How do you feel about baptisms at college football practice?

[NewEngland4Obama]

http://larrybrownsports.com/college-football/deandre-hopkins-baptized-after-practice-picture/152887


<img src="">

[NV Whino]

1. Well

[onecent]

2. Dear God, help us all!!!

But you can't say the pledge of allegiance or carry a bible to school

this world is NUTS

[Mariana]

10. Where can't you say the pledge of allegiance

or carry a bible to school?

[chollybocker]

41. Where did that happen?

"This world" is a little vague.... Source>?

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. WTF. I thought the Gatorade was dumped after the win.

But I don't understand football anyway.

[jberryhill]

4. I don't participate in either of those things

So if someone is doubling up on "stuff I don't do", that's fine by me.

I mean, I don't feel left out or anything.

[riverbendviewgal]

5. I believe religion is personal

and should be in private or in one's place of worship.

[KansDem]

6. I suppose it's better than potty training at the table of a restaurant

Utah Mother Caught Potty Training Daughters At Restaurant Dining Table

[valerief]

7. I don't like football and I don't like religion. Just add BBQ to that and it's 3 things I don't like

[DinahMoeHum]

8. Sure that's not water-boarding in disguise?

I mean, white guy is doing the dunking of the black guy. . .maybe it's just my imagination.

[asjr]

9. That kid looks scared enough to have

peed in the tank.

[loli phabay]

11. i guess if thats what they want to do who am i to stop them, live and let live

[chollybocker]

12. Illegal and unconstitutional spring to mind.

The school uniforms and field make it so.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

31. Hardly

No one is forcing him, and many, if not most, college campuses have all sorts of religious clubs, etc., on campus. Nothing unconstitutional about this.

[eqfan592]

35. "Forcing" doesn't really come into play.

What if there was any pressuring to do this by staff? This is a state school, so if there was, there could be issues.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

37. This player is not a little kid

He's an adult, able to make adult decisions. If he didn't want to do it, he didn't have to. This isn't at all like a prayer at a graduation or in class, where there is a captive audience, and these aren't little kids. Any one of these players could take their coach down with little to no effort, so pressuring by the staff?

Laughable, IMO.

[eqfan592]

51. Wow, I didn't realize being subjected to inappropriate pressure in a publicly funded area...

...stopped being an issue after you were above a certain age.

Indeed, that reasoning is completely laughable.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

61. And where was the inappropritate pressure?

"After practice" is not a university sponsored event, and there is no prohibition on religous activities or ceremonies on public university property.

Clemson has many religious organizations and clubs on campus, so the idea that somehow religious activity is prohibited at public universities is indeed laughable. Coercion is the key, so unless there is proof that the player was coerced, then there is no violation.

There is a huge difference between colleges and K-12 when it comes to this sort of thing.

[chollybocker]

39. He's free to baptize himself till his skin gets all pruney.

And his willing coach and kowtowing teammates can accompany him down to the local river, or their favorite church, to get their freak on.

But Clemson is, by definition, a secular institution. It accepts state funding and is therefore bound by those rules.


From the Secular Student Alliance at Clemson:

"The holding of a Christian baptism at a state-owned facility by what appears to be a state employee is an affront to the secular values on which this nation is founded. Through his actions, Jeff Scott — a coach at Clemson University — the Clemson football program, and Clemson University as a whole are effectively endorsing Christianity. As both a tuition-paying Clemson student and tax-paying resident of South Carolina, I find this action extremely insulting. This is disrespectful to both the non-Christian members of the Clemson community and the residents of this great state. The Secular Student Alliance of Clemson condemns this state-supported baptism as an affront to the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution."

[MrSlayer]

13. Football is a bastion of fundy nutbaggery.

All levels.

[NewEngland4Obama]

16. why does it remind me of this

<img src="">

[MrSlayer]

28. Because Taz is obviously indoctrinating Bugs.

Taz is the Pope of Toontown.

[Marrah_G]

32. That depends on where you are

some regions are nuttier then others. My guy is a football coach and I've never seen or heard anything like that around here. He even coached a Catholic HS team for 5 years and there was no religious stuff going on in regards to the football team.

[Flashmann]

14. I have no problem with it

As long as it's at one of those pretend Universities,the mega televangelists have and hype.

At a public University,not so much...

[NewEngland4Obama]

15. This is a public university

[Flashmann]

19. That's not good..

[LeftyMom]

17. I can't imagine why a public university team has a pastor or is holding baptisms on campus.

I also can't imagine how anybody would assign supernatural significance to putting a grown man in what appears to be a 300 gallon stock tank.

[XemaSab]

42. Because Texas?

Shit, they probably keep a 300 gallon tank on every corner just in case some stock need to be baptized or someone needs to be watered.

