Comments on: Football and faith http://www.getreligion.org/2005/11/football-and-faith/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=football-and-faith "The press . . . just doesn't get religion." -- William Schneider Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:07:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Patrick Rothwell http://www.getreligion.org/2005/11/football-and-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-9270 Patrick Rothwell Wed, 02 Nov 2005 17:32:54 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1159#comment-9270 It is too bad that Paul Ramsey isn't around to chime in on this. Didn't he write an essay when young condemning football as immoral and unChristian? It is too bad that Paul Ramsey isn’t around to chime in on this. Didn’t he write an essay when young condemning football as immoral and unChristian?

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]]> By: tmatt http://www.getreligion.org/2005/11/football-and-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-9259 tmatt Wed, 02 Nov 2005 02:20:40 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1159#comment-9259 Michael: In the NFL, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has always had major leadership clout among African-Americans. In previous generations the names Reggie White and Mike Singletary leap to mind. Daniel: Know any of the major names right now? Michael:

In the NFL, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has always had major leadership clout among African-Americans. In previous generations the names Reggie White and Mike Singletary leap to mind.

Daniel: Know any of the major names right now?

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]]> By: Think Christian » Blog Archive » God on the ballfield http://www.getreligion.org/2005/11/football-and-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-9251 Think Christian » Blog Archive » God on the ballfield Tue, 01 Nov 2005 20:58:47 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1159#comment-9251 [...] update: More related discussion over at GetReligion. [...] […] update: More related discussion over at GetReligion. […]

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]]> By: Michael http://www.getreligion.org/2005/11/football-and-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-9249 Michael Tue, 01 Nov 2005 20:19:56 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1159#comment-9249 Daniel, I think it's fair to say we are both exaggerating a little to make a point. The coach speaks of the broken homes and communities these players come from, which feeds my approach. While it's true that many players may come from religious communities, the most religious people in those communities tend to be women and those over 50. Whether the athletes themselves have been "saved" is a much more open question. I still believe that race is a very odd undercurrent in these sports and God stories. White evangelicals leading mostly non-white students seems to have some racial overtones. At the very least, the juxtopisition of the the white evangeilcal tradition with Black church, Islam and Latino Catholics and Pentocostals is a fascinating mix. Daniel,

I think it’s fair to say we are both exaggerating a little to make a point. The coach speaks of the broken homes and communities these players come from, which feeds my approach. While it’s true that many players may come from religious communities, the most religious people in those communities tend to be women and those over 50. Whether the athletes themselves have been “saved” is a much more open question.

I still believe that race is a very odd undercurrent in these sports and God stories. White evangelicals leading mostly non-white students seems to have some racial overtones. At the very least, the juxtopisition of the the white evangeilcal tradition with Black church, Islam and Latino Catholics and Pentocostals is a fascinating mix.

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]]> By: dpulliam http://www.getreligion.org/2005/11/football-and-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-9248 dpulliam Tue, 01 Nov 2005 20:00:40 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1159#comment-9248 Michael, Your assertion that race is involved in this is issue off the mark. If we're going to stereotype, let's stereotype at least semi-accurately. Your assumed characterization of African American football players as unsaved is simply wrong. Many African American football players come from communities that are quite religious. The idea that these "white authority figures" saving these people is a ghost is misses the boat. Michael,

Your assertion that race is involved in this is issue off the mark. If we’re going to stereotype, let’s stereotype at least semi-accurately. Your assumed characterization of African American football players as unsaved is simply wrong.

Many African American football players come from communities that are quite religious. The idea that these “white authority figures” saving these people is a ghost is misses the boat.

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]]> By: TK http://www.getreligion.org/2005/11/football-and-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-9247 TK Tue, 01 Nov 2005 19:58:04 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1159#comment-9247 And when will coaches start taking their players to a mosque, recognizing that such athletes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (basketball) and Ahmad Rasshad (football) did some religious exploration as athletes and then converted? Then maybe that's why they don't go there, to keep them on the sideline with Jesus. And when will coaches start taking their players to a mosque, recognizing that such athletes as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (basketball) and Ahmad Rasshad (football) did some religious exploration as athletes and then converted? Then maybe that’s why they don’t go there, to keep them on the sideline with Jesus.

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]]> By: Bec http://www.getreligion.org/2005/11/football-and-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-9246 Bec Tue, 01 Nov 2005 19:26:07 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1159#comment-9246 Amen! Amen!

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]]> By: brian http://www.getreligion.org/2005/11/football-and-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-9245 brian Tue, 01 Nov 2005 19:15:25 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1159#comment-9245 two words - Touchdown Jesus two words - Touchdown Jesus

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]]> By: Michael http://www.getreligion.org/2005/11/football-and-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-9243 Michael Tue, 01 Nov 2005 17:44:50 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1159#comment-9243 "He remembers only one or two players ever skipping the outing." The power of pressure exherted by a coach. This seems to be the problem with this "voluntary" God-talk. College students--who subject themselves to hazing in order to fit in--are going to "go along" with evangelizing because they want to fit in and get in the good graces of the coaches. Saying it is "voluntary" doesn't make it any less coercive. There is also the "ghost" of race involved in all of this, with white authority figures deciding to "save" the lives of predominately African American athletes. “He remembers only one or two players ever skipping the outing.”

The power of pressure exherted by a coach. This seems to be the problem with this “voluntary” God-talk. College students—who subject themselves to hazing in order to fit in—are going to “go along” with evangelizing because they want to fit in and get in the good graces of the coaches. Saying it is “voluntary” doesn’t make it any less coercive.

There is also the “ghost” of race involved in all of this, with white authority figures deciding to “save” the lives of predominately African American athletes.

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]]> By: Andy Crouch http://www.getreligion.org/2005/11/football-and-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-9241 Andy Crouch Tue, 01 Nov 2005 16:49:49 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1159#comment-9241 Wow, the Lord's Prayer after games at Penn State? That does sound like something the ACLU would be interested in. Wow, the Lord’s Prayer after games at Penn State? That does sound like something the ACLU would be interested in.

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]]> By: R.J. http://www.getreligion.org/2005/11/football-and-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-9239 R.J. Tue, 01 Nov 2005 15:54:46 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1159#comment-9239 If camaraderie really is the purpose of those Florida State football church visits, then football is indeed a microcosm for the Christian faith picture in America, especially for those of us in evangelical circles, for whom belonging appears to pass for belief. We've managed to reduce Jesus to a sort of superhero coach who brings the team together and lets them live forever as long as they obey the team rules and punch in the right code at the pearly stadium gate. Go team. If camaraderie really is the purpose of those Florida State football church visits, then football is indeed a microcosm for the Christian faith picture in America, especially for those of us in evangelical circles, for whom belonging appears to pass for belief. We’ve managed to reduce Jesus to a sort of superhero coach who brings the team together and lets them live forever as long as they obey the team rules and punch in the right code at the pearly stadium gate. Go team.

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]]> By: John http://www.getreligion.org/2005/11/football-and-faith/comment-page-1/#comment-9235 John Tue, 01 Nov 2005 12:58:46 +0000 http://www.getreligion.org/?p=1159#comment-9235 Faith has always been linked closely to football. As Notre Dame coach Frank Leahy told one of his quarterbacks in the 40's, "You'll need to go to confession for those four mortal sins you threw." Faith has always been linked closely to football. As Notre Dame coach Frank Leahy told one of his quarterbacks in the 40’s, “You’ll need to go to confession for those four mortal sins you threw.”

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