What does God have to do with the super bowl?

[Hugabear]

Ive never understood why people feel the need to thank God after winning a sporting event. Even if there were aGid, wouldn't it have more important things to worry about? In a universe that spans billions of light-years across, with billions of galaxies, trillions of stars, potentially hundreds of millions of intelligent civilizations...you would aGod rrally be concerned with a football game taking place on an obscure planet with a species that hasn't even really mastered spaceflight very well yet?

Same rant applies to awards ceremonies.

[Kolesar]

1. God is inside you

That is the best sermon I ever heard. Still a skeptic, though

[1620rock]

2. +1

[leftstreet]

3. Thank God you posted this

:D

[dems_rightnow]

4. They say it just to irritate you

Seems to have worked.

[trumad]

5. So fucking what...

The dude barely mentioned God...

If a player wants to make a brief mention of God....who the fuck cares.

This fucking place can be moronic at times.

[NuclearDem]

6. +1

[roody]

8. We are just marveling at the stupidity of God thanking.

Is the other team cursing God for making them lose?

[trumad]

9. It was a player and he was thanking God for his good fortune...

Again, who fucking cares.

[11 Bravo]

84. + everything

[treestar]

19. He didn't put it that way

He said "to God be the glory," so in his case, it was a form of modesty - give the glory to God, not him.

[Union Scribe]

11. I'm guessing people had those posts ready to roll

and were going to run with that chip on their shoulder no matter who won or what they said.

[WolverineDG]

33. +1000

and thank God none of the athletes said the "m" word.

dg

[OhioChick]

12. No doubt n/t

[tammywammy]

14. +1 n/t

[Bluebear]

22. Because the fucking notion that God picks one fucking team over another is fucking stupid.

Enough for you?

[HappyMe]

31. Nobody said that God picks one team over the other.

All the dude said was 'to God be the glory'. So what? It's everyone's right to believe in or not believe in whatever the fuck they want.

[Bluebear]

37. Well good for fuckety fuck fuck dude.

:crazy:

[HappyMe]

45. Lol! A well reasoned reply.

:eyes:






Have a blessed day.

[WolverineDG]

34. but if you don't believe in God, why fucking care? nt

[bobbolink]

49. "Gott Mitt Uns"

[Lucian]

93. + a google.

[Zax2me]

51. Exactly. My first guess is this place would applaud...

The expressed freedom of religion without fear of repercussions.
Instead we get - judgments.
And yes, I am surprised to see that here. Quite unusual.

[polmaven]

70. It isn't really unusual at all here.

The non-believers at this site have absolutely no problem mocking people of faith on a regular basis.

[WolverineDG]

74. Check out Religion/Theology

where those who claim atheism is not a religion have essentially bullied everyone else out of the forum.

dg

[11 Bravo]

85. I can tell you're relatively new here.

Mentions of God are routinely shit on.

[Lilyeye]

95. Nope..they don't. People of faith are always mocked here. That is one thing that pisses me off

about DU. Some people claim tolerance, yet they rarely show it if they disagree with it.

[WildEyedLiberal]

83. + a million

[thelordofhell]

7. Did God make the other team lose?

I always wonder that when the winning team thanks God.

[polmaven]

10. What difference does it make

to you that someone else happens to believe something which you don't? If you don't believe, that is your right. Does that mean everyone else has to defer to you and not never publicly express his/her belief?

[Arugula Latte]

61. Why can't other people express the other belief? Is it only a one way street?

[polmaven]

63. The OP isn't "expressing a belief".

It is simply meant to dis those who do.

[Arugula Latte]

66. The OP is expressing the belief that thanking a deity for Super Bowl intervention is truly stupid.

Nothing wrong with that.

But I see DU's "Shhh! Can't say jack about religion!" police are out in force.

[polmaven]

68. If this were in the Religion forum

I would have no problem whatsoever. But it is in the GD forum. I can only imagine what would go on if someone continually used this forum to mock atheists as often as we see this kind of thread mocking people of faith.

[snooper2]

71. slow down, you are starting to not make sense "if someone used continually use this forum"

Also, I welcome the mocking of atheists...