[LeftyMom]

44. Or a fundie needs to fire an arrow out of her quiver,

and there's not a chicken shit covered deck nearby to drop the kid onto.

[Major Nikon]

45. I didn't realize they had moved Clemson to Texas

[XemaSab]

50. They did

It was in LBN. You didn't see it?

[Major Nikon]

58. I was probably drunk in the Lounge at the time the story broke

[blueamy66]

18. fucking stupid

nt

[eShirl]

20. It's kinda creepy...

What is that in the photo, a barrel of Gatorade?

[NewEngland4Obama]

23. Picture of pastor (he's on the right)

<img src="">

[LeftyMom]

24. It's a 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank. $249 at Tractor Supply.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/rubbermaid-reg-structural-foam-stock-tanks-300-gal-capacity-2229935

Little known Bible fact: John the Baptist was a huge fan, he stopped in at the Jerusalem Tractor Supply all the time.

[jsr]

21. Did they think he was a witch?

[xchrom]

22. I think of baptism as something very solemn

And spiritual and in the case of adult baptism done with family and friends and congregation in the spirit of supporting each other in the Life of Christ.

This is crass - to say the least.

Not spiritual & not done in the Life of Christ.

[Retrograde]

46. Amen, Brother or Sister

It should be a solemn rite t be observed with solemnity and dignity.

I'm an ex-Catholic, and although I have been told that football is a religion in Texas, I find this mildly distasteful. Baptism marks one's entry into the Christian family: it's not a publicity move or photo op.

[hifiguy]

25. Derpy pretty much beyond words.

But if it's college players, they're derpy adults.

[cthulu2016]

26. In Soviet Union, coach put player inside Gatorade bucket

[MineralMan]

27. Clemson is a public, land-grant university.

No such thing should have taken place on campus as any sort of school function. It is that simple. Were it a church-run college, it wouldn't matter, but it is a taxpayer-funded university.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

33. Public universities are permitted to have religious services and clubs

This was after practice, and no one was forced to stay and watch it. It isn't like doing it at the game itself, or during class.

While I find it odd, I don't have any problem with it.

[eqfan592]

36. Not being forced to do something is not the same as not being pressured to do something.

And people at a state school should not have to face such pressure, even if it is immediately after a school activity.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

38. And what makes you so sure he was pressured? n/t

[chollybocker]

40. You seem to be focused on the guy in the washtub.

Last edited Wed Sep 5, 2012, 10:32 PM - Edit history (1)

I agree, he was a willing participant. But this wasn't some violent football hazing ritual. They're conducting a specific religious ceremony on secular turf. Unfettered Christian privilege notwithstanding!

[SickOfTheOnePct]

59. Religious ceremonies are permitted on college campuses

Even public ones. During practice? That would be a problem, as it is a university sponsored event. After practice? No big deal.

[chollybocker]

62. Right.

Glad we agree.

[eqfan592]

52. What makes you so sure any of them weren't? (nt)

[cherokeeprogressive]

29. Neutral. n/t

[cynatnite]

30. It belongs in a church. n/t

[smirkymonkey]

34. WTF?

I'm sorry, this just seems insane to me.

[gkhouston]

43. That's some fucked up shit. n/t

[ibegurpard]

47. I think it's bizarre and inappropriate

[pewpface]

48. what is this...

the onion?

[AsahinaKimi]

49. Would you get kicked off the team if you said "Hell no!"

I don't guess there are many non-christians on that team? Surely, there must be one or two Jewish players.

[bigwillq]

54. Not really any of my business.

Didn't read the article, but if that's what, and where, someone chooses to do it, it's not my buisness.

[Whovian]

56. As idiotic as the practice of baptism itself.

[jmowreader]

57. Considering where Clemson is, this could almost be first aid for the player's heatstroke

Since this is officially a Baptism and this public university has an official Football Team Chaplain (and it's not like they're in need of Divine Intervention; they play in the ACC, the Home of Shitty Football), this is kinda creepy to say the least.

[Le Taz Hot]

60. Are there no actual churches in the area?

Maybe a church in one of the outlaying areas would be kind enough to volunteer their facilities seeing as how THIS IS AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING AND NOT A FUCKING GATHERING PLACE FOR PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN INVISIBLE SKY BEINGS!

Didn't mean to yell but it's just a frustrating thing for me having religion (but only the "right" religion, don't 'cha know) shoved down my throat every time I turn around. When is it MY turn to NOT have to swallow a gag every time I have to put up with proselytizing by some "well-meaning" person who wants to save my soul from the damnations of hell.

Ok, ok, rant over.

[sakabatou]

63. As long as it's not sponsored by the school, I have no problem with it.