When Sports Figures Thank the Lord for Their Success.......

[louis c]

it makes me sick. How egotistical can someone get that after they accomplish some sports' goal, they have to make some public display of religious pronouncement.

Here's an example. Some running back just records a 175 yard rushing game, with three touchdowns in an NFL victory for his team.

In an interview after the game he says "I have to thank the Lord. I couldn't have done it without him. The Lord was looking down on me today, and I owe all my success to him. Praise the Lord."

I'm sitting there watching this asshole thinking to myself, "Oh ya, I get it. The whole world is all F**ked up because the Lord is too busy watching pro football."

Let me get this straight, the Lord can't seem to give us Peace in the Middle East, but he is concerned about the outcome of the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Cincinnati Bengals (just an example). Oh ya, that makes sense.

Or better yet, the Good Lord turns his back on the starving, suffering children in the Sudan, but he has full concern about how well a spoiled $4 million dollar running back does on a Sunday afternoon in an insignificant NFL game in November. Give me a break.

If these assholes could hear how absurd their public displays sound, maybe they would give thanks in private, as it says in the Bible.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Yeah

That has always pissed me off too.

[Carla in Ca]

21. The worst was Kurt Warner of the Rams

and his wife the year they won the Super Bowl. It was so 'in your face'. Does it mean God hates the other team? AND, after Warner went downhill, I didn't see him celebrating God then!

[CornField]

49. At least Warner is the real deal

That is, at least he practices what he professes. The guy tries to live a Christian life. He doesn't go out to bars, get in fights and get arrested. He hasn't gotten his girlfriend pregnant only to turn around and shoot her.

Well, you see what I'm saying here. Warner and his family attend church. When he thanks God for his success, I have no reason to doubt it is truly how he feels and not just something he's saying for the camera.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[louis c]

5. Oh, Ya

I get it. The good Lord is just more concerned with point spreads than world Peace.

[gmoney]

7. self delete

ugh...

[louis c]

12. I didn't get to read your self deleted message

but I bet I would have had to thank you for your support.

louis c

[Old and In the Way]

15. No, why don't you take your corporate view of God and shove it

up your ass. I, too, am sick of overpaid atheletes playing their script to reinforce the Republican concept of God. It disgusts me to no end that we can no longer enjoy a secular game of sports without dragging God and political messages like, "support the troops", into the game. This is viewer manipulation and brainwashing at its very worst.

And before you accuse this poster and me of being "anti-God", I can't think of anything more blasphemous that degrading the concept of God such that he's no more important than your business manager or personal trainer in a meaningless quest to score points and get endorsements.

[louis c]

16. You are very perceptive

[Old and In the Way]

18. I understood your point quite well.

I am sick of Freepthink statements like the one I responded too. Way too much casual throwing around of God in public life, like he has a personal interest in our secular politics. If there is a Righteous God, I hope he goes after those that exploit his name for their personal gain, first.

[AspenRose]

3. To be fair, I've also heard Islamic basketball players thanking Allah.

Edit: It also says in the New Testament to *pray* in private. Scriptures regarding thankfulness say nothing about giving *thanks* in private.

[louis c]

9. Jesus always frowned upon public displays.

Communication with "His Father" was always a personal matter between the worshiper and the Lord.

A ball player makes his actions seem trite.

I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I don't think God gives a damn how that football game turns out.

[delete_bush]

25. I hear God likes the Saints and the Cardinals.

I hate this stuff too. To be so self-absorbed that one actually believes their rendition of God cares about someone's performance in a sporting event would seem to me to trivialize God. I'd like to see how much these guys contribute to charity.

Same thing with school prayer. Not being a believer it amazes me that football players or students can't say a private prayer, at home, before leaving for the game or the exam. Do prayers have some sort of shelf life, do they have to be used within a certain time or they lose their potency?

[0007]

28. It was preordained in the first place. So what difference does it

indeed make.

[ArkDem]

58. Yes, for sure. Jesus always shunned the spotlight.

[Cocoa]

4. it can be seen as a good thing

here are people at the pinnacle of their field, having just achieved a great success, and rather than take all the credit, they credit something greater than themselves.

