"I just want to thank my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, without whom this would not be possible."

[Bundbuster]

Anyone watching sports hears that increasingly familiar unsolicited refrain launched by proselytizing evangelical athletes into TV cameras and cringing interview microphones - always after a win, never following a loss. This refrain is stating that Jesus loves the proselytizing winner more than the loser, and it is intended to convert you to their Faith. Does God really care about the results of a sporting match? Instead of caring about genocide, poverty, environmental destruction, or the host of problems facing the globe He has decided to focus on a sporting match?

Tom Krattenmaker, who has written on Christian athletes remarks that these athletes are promoting a particular type of evangelical Christianity that has an us vs. them mentality. It's good vs evil, winner-take-all. Therefore, the team that has won clearly is favored by God. Krattenmaker has argued a unique problem is that the same players that praise God for winning are usually silent about issues like racial discrimination, which you would think a Christian would be fighting against.

These proselytizers are the same hypocrites who drove Colin Kaepernick clear out of the NFL for silently taking a knee in support of Black Americans murdered by police brutality. These are the hypocrites most likely to oppose a woman's right to choose, and to call for banning any support by sports teams for LGBTQ rights, such as one Pride Day a year. These are the same hypocrites most likely to identify with the Christian Nationalist movement threatening our democracy as I write.

I have seen athletes literally grab the microphone from the hands of a shocked tv announcer to forcefully inject their propaganda onto the airways and into your mind. They just cannot be content keeping their religious beliefs where they belong - in their own hearts, minds, and churches.

My message - Keep your damned preaching and evangelical proselytizing out of my face!

Ratcheted up a few levels of influence and danger is the insidious militaristic evangelizing of sports coaches, managers, and owners. I need only look at my own small Blue State of Colorado for 3 quick examples:

"Evangelicalism Is the Official Religion of the Air Force Academy"
"Chaplain of the Year" Maj. Warren Watties reportedly told incoming cadets last summer they "will burn in the fires of hell" if they are not "born again." The Air Force ruled in late April that Watties' remarks, calling for cadets to evangelize bunkmates during basic training, as well as warning of burning in hellfire, were "appropriate and consistent" with federal workplace rules.
https://ffrf.org/component/k2/item/13195-evangelicalism-is-the-official-religion-of-the-air-force-academy

"McCartney’s Views on Homosexuality Draw Fire : Football: The Colorado coach is criticized for using his position to gain publicity for a fundamentalist group."
Regents, faculty members and others were outraged. Rep. Pat Schroeder (D-Colo.) accused McCartney of “hate-mongering” and called him a “self-anointed ayatollah.” Students protested. The furor isn’t McCartney’s first brush with controversy. Three years ago, he endorsed the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-25-sp-4239-story.html

"Baseball's Rockies Come Out as "Christian Organization"
Colorado, headquarters of Christo-fascist leader James Dobson and his Focus on the Family cult. Not surprisingly, the Colorado Rockies are owned by Republican wingnut and brewery magnate Pete Coors. Quotes from Scripture are posted in the weight room. Chapel service is packed on Sundays. Prayer and fellowship groups each Tuesday are well-attended. It's not unusual for the front office executives to pray together.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2006/6/3/215665/-

This all reeks the same stink as House Speaker Mike Johnson, which should nauseate you. I call for the separation of Church & Sport, asking holier-than-thou jocks and coaches to Keep your damned preaching and evangelical proselytizing out of my face!

[cbabe]

1. ND Touchdown Jesus

https://news.nd.edu › news › touchdown-jesus-turns-40

"Touchdown Jesus" turns 40 | News - University of Notre Dame

The "Word of Life" mural on the Hesburgh Library, commonly known as "Touchdown Jesus" because of the raised position of

(And back to Amy C Barrett…)

[Bundbuster]

13. Thanks for the reminder - here's a more direct link

https://news.nd.edu/news/touchdown-jesus-turns-40/

I didn't even include references to religious institutions like Notre Dame here, because I assume that they fall outside laws prohibiting religious mandating for students. But there are laws against that and evangelical/proselytizing by teachers, coaches, or officials at public and governmental institutions.

