beef jerky" and even if that is seen as coercive by some students, it's probably no big deal. But if you're a Hindu and say "Eating beef is evil and anyone who does so should be put to death", that's a big deal.
So let's examine this case in that light. The coach goes out to the 50 yard line after games and prays. Why the middle of the field? Why immediately after games when most people are still there, including his players?
Obviously the context is a public display of his religion, and there is some expectation for players (students) to join in (otherwise, why not do it after the players have gone home).
That's blatantly illegal.
So you have no idea at all how a physics teacher telling his class that the laws of physics makes the resurrection of Jesus impossible is coercive or constitutes disfavoring Christianity? No idea at all?
But they are legally binding.
Here, educate yourself. http://thelawdictionary.org/coercion/
You're in a private religious school, so the same rules don't apply.
But don't have a captive audience.
ok doser
lifeguard at the cement pond
They would come out of the stands and join him, they were never asked to or forced to.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...ts-to-do-the-same-now-hes-being-investigated/
After the atheist letter threat, even parents and loads of spectators would come and join him. They dont like that.
Yours is.each:
Correct, he didnt lead anyone in prayer, they chose to go out there and join in on their own.
6days
New member
Not so sure about that...
Aren't there simpler ways to share your faith than breaking the law? I'm all for a prayer huddle on the 50 yard line, but if it means breaking the law.....Well, it almost seems like at that point the prayer isn't between you and God but it's a show, similar to the pharisees prayer.
Perhaps it comes down to the individuals convictions?
If you walk out on the 50 yard line and pray after school is out and the game is over, and then other people walk out there and join you when you didnt ask them to, how is he breaking the law?
Do you believe that just because he works at a school, that he needs to hide his faith in the closet?
6days
New member
No... of course he shouldn't hide his faith. As a Christian coach he has an awesome opportunity to share his faith and be a positive influence in many lives.
I'm just suggesting that IF it was clearly against the law...or clearly against employer guidelines, that there might be simpler and more effective ways to share your faith.
For example...a parent, or a student could still organize a prayer time. ... and PERHAPS even do it on the 50 yard line after the game.
I just think they need to be careful that the prayer time is genuine...it can easily become a show in these situations.
He should be able to pray where and when he desires and is led.
If anyone tells me that i cannot pray, or be breaking the law, ill be breaking the law.
Quetzal
New member
This is my concern, too. If it is a genuine expression of faith and others want to join him, go for it. I just hope this isn't a stunt, you know?
Considering he has done this for years, i wouldn't consider it a stunt - i would consider him doing it again as honoring God rather than man.
Basically he took a stand and stood on his faith.
Quetzal
New member
Important part right there. In which case, I support him. Again, it isn't like he is stealing the microphone and forcing others to participate. It is elective and non-intrusive. I see no problem with it.
brewmama
New member
It's NOT against the law, though, that's the point. The district is acting out of fear and ignorance, not the law.
genuineoriginal
New member
Of course they are comparable.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Please notice that religion is included in the list.
It is illegal for the school to discriminate against the coach for his religion.
It is not illegal for the coach to freely exercise his religion, including showing signs of being a Christian at the school, like praying, which is a traditional Christian practice.
genuineoriginal
New member
Nobody is actually making that law, since it would be so easy to overturn in a court of law.
What is happening is that people like the FFRF are using lawsuits to create a public policy of discrimination against Christians by making it less expensive for public schools and other government agencies to discriminate against Christians than for the schools and agencies to treat Christians with the same respect they treat people of different national origins or different genders.
The public schools and other government agencies are bowing down to the pressure and telling Christians that it is not financially possible for them to refuse to discriminate against Christians.
Good for the coach. If students feel free enough to walk away without worrying about it impacting their standing among teammates or with him I think that says everything that needs to be said about both the man and the lack of coercion, which is the only real concern there. There has to be some rational, reasonable latitude in approach to separation of church and state. We can open Congress with a prayer but we suspend coaches for praying at the end of a contest?
The idea was to protect ourselves from the entanglement and horrors that unfolded in Europe when dogmatically zealous and particular religion become too entangled with and empowered by the secular machinery of state. Does anyone really, reasonably expect that to be the outcome of a midfield prayer in a country where you're much more likely to see an outpouring of more violent dispositions in matters of politics than you are over religious particulars?
The idea was to protect ourselves from the entanglement and horrors that unfolded in Europe when dogmatically zealous and particular religion become too entangled with and empowered by the secular machinery of state. Does anyone really, reasonably expect that to be the outcome of a midfield prayer in a country where you're much more likely to see an outpouring of more violent dispositions in matters of politics than you are over religious particulars?
genuineoriginal
New member
Once again, the coach did not break any law by praying.
The school broke the law by discriminating against him because of his religion.
Also, the Bible clearly provides an example of when believers must break the law and pray anyway.
Daniel 6:7,10 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. . . . 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. |