Americans are most supportive of opposing teams praying together after games, with 55 percent of all Americans viewing it positively. Most Americans don’t mind professional athletes expressing their faith on and off the field, according to a new study. A poll conducted by Grey Matter Research and Consulting shows that 49 percent of Americans see athletes’ public expressions of faith favorably; 32 percent don’t care, and 19 percent take a more negative view. Christians aren’t hurting anyone by publicly expressing their beliefs about their religion. It’s freedom of religion and speech. If you don’t like it, you are can ignore it. And it’s not proselytizing, fyi. 1 Timothy 2:8 ESV I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; James 5:16 ESV Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Philippians 4:6 ESV Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Matthew 5:44 ESV But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18) |
These verses show that God desires prayers and that it is good and necessary for Christians to pray, but it is only your poll that says that coaches or people in positions of power should lead a group prayer with those who are not Christians. |
1. It’s not my poll 2. People who are not Christian would not be in a group prayer. 3. Christians can pray publicly and if people who are not Christian are in public with praying Christians- they can ignore the Christians and the prayers. |
How does one ignore the behavior of your coach or leader? Nice way to set up a Constantine situation where people fake-pray because they think they have to. |
OP here. No, not fragile at all. What a peculiar takeaway. But you’re right. Maybe fringe isn’t the right word. I take offense to it. I think it’s incredibly offensive to tell others that God wanted you to win a game or made you perform well. That’s kind of a revolting notion. |
I mean, America leads the world in the proportion of people who think angels are real. We truly are a stupid lot. |
It's hard to ignore, if you're pulled into a prayer group -- as I once was, in a completely secular situation. It almost happened another time, but I recognized the signs and pulled back physically and vocally. People just looked at me funny and left me alone. |
One says: one, I live in America. In America, we are extremely lucky to have freedom of religion and speech. My coach/leader is expressing their freedom of religion and speech. I don’t have the same religious beliefs as my leader, but I respect their beliefs. I don’t need to participate in their beliefs. I can maintain respectful silence, and wait quietly while others exercise their freedom of religion and speech. I am glad I live in a time and place where we all can live and co-exist in a society of peace and freedom. I am going to exercise my freedom of speech to be free from saying a prayer I don’t believe will help me today. |
how were you pulled into a prayer group? People around you started to pray, and their prayers surrounded you like a force field and you were compelled bodily into a prayer? your lips started to move beyond your control? |
We don’t know if angels are real, scientists can’t prove or disprove anything about what lies beyond the natural world. Having religious beliefs may seem stupid to you, but having respect for the beliefs of others is a sign of emotional maturity. You don’t have to be threatened by things you don’t understand. Other people have thoughts and feelings that are different from yours. You can respectfully co-exist and not feel threatened or upset by the way others live their lives. I don’t know why fellow American citizens exercising their freedom of religion and speech is so threatening to people? Especially since those two things are not easily come by in this world- we are lucky to have those rights. Calling others stupid is not necessary or nice. |
That's a tall order. Doesn't seem like kids can achieve this level of enlightenment. For that reason, should prayer be removed from youth sports? |
Display this maturity then and pray privately. |
No. And it’s not enlightenment. It’s the values Americans hold dear. We have freedom of speech and freedom of expression. Are you an American? You don’t like those freedoms? |
+