[cbabe]

28. Thanks for the link. I included because of the corrrupting of the SC & Catholic orthodoxy. Imagine sharia law...

[BlueIdaho]

61. It's not just athletes...

Every time I turn on the TV it seems some celebrity, newscaster, sportsperson, movie star or financial genius giving it up to some big smoking jelly bean in the sky. It’s all just a big sanctimonious shit show.

[Ocelot II]

2. Does Jesus really care who wins football games?

Seems to me that suggesting he does is some kind of heresy.

[Bundbuster]

6. Exactly, Ocelot - heresy to true Christianity

but these tunnel vision evangelists would never see that.

[maveric]

7. He may have money on it?

[ret5hd]

27. God's a gambler!!! That explains a lot...

mostly why he needs money all the time.

[leftieNanner]

54. Over Under?

[underpants]

17. They thank God for touchdowns but never blame God for fumbles

[Bundbuster]

24. Just once, I'd love to hear an athlete who

the week before had spewed The Refrain say into the TV "I'm really disappointed that my Lord & Savior deserted our team today."

Or better yet, "Where was that damn Jesus when we needed him?"

[TexasBushwhacker]

42. I would hope so

If God, and Jesus, are all knowing, all powerful and benevolent, I can think of some starving children to feed and wars to be stopped.

[Rebl2]

60. Nope

[dchill]

3. Each and every one a disgusting charlatan.

[sarisataka]

4. FYI- DU has forums for religion

You can find them here
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1313

[Bundbuster]

9. This is more a social and political issue than religious

When religious individuals or movements try to impose rightwing policies & positions on issues like racism, abortion, gay rights, etc., it becomes a cultural and political matter. When Mike Johnson spews his Christian Nationalism to your nation, that is a political matter. Separation of Church & State is a political matter. Not allowing religious proselytizing at a State or Governmental University is a political matter.

[sop]

43. Obliterating the separation of Church and State is a political issue.

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 (conservative justices were in the majority, liberals in dissent) for coach Joseph Kennedy this year, finding the Washington State football coach had a constitutional right to pray at the 50-yard-line.

[dalton99a]

5. Kick

[Mosby]

8. Christianity is toxic

Sorry.

But the religion has this focus on "Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone".

They obsess about end times theology, salvation theology and prosperity theology, all of which contain some seriously fucked up ideas about people and society.

It's not even monotheistic, due to the trinity thing.

[harumph]

55. Most religions that mandate a belief in a sky daddy are toxic.

Christianity - especially the evangelical variety that as you correctly state essentially denigrates good works, thinking them
immaterial to salvation, is particularly anti-society and grotesque.

[Xavier Breath]

10. In the immortal words of Jeff Stilson:

"Yeah, we were in the game, until Jesus made me fumble. He hates our team."

[ProfessorGAC]

25. Beat Me To It

I did not recall it was Stilson, but I always remembered that line.
It's never their god's fault when they lose.
Reminds me of another line:
All prayers are answered. The answer is almost always "No".

[Deep State Witch]

11. Fellowship of Christian Athletes

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a huge organization that started in 1954. They push stuff like this. It's all part of this "Muscular Christianity" stuff that is promoting "patriotic duty, discipline, self-sacrifice, masculinity, and the moral and physical beauty of athleticism."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fellowship_of_Christian_Athletes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscular_Christianity

[Bundbuster]

16. You nailed it, thank you. Public "Muscular Christianity"

They are hand in glove with hyperpatriotic Air Force Flyovers at sporting events, gigantic American flags covering football & baseball fields, grandiose extended performances of the National Anthem, keeping the 7th inning "God Bless America" going indefinitely after 9/11. And totally squash and attack anyone not completely on board with all of it.

[tanyev]

12. If Jesus is such a big sports fan, how come he didn't wait a couple more millenia to incarnate?

[rampartc]

30. jesus couldn't wait

he had a big bet on charleston heston in the chariot race.

