'Should prayer mix with prep [sports]?'

[Bill McBlueState]

From the Cincinnati Enquirer:

They do it the same way every Friday night.

After the football players go through the postgame handshake line with the opposing team, one will yell, “Circle up!” Players and coaches hold hands and form a large ring that takes up a third of the field. Then they pray.

Similar scenes play out around Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, where prayer plays a prevalent part in high school athletic programs. Those who mix religion with high school sports walk a fine line between what is uplifting and offensive, and even legal and illegal.

continued here

The comments and poll results are predictably disheartening.

I said in the comments, "This is one of the reasons I have qualms about sending my daughter to a public school. It seems like the majority of public school employees are more interested in getting all the kids to pay homage to the Christian god than in actually teaching them anything. Meanwhile, China and Europe are kicking our American butts up and down the street because their schools promote hard work and knowledge, not superstition. Hopefully there will still be good secular private schools out there when my daughter gets older."

[progressoid]

1. I remember doing that in Jr. High. Always thought it was dumb.

In fact, I think it actually deflated us a little. Before the game, we're trying to get pumped and energized when suddenly we all have to calm down, bow our heads and solemnly beseech some guy to help us win. You kind of lose your momentum.

One of our coaches was a big God squader. He was the Fellowship of Christian Athletes adviser. :eyes: He always seemed more concerned with the Christian part more than the Athlete part. It was a little creepy.

[rrneck]

2. Onward Christian soldiers. Hand 'em a football today

and a rifle tomorrow.

[onager]

3. Still waiting to hear...

...some athlete say: "I woulda made that touchdown, but Jesus twisted my ankle!"

:rofl:

So if they lose, what does that mean? That the other team prayed harder? That Gawd wasn't paying attention to the game because he was busy slamming an 18-wheeler into a school bus or sending a tornado thru a trailer park? That an atheist obviously snuck onto their team and must be hunted down?

Gawd and sports sure is a rich area of theological investigation. Somebody should ask Terry Eagleton for his ideas.

[piratefish08]

4. When opposing teams pray, wouldn't one prayer cancel the other out?

[cosmik debris]

5. Only if they pray to the same god.

My imaginary friend can beat up your imaginary friend!