You don't believe in Jesus -point finger- ha ha ha ha ha... :rofl:
Nope, it's a story...
But, ha ha ha ha...you don't believe in, uh, --ha ha ..

(See, it really doesn't work- which should be a big hint right there :P)

It would be like trying to mock Tom Colicchio's ability to cook :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[polmaven]

73. Yeah...you're right...

I have edited the post to remove the extraneous words......But I am serious. The wailing would be absolutely earsplitting if people of faith were mocking atheists in the GD forum on a regular basis. There is a forum - actually 2 forums that were set up just for that purpose.

[glinda]

13. Just for a change I would like to hear someone thank Allah or Buddha.

[AsahinaKimi]

15. Buddha would not waste his time with sports..

He was after all, enlightened.

[Fuddnik]

57. I want to see a Santeria practitioner sacrifice a chicken in the end zone.

[Trajan]

16. Consider it a blessing ...

He is too busy to inspire this, at least for a few hours ...











But hey - It is a proven fact that it can NEVER happen again .... right ?

Right ....


I expect to be attacked for this .... Yet it is historical fact : ugly, awful, deadly historical fact ....

Fire away ....

[SammyWinstonJack]

29. +1000

[truebrit71]

39. +100000

n/t

[WillyT]

88. + 1,000,000,000... What You Said !!!

:kick:

[pokerfan]

17. God hates our team

I'm trying to wean myself off sports, it's too time consuming. I don't watch football anymore, I gave that up. I got tired of the interviews after the games, because the winning players always give credit to God, and the losers blame themselves. You know, just once I'd like to hear a player say, 'Yeah, we were in the game, until Jesus made me fumble. He hates our team.' (Jeff Stilson)

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

18. As our continent has forsaken them...

Those of Asgard do not participate. If they did, everyone would know that the Vikings would win every time. :evilgrin:

[Major Hogwash]

20. What a dumb question!!

"What does God have to do with the super bowl?"

Where do you think replays came from, you moran?
From Gawd Awmighty!

Hahahaha!!!!!!!!!!

[Luminous Animal]

21. It is clear that God hates the Steelers. Thank you God for helping to defeat those fucking losers.

[Mz Pip]

78. +1

[Mad_Dem_X]

94. LOL

[Arugula Latte]

23. Agree -- It's completely asinine.

The mentality and the utter arrogance it requires to think that some omnipotent invisible supernatural being in a universe of untold billions of planets has had some sort of affect on that silly game ... just Wow.

[polmaven]

25. How DARE

anyone believe something you don't believe????? The nerve! Such unmitigated gall is completely unacceptable!!!!

[Arugula Latte]

59. Did I say that? Did I say I was going to stop him from thinking/saying that?

So I'm not allowed to say that I think an opinion is stupid? I should just pretend everything everyone says is a pearl of wisdom?

[WildEyedLiberal]

86. You should pretend to respect other people's right to freedom of conscience

Even if you don't, you could at least pretend you respect people who don't believe exactly as you do. But you can't even PRETEND to be civil or polite, apparently. Not sure why you think you're better than the fundies you hate.

[Arugula Latte]

97. Riddle me this:

This is a forum where we routinely criticize/belittle/make fun of/thrash, etc., beliefs of many stripes. Rightwing, Republican, Tea Party, Anti-Choice, Anti-Gay, Anti-Science beliefs -- the vast majority of us, save the trolls, don't agree with those beliefs. We criticize them. We think many of those beliefs are stupid/greedy/ignorant/short-sighted/harmful/wrong, as the case may be.

Why is there supposed to be this safe bubble around "faith" where we can't say squat about it without getting shushed by the Religion Squad around here?

As I see it, just because something is called "religion" doesn't make it automatically immune from criticism. It is not a special, protected category.

[Zax2me]

50. And this is why we have freedom of religion.

You can say you would never impose, but give opinions like yours voting power, and I'd trust it no more than a crack addict with my bank account.

[Arugula Latte]

60. What is this "voting power" thing?

I just said I think his comment was idiotic.

[Kablooie]

24. God always takes the easy way out and goes with the winners.

He's kind of shallow that way.

[SammyWinstonJack]

30. ...

:spray:

[truebrit71]

41. That has to be one one of the funniest things I have read in a long, long time!!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[peekaloo]

26. God has to poop sometimes and he needs a super bowl!

or maybe I misunderstood the post. :dunce:

[Obamanaut]

27. Some people believe, others do not. Many of those who believe,

believe in an all powerful, all knowing, ever present being, one who guides everything.

If it gives them comfort to thank the deity of their belief system when something good happens to them, or to accept the 'plan' after an adverse encounter, who among the non-believers does it hurt?

[raccoon]

28. Seems to me if somebody always gives God credit for the "good" things,

do you then blame him for the "bad" things?

[Obamanaut]

42. You used 'you' in your response, so I will answer. I am a non-believer.

Miz O is a believer, always has been, has two brothers who are ministers.

She had an accident about 5 years ago, hit her head on the road in a motor scooter accident, many broken bones, head trauma, ICU trip, neurological wing of hospital, rehab hospital. Spent some time relearning things - walking, reading, etc.

Her only expression about this was not blaming her god, or thanking him for her survival - after weeks of rehab - was "I guess this is OUR new reality."

It is 'ours' because we are a unit, we've been married 43 years now. But she didn't blame anyone or anything. I don't know how all others deal with this, but I have seen some of my in-laws giving thanks for the good stuff, and offering up words of acceptance for the not so good.

[raccoon]

44. Thanks for sharing that. This is something I struggle with myself. nt

[JoePhilly]

32. When a runningback falls eventhough no one touched him, I think God tripped him.

[Arugula Latte]

67. You might enjoy this ... From David Sedaris' "When You Are Engulfed in Flames"

(sorry for the length)


At the pool I currently go to, one of the regulars is a woman with Down syndrome. She's fairly heavy and wears an old-fashioned swimsuit, the sort with a ruffled skirt. Then there's this bathing cap that straps beneath her chin and is decorated with rubber flowers. Odd is the great satisfaction I take whenever I beat her from one end to the other. "I won three out of four," I told Hugh the first time she and I swam together. "I mean I really creamed her. "

"Let me get this straight," he said. "She's obese. She's as old as you are. And she has Down syndrome?"

"Yes, and I beat her. Isn't that great!"

"Did she even know you were having a race?"

I hate it when he gets like this. Anything to burst my bubble.

I no longer tell him about the old people I defeat. Older than I am, I mean - women in their late seventies and eighties. Then there are the children. I was in Washington State, at a small-town YMCA, when a boy wandered into the lap lane and popped his head, seal-like, out of the water. I would later learn that he was nine, but at the time he was just this kid, slightly pudgy, with a stern haircut. It's like he went to a barbershop with a picture of Hitler, that's how severe it was. We got to talking, and when I told him I wasn't a very good swimmer, he challenged me to a race. I think he assumed that, like most adults, I'd slow down and intentionally let him win, but he didn't know who he was dealing with. I need all the confidence I can get, and one victory is just as good as any other. Thus I swam for my very life and beat the pants off him. I thought this was it - he'd accept his defeat and move on with his life - but five minutes later he stopped me again and asked if I believed in God.

"No," I told him.

"Why?"

I thought for a second. "Because I have hair on my back, and a lot of other people, people who kill and rob and make life miserable, don't. A real God wouldn't let that happen."

I was happy to leave it at that, but before I could resume he blocked my path. "It was God who let you win that race," he said. "He touched you on the leg and made you go faster, and that's how come you beat me."

He really looked like Hitler then, eyes blazing like two little coals.

"If God knows that I don't believe in him, why would he go out of his way to help me?" I asked. "Maybe instead of making me win, God reached down and made you lose. Did you ever think of that?"

[JoePhilly]

79. Hahaha!! That's good. Did you see the football game a few months back ...

I think it was the Jets vs Cleveland, but I maybe wrong. Doesn't matter.

During the game, a wide receiver blows by a defensive back, and is wide open in the end zone, and the long pass is absolutely perfect ... the play is a long throw, and its in the air for a while, so you have lots of time to know that this is clearly going to be an easy touchdown. And with the touchdown, his team is going to go ahead, and probably win the game because there isn't much time left.

And the receiver who's wide open, waiting for the ball, drops it. And his team loses the game.