[Sky Jewels]

14. I'll never stop being astonished that

“modern” people still believe that there is some sort of invisibly male sky wizard controlling events on Earth with the help of “his” son, the magical undead carpenter, who is also himself (huh?).

It’s primitive patriarchal bullshit mythology, and it’s a cancer on this country in so many ways.

[Clash City Rocker]

15. My standard response when people brag in public of their religion is

“Truly I tell you, you have received your reward in full.” If they accept it as a compliment, I can tell that they don’t read their Bible very much.

Matthew 6:5-6 NIV
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

[underpants]

18. There's a meme for that

[Bundbuster]

46. **Thread winner** (and oh so true)

Leave it to underpants...

[underpants]

47. 😁

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

59. LOL

Your own demigod can't even agree with himself about praying in private or in public.

christians should not pray in public.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:5-6

christians should pray in public.

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. John 11:41-42

So no matter how much christians try to peddle that disingenuous claim that one must pray only in private, the red-letter guy is okay with both. Because he does both.

Funny how often one verse negates another in the Big Book of Bad Ideas.

[oasis]

19. When a player gets seriously injured on the field,

and players from both teams take a knee and bow their heads in silent prayer.

Is that okay with you?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

21. We don't know if they are praying, reflecting, hoping, or something else.

When an athlete talks about Jesus being the reason they did something, we have no choice but to deal with it. Surely you can see the difference.

[Bundbuster]

23. If they are praying, yes that is fine by me.

That is not public proselytizing and evangelizing. I have never had a problem with anyone sincerely praying in their own private domain, especially for the welfare of others.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

20. Kathy Griffin said it best

"Now, look, a lot of people come up here and they thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus. He didn't help me a bit. If it was up to him, Cesar Millan would be up here with that damn dog. So all I can say is suck it Jesus, this award is my God now"

[progressoid]

63. Thank you Jesus!

[sop]

22. All athletes are coached to answer dumb media questions with trite responses.

It's all about false humility and lies. God forbid some winning quarterback says "giving thanks to my rocket arm and blazing speed for today's win."

"Giving thanks to my lord and saviour Jesus Christ" is better than thanking team trainers for the steroids used to bulk them up, or wealthy boosters for that new car and the bags full of cash.

[Bundbuster]

29. I'd say that owner has serious insecurity issues.

Last summer I saw an immaculately restored vintage mint Corvette, which would have been worth probably $150,000 if the owner hadn't plastered the paint job with "Powered by Jesus," "Created by Jesus," "Fueled by Jesus."

[Bundbuster]

34. Those are 2 superb contributions! Welcome to DU, Methu2

... ...

[CincyDem]

58. Absolutely. 14 posts - 2 winners. We should all have such good batting averages...

But don't let it go to your head...you'll come up with a stinker some day and boy, do we know how to dish out on that !!!

Welcome.

[progressoid]

62. Aw dang, I missed the fun!

[sop]

40. That's what I call a Religious Vanafesto.

[bpj62]

31. Tony Boselli

Back in the early 90s the Jacksonville Jaguars made a run in the AFC and got to the AFC Championship game against the Patriots.
After each win Boselli would give thanks to God and spout all of the language listed in the post. However after they lost to the Patriots he said absolutely nothing about God. My first thought was I guess God only loves winners. Sadly no one ever calls these athletes out when they do this. I have no problem with faith but at least the athletes could be consistent with thier praise of God whether they won or lost.

[sop]

41. Tim Tebow was the poster child for this sort of thing.

[malaise]

33. Great OP

Rec

[BannonsLiver]

35. Meh

I just roll my eyes and get on with my life when I see those comments from athletes. Background noise at this point.

[Wonder Why]

36. Dropkick me Jesus through the goalposts of life

https://m.

[Bundbuster]

38. Christ - it's even in public high schools here

*snip*

The Douglas County School District in Colorado is being sued for its promotion of Christian organizations and their proselytizing efforts -- endorsements that violate the U.S. Constitution’s Establishment Clause, according to an American Humanist Association lawsuit filed Wednesday.