[louis c]

6. Sure

Like Curt Shilling.

He thanked God in a public display.

Then went to Ohio to endorse Bush, so he could continue killing innocent civilians in Iraq, and deny American families health care.

What a fine gesture of Christianity.

[Cocoa]

8. there's no excuse for endorsing Bush

that's just plain wrong.

But thanking God is another thing altogether...

[louis c]

40. kick

[Deja Q]

10. It's using the Lord's name in vain & possibly also worshipping a false god

TWO offenses that might get the player turned into a pillar of salt that no dog would lick. Or are cats the ones that have salt licks?

[yellowjacket]

11. Simple question: How does it affect you one bit? n/t

.

[sweetladybug]

13. I thank God for many good things in my life so I see nothing wrong with

thanking God and having faith. But I don't think we should mix religion and politics(government)

[yellowjacket]

17. Then don't. Ignore those who do.n/t

.

[yellowjacket]

20. And how does politics = football? n/t

.

[DubyaSux]

53. Maybe it's just me...

...but I beleive our right to free speech doesn't stop with references to religion.

If someone wants to thank his/her creator or his/her dog, I don't care. It's not up to me to pass judgement on what they choose to express or how they choose to express it.

Personally, I don't get it, but there's a lot of stuff I don't get. And this entire subject is one of them.

Is there some type of "God" resentment that needs to be politicized or something? Why do some people despise religion so much? Is there some belief that only republicans believe in God and the rest of us are agnostics? Is that the party platform? If so, I didn't get that memo...someone please forward me a copy...

[louis c]

14. Nothing here ever affects me

It was a general observation of how unthinking, spoiled, millionaire, adult children place themselves.

God is looking out for just them. I'm great because I'm God's friend.

Maybe someone can explain to me why 2 and 3 year old children are dying from conflicts all over the world that are created in the Lord's name.

If God is listening, let the football player make it on his own, and use your power to save the innocent children who are dying in religious conflicts.

How about smartening up all the know-it-all Muslims, Christians, and Jews that think killing people in your name is just peachy, including these "gifted sport's figures"?

[yellowjacket]

19. So no one can thank God for anything because of

wars overseas? God's power and attention are infinite, so a player celebrating a touchdown by thanking his Creator in no way detracts from God's ability to solve problems and conflicts elsewhere.

[louis c]

22. Not in a public display, IMHO.

and they should be prepared to all they can to eliminate war and hunger.

Look at Roberto Clemente. His works were chartable and humble. He gave his life helping others.

[yellowjacket]

23. So what about mission work?

Doing good things for people in need while also telling them about your faith in whatever religion you happen to practice. It's public, yet helpful. So is it bad?

[louis c]

27. Crusades, anyone?

[yellowjacket]

32. So ignore the good since there is some bad.

Great idea. They aren't forcing people to change religions or anything. People decide of their own free will. So what's wrong with mission work? You still haven't answered...

[louis c]

39. So, the good work is a completed pass

at a crucial point in some insignificant football game.

The bad is the loss of 50,000 lives in some religious conflict.

Priorities: maybe God just has hard to understand priorities.

[SmokingJacket]

50. Nothing wrong with being generally "grateful" --

but assuming God favors you over others (ie other sports teams) is the height of arrogance and insulting to God, IMHO.

It affects me in that I want to VOMIT when I hear it.

It's a perversion of Christianity.

[m berst]

24. Bach did that, too

Bach always wrote Soli deo Gloria on his scores, meaning only to God goes the glory. It was a display of humility - "God gets the credit, not me."

However, I agree that there is something grating sometimes to hear pro athletes say things like this. I think what bothers me is that they don;t seem to be saying it with humility, rather more like to bring credit to themselves. "Not only am I a great athlete, but I am a member of the ultimate winning team." Know what I mean? That is how I hear it from some of them.

[MrSlayer]

26. When they fumble or miss a basket they should point to God as well.

Or maybe point down to Satan, since he must have thwarted the attempt.

[Kitka]

29. I agree, and this very concept is what turned me off to Christianity.

The idea that God is somehow responsible for the good things that happen, but he/she gets off the hook for the bad things? Can't swallow it. I also dislike when people say that their health was saved/their child's health was saved/they came into money/etc. because "God answered our prayers". I suppose another couple praying over their sick child who dies of just didn't pray hard enough.

[yankeedem]

30. You must read Jim Bouton sometime

In "Ball Four" he wrote about this, and said he was waiting for an athlete to say "It wasn't God, it was my muscles", or "God didn't help me, hard work did".

Another reason Jim Bouton rules.

[fortyfeetunder]

31. Makes me wonder

what do these individuals say when it's a bad day on the field
a QB say on his 4th interception of the game
a receiver drops a pass
a QB gets sacked by a couple of linebackers
a coach sees his team getting a questionable call from the refs
a punter gets his kicked blocked, only to see the ball recovered by the opposing team and scores.


I bet they aren't saying "Praise the Lord"!!!

[Lerkfish]

62. or, more importantly, it presumes the other team was not in God's corner

during the game.

Which is arrognant.

I am a christian but I refer to this as "parking place" faith: Oh lookie, a great parking place! the Lord found me a great parking place! (as if God has nothing better to do than conduct a valet service...its random, idiot!)

there is also "tinkerbell" faith: when people think that if they just believe or pray HARD ENOUGH, whatever they are hoping for will come to pass...that good things are dependent on the strength of their faith....of course, if you look at the obverse, that means, bad things will happen to you if your faith is lacking. (see also snake-handling churches)

However, I prefer what I call "furnace faith". That was when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were about to be tossed into the furnace for not worshipping the king over the Lord, and they said "Our god is powerful enough to rescue us from this furnace, BUT EVEN IF HE DOES NOT, we will not bow down to you and abandon him". This faith is based on what the person feels SHOULD be believed, and not on expected outcome or the conceit that they will be saved due to their superior faith.

If only more christians had "furnace" faith, we'd be having a lot less fundie problems right now.

[theHandpuppet]

33. AMEN to that!

This is something that literally drives me nuts!!!!!!!

[PurityOfEssence]

34. Wouldn't it be fun to see someone blame god for a defeat?

Newsflak: So why'd it happen? You guys looked so great.

Player: I don't get it. We wuz really workin' too, it ain't right; we practiced really hard 'n prayed every day 'n all that, an' Jesus, he just fucked us. I don't get it.

[Mz Pip]

35. God does not micromanage the universe

These idiots need to get over themselves. God doesn't give a rat's ass about who wins a bloody sports game.

Critical thinking is not the strong suit of fundy God freaks.

MzPip

[Redleg]

36. It is the height of arrogance to presume that God has taken a special

interest in you above everyone else.

[nevergiveup]

37. Years ago when playing high school basket ball

I would sometimes say a prayer before shooting a free throw. It never seemed to work so I decided God didn't care all that much for basketball and decided to start concentrating on the hoop instead of God and as a result improved my free throw percentage considerably.

[Javaman]

38. "we lost today, I screwed up, but Jesus still loves me."

To me that would be worse than thanking God.

[Djinn]

41. God does seem to spend an inordinate

amount of time watching over the careers of American professional athleets and country music singers and not very much of poverty reduction.

[GreenPartyVoter]

42. It isn't about the Lord giving them the win. It's their way of saying

their talent is a gift from God and personally I can appreciate that. (Of course, it doesn't keep my teeth from grinding at the exorbitant amount of money they are paid. But, that's the way the world has been for millenia.)

[louis c]

43. Maybe they should thank God in private

and do his work in public.

His work, as was told in the Bible, is world peace, helping the poor, and spreading tolerance.

Judge the tree buy its fruit.

[vetwife]

44. Divisive//what does it say..God hates the other team and players?

This is all about the Right Wing Agenda. I don't get paid to say Thank you Lord and I say it in private and from the heart. I am Not cashing a multimillion dollar paycheck in front of television cameras.
Hypocracy and pharasee like. God hated Religion. He loved Faith but hated Religion ! I am so sick of this type of behavior. And I am a christian ! How must other faiths feel?

[pnb]

59. Exactly

It is no different from the countless musicians who thank God amongst others when winning awards or many other people who believe. This is not just a sports thing and it certainly has nothing at all to do with politics.

[ArkDem]

45. >in an insignificant NFL game in November

Hard to find a game in November that is insignificant.

[louis c]

65. Miami vs. San Francisco

How's that for insignificant?

[CornField]

46. There's only so much bandwidth to heaven & the assholes are flooding it

with "please God help me find a parking space" and "please God let me catch this ball." Only so much information can move at once. With all these people praying for winning lottery numbers, the best bargains at the mall and no naked boobies on television, there is simply no further room for the war, people suffering with disease or those who have no food.

The husband of my best friend is writing a book about it.

[lolly]

47. Here's An Interesting article on this topic

Playing with God: The history of athletes thanking the ''big man upstairs''
by Richard C. Crepeau

"The invocation of God and Christ in the world of sport has reached epidemic proportions - not at all by accident. Indeed, there is a rich history to this curious union"


http://www.poppolitics.com/articles/2001-03-09-sport.sh...


Traces the connections between athletics and Christianity (noting that those who promote the connection between religion and sport were less than thrilled when Islam entered into the equation).

[H2O Man]

48. I say a prayer of thanks

every time I get a drink of water.

[louis c]

66. I bet you say it

in private. It's just between you and the Lord.

Not a political statement.

[sonicx]

51. Grammy winners like to do it too...

Apparently, Jesus is a rap fan....

[SeveneightyWhoa]

52. Egotistical?

I think it's the opposite of egotistical.

Rather than giving credit to themselves, they're giving it to someone (perceived to be) HIGHER than themselves. It is quite silly, yes -- but it's not egotistical in the least.

[louis c]

67. The egotistical part

is bellowing to the whole world that you are great because God loves you better.

It should be just between you and the Lord.

Jesus said many times in the Bible that one should pray humbly.

Only the prideful did so for all to see.

[The Straight Story]

54. Well, not to be a dick, but...

I'm sitting there watching this asshole thinking to myself, "Oh ya, I get it. The whole world is all F**ked up because the Lord is too busy watching pro football."

Maybe the world is so fucked up because WE are too busy watching football. those starving kids, lonely people, et al are people we could be spending our time helping instead of sitting around watching TV then bitching about it online

Ok, so I was a dick, but I like to sit around online and rant as well

[OutsourceBush]

56. As this thread shows, there is a very fine line between

People of religion and religious whackos. REAL religious people would have no problem keeping their stupid a$$ religious sh*t to their selves and not showing their stupidity to the masses on national TV.

Send in the bombs and the tanks so that the heathen may know Jesus Bush. Praise the lord Jesus Bush, amen

[louis c]

68. Please.

I spend nearly all my time helping others. It's my job.

It's the best job in the world, because it not only pays my bills, but has tremendous gratification.

Football is once a week, on Sunday.

Doing God's work without being preachy about it is the route I would recommend.

[drdtroit]

55. Just another dog and pony show. n/t

[nemo137]

57. I really don't think they'er saying "God made me win"

I think they're crediting him with rather broader things, and using their victory as a platform for evangelizing. I think even they know that God probably doesn't care about football.

[Boosterman]

63. Everyone knows Gods a Notre Dame fan ;)

And boy is he ticked.

[Telly Savalas]

60. So is God for or against the designated hitter rule?

[TrustingDog]

61. good post.

I am as repulsed by organized corporate sports as I am by organized religion and the military industrial complex. Whatever way to get huge masses under some kind of idiot coma works for them.

[Dude_CalmDown]

64. Give me a break! What kind of garbage are you implying?

I think it's quite clear that even the lord couldn't help the chiefs.

[louis c]

69. That's the spirit.

See how silly it sounds that the Lord gives a damn about a football game.

Be humble and thank the good Lord in private for all your good fortune.