After the game he tweets something that basically said ... "I can't believe God let me drop that pass, I pray to him and pray to him all the time. And he does this to me. I can't believe it!!"

Immediately, articles popped up about it including a DU thread that had a picture of the play, in which you could see him dropping the ball as the defensive back is running towards him with absolutely no chance to make a play on the ball.

Much of the comments were like in this thread. That time I commented that if you looked real close, you could tell that the defensive back was screaming "Please God No!!, Please, God No!!" And clearly God answered his prayer.

I don't actually think God answered that prayer ... every one knows that God doesn't pay attention until the playoffs.

[Arugula Latte]

80. Ha! I heard about that.

Too funny.

Well, it was almost refreshing that at least he blamed the deity, 'cuz usually that god guy only gets the credit for the good stuff and never any of the blame, even though he's supposed to be omnipotent and all that, dontcha know.

[seabeyond]

35. why do you care? what business is it of yours. if it isnt about law, seperate state and church

why the fuck do you care

[RetroLounge]

36. Exactly ther same as "God" has to do with anything

and that is, nothing.

Just weak-minded superstition for people too stupid to think for themselves.

RL

[Zax2me]

55. The freedom of religion may be alive and well....

But some appear to have a severe problem with the exercise of that right.
That's okay.
These same people are powerless to stop it.
It's easy to call someone else as weak minded, stupid...
What is hard is watching these self-labeled intellectual superiors in power.
Damage they do.

[Arugula Latte]

69. What damage do "intellectual superiors" in power do?

How many professed atheists are there in public office? Maybe one on the national level?

How many religious zealots are pushing their anti-women/anti-gay/anti-science agenda? Oh, that's right, dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of Republicans, Teapartiers, Supreme Court Justices and religious whack jobs in positions of high power.

I believe your concern is radically misplaced.

[truebrit71]

38. I love it everytime they do it. Makes them sound stupid. They don't realize.....

..that what they are doing is proving he doesn't exist everytime someone says something like that. In order for that statement to be true it means that god had to pick a side. If that player truly believed that god wanted him to succeed, it must also mean that god wanted the other players to fail. Why would ANYONE worship a god that actively works against you if you're on the 'wrong' team?

Besides, everyone knows God is a Cubs fan and He wants us to suffer...

[Better Believe It]

40. It's obvious the Pittsburgh Steelers did not pray hard enough or even prayed to the wrong god!

[KurtNYC]

43. They feel blessed. They have accomplished a lifelong goal. It is a spiritual moment.

And spirituality is very different from religion. They don't thank the Pope or Jimmy Swiggart.

IMHO God is not connecting to us -- WE are connecting to God (or, as some prefer, the Super-concious). Like tuning a radio station specifically, in the midst of all that cosmic fuzz.

Plus, it makes them sound humble.

[ScreamingMeemie]

46. What the hell? I think it's all too much for you and you should find other

ways to occupy your time than sports and award shows.

Why care? Seriously? Fundie Atheists are just as bad as Fundie Christians. :eyes:

[seabeyond]

48. "Fundie Atheists are just as bad as Fundie Christians" agree. live and let live

unless someone believes in god and then diss at every opportunity

[ScreamingMeemie]

52. Some of us don't.

I don't diss a person's belief in God.

[seabeyond]

54. no. some of us (or not, i havent decided what i am) don't. not implying that ALL atheists

do. one of the things i have respected most in most atheists i personally know is their acceptance and allowance of other believing as they chose. and even having the ability to respect another persons beliefs, that they do not agree with and even see how it causes problems.

that is not what i view on du so often and one area i am really disappointed with us

[polmaven]

62. I totally agree as well.

It is really getting tiresome. If believers came to GD this often to express negative opinions of atheists at every turn, there would really be some loud wailing.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

58. "Fundie Atheists..." i love it, lol! +1

[Zax2me]

47. Example of what makes freedom of religion so great

I love that people like you can be bothered but have no power at all to stop it - not that you, specifically, would, but be sure - others might.
Makes no difference that you don't understand or disagree.
None at all.

[ozone_man]

53. A marvelous display of fascism.

God, flag, and capitalism.

[Zax2me]

56. A marvelous display of freedom, free will.

They lose theirs, you lose yours.
Great system.
Keeps freedom from death - for you, me, and these 'God, flag, capitalism lovers' - everyone.
As it should be.

[DainBramaged]

76. Would it be ok with you if one of the players praised Allah?

He being God from a different viewpoint.........or maybe all praise Ronnie Raygun, father of the death of Commies, maybe that's OK too???

[WildEyedLiberal]

87. Of course it's "ok"

If you truly believe in a free society, anyone should be free to praise anything without worrying about the thought police. Why is this so hard for a "liberal" website to understand?

[quinnox]

64. dang, the people defending this seem very angry

Its a good question. Even if one does believe in God, why would they be concerned about a trivial football game? See, didn't insult any religious beliefs at all.

Wouldn't God have a great deal of more important 'fish to fry'?

As an agnostic, I think its a good question. The people defending this seem very touchy about it...

[LanternWaste]

65. Or the trivial death of an unknown person...

"concerned about a trivial football game...?


Or the trivial death of an unknown person.

Or a trivial war.

Or a trivial sunset.

Or a trivial plague.


Contrasted against the entire universe, all of the above seem trivial. Unless of course, you have absolute knowledge of what is or is not trivial...? :shrug:

[snooper2]

72. Because if the Steelers had won, Ben Roethlisberger would have gotten drunk

In downtown Dallas,

And then would have gotten into a rented Enzo plastered...

Got confused and lost, driving up 35 North...

And wrecked causing a Greyhound bus to roll 8 times off the highway- killing all the ladies who were headed to a bingo tournament in Oklahoma city...



You don't know the details of the plan, I've got an inside line :)

[JoePhilly]

96. Why do you think God is "frying fish"???

Let's be clear about God and his motives (yes, I said "his motives" because god definitely has male genitalia).

First, God is not only a big sports fan, he is also very involved in the weather. And when you lose your keys, God actually hid them to teach you a lesson about what happens when you don't put them in the same place all the time so you can find them easily.

Second, God clearly hates Christina Aguilera because she dresses to provocatively. And that is why she flubbed the national anthem.

Third, God also controls the traffic. And if the guy in front of you pissed God off today, you'll just have to sit there and wait while God punishes that person. God does not have time to make your life easier while he is also making the like of a transgressor more difficult.

I'm not sure why people don't understand this.

:sarcasm:

[DainBramaged]

75. They have convinced themselves God is only watching them

instead of worrying about things that matter.



I wonder if the gladiators killed in God's name?

[johnlucas]

77. Football is Religion in America

Why do you think it mostly plays on Sundays? ;-)

John Lucas
(and Saturdays for those who remember what day the Sabbath originally used to fall on)

[XanaDUer]

81. Haven't you heard of the Hail Mary pass?

:)

[fishwax]

82. thanking god or saying glory to god doesn't mean they think god had any interest/role in the outcome

Yes, there have been some athletes who actually *have* said that god was on their side or whatever, but most of the time they don't get that specific, and I didn't hear anybody say that after last night's game.

[WiffenPoof]

89. I've Been Asked...

...many times why I even care about what Christians say or do. After all, it really is their business and they have a right to believe in whatever god they choose.

There are a lot of posts here stating a similar theme.

I'll tell you why I care...
Often, it is these very people that end up in positions of power that effect MY life.

Now I know that this has little to do with the specific point of the OP...But think about it. Many of us would prefer that Christians (or any other religion) keep their beliefs to themselves. It is often said that religion is a personal matter. Well...it should remain so. Even something as simple as a football player thanking God is a furthering of the spread of a specific belief in a "public forum." The more a religion is expressed, the greater chance that someone will end up in a position to effect my life.

-PLA

[dkofos]

90. It was played at his teams new stadium.

:sarcasm:

[Mad_Dem_X]

91. As soon as I heard this on TV

I knew it was going to be an issue at DU. If a guy wants to mention God, big whoop. I don't think God made the Packers win, and I agree that it's annoying at awards shows...but there are bigger things to worry about than some athlete saying, "God be the glory," or whatever.

[Lucian]

92. People look like idiots when they thank an imaginary sky being.

It's pitiful, really. Forget about man's talent that won the game. It was the hand of God.

:eyes: