Religion on the Field

[SecularMotion]

Now that the Boys of Spring are prepped for the 2010 season, I am, too.

I’m ready to take my cuts — at the endless kissing of fingers to the heavens; the ritual sign of the cross performed by batters stepping to the plate; the bent knee behind the mound. In short, I object to the displays of religiosity appropriate to houses of worship, not ball fields.

I’ve watched American sports for decades, both as a fan and as a writer, and not until the past few years have I witnessed such an offensive show of devotion — as out of place as locker room prayer sessions. Indeed, a recent legal decision held that a football coach in East Brunswick, N.J., was wrong for having his team “take a knee” and pray in the high school’s locker room.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/complaint-box-religion-on-the-field/?hp

[msongs]

1. people in authority pimping their religion on the powerlss is abuse nt

[MineralMan]

2. All of those are individual religious expressions. Nothing wrong

with that at all. If it offends you, don't watch sports.

BTW, I'm a strong atheist.

[louis-t]

3. The only time I ever heard "take a knee"

was when I was on a church football team in the sixties. Wonderful days, they were.

[frebrd]

4. I think fundies are required.....

to make a spectacle of their superstitions, otherwise they're not considered real "christians".

[matt819]

5. This guy took some hits on the NYT site

Even from non-believers who didn't object to people practicing their superstitions. Well, that's what it may be to you, but they are clearly recognizable as religious gestures and imprecations and they have no place in the secular arena. You want to pray, pray privately or in church. If you are going to praise the lord for his role in a successful performance, then you have to get up there and bitch about the lord ignoring your sorry ass when you don't do so well.

At the same time, I also think that the national anthem and god bless america have to go as well, along with the pledge of allegiance in school. I mean, really. Let's think about some important oaths. Let's say your marriage vows. Or if your a soldier, to protect and defend the constitution of the United States. Do you repeat those oaths every day. Do you repeat your marriage vows daily? No, your allegiance - to spouse, to country, etc. - is demonstrated in your actions, not by wearing red white and blue underwear and tricorner hats.