At Cougar Run Elementary, a promotional flyer for a Christian mission to Guatemala organized by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Adventures in Missions was distributed to all students and parents at the public elementary school in March. According to the lawsuit, school officials solicited trip contributions from parents, asking them to make checks payable to “Cougar Run Elementary.” The school’s 6th grade class was also featured as a co-sponsor of the Christian mission, which cites sharing “the love and hope of Jesus” as a primary goal of the trip.

The school district is also accused of “pressuring public school children into participating in programs that proselytize Christianity” through its promotion of Operation Christmas Child, a Christian gift package program that sends impoverished children presents with messages advocating converting to Christianity. The program is operated by the evangelical Christian organization Samaritan’s Purse, led by evangelical minister Franklin Graham.

The Christmas donation program has faced numerous complaints in recent years for violating students’ First Amendment rights, including one incident in 2011 where North Carolina school children were asked to answer a questionnaire that asked them to complete the sentence: “I love Jesus because ______.”

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/colorado-school-district-christianity-lawsuit_n_6036286

[chowder66]

39. Don't forget the award shows! They do it too.

[Patterson]

44. Didn't McCartney get busted for cheating on his wife?

[Bundbuster]

45. You got it - typical pontificating hypocrite

*snip*

While McCartney’s public image was that of a devoutly religious man and hard-working football coach, privately he was consumed by an addiction to alcohol, explosive temper and obsession with work.

The contradictions continued after the 1991 founding of Promise Keepers, the all-male ministry that instructs members to “practice spiritual, moral, ethical and sexual purity” and “build strong marriages through love, protection and biblical values.”

But when McCartney admitted in 1993 that he had had sex with another woman several decades earlier, she cracked. Lyndi McCartney closed herdrself in her room, refused to speak with anyone on the telephone, accepted no visitors and lost 80 pounds. “I vomited every day for more than seven months,” she says in the book. “I could no longer cope or function. I went into self-imposed isolation and considered taking my own life. That’s when Bill noticed I was wasting away before his eyes.”

He also came to realize how his behavior had played a part in his daughter Kristyn’s two out-of-wedlock births - both children fathered by football players on the team he coached.

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/nov/20/his-first-promises-were-often-broken-book-reveals/

Yeah, I'd sure want my children to hold Bill McCartney as a good model of Christian morality.

[sakabatou]

48. I never understood why they thanked God, Jesus, or whatever.

It didn't make sense to me. Shouldn't they be thanking the coaches, teammates and other staff, as well as the fans, instead?

[Xavier Breath]

49. I imagine they would say that was just God working through

the coaches, teammates, trainers, hot dog guy, refs on the take, jockstraps washer and staff at FanDuel, and anyone else you can name. You'd be surprised how few flesh and blood people are actually involved in this whole operation. Yeah, it's mostly God and Satan having a pissing contest, it seems. God helps you get the TDs while Satan causes you to forget your marriage vows on the road and bang that waitress in KC, the sneaky bastard.

[Bundbuster]

50. It's all about recruiting & CONVERTING you.

Definition of evangelize: convert or seek to convert (someone) to Christianity; to preach the gospel to.

Definition of proselytize: to induce someone to convert to one's faith; to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause.

A major historical goal of most major religions is just this, in order to overcome with numbers other religions. These proselytizing evangelizing athletes, or those handing out pamphlets on street corners, probably believe that you must be saved & born again to live a meaningful and complete life. Thus they cross normal boundaries in their dedication to saving your soul.

[Blue Owl]

51. Timmy Tebow is still out there winning!

[calguy]

52. I've yet to see an athlete on any sports team who just lost a game

to thank the Lord for letting them lose the game so that in his infinite wisdom, the Lord is working 'in mysterious ways'.

[gibraltar72]

53. Joe Gibbs racing

pushing the "He Gets Us' shit.

[blueknight73]

56. As a Science believing

Atheist, I always find it cringe worthy when they say this

[Bundbuster]

57. This summer all the MLB players pointing up

to their supposed skydaddy after even reaching base caused me to cease watching baseball altogether. And I was a lifelong fan who grew up on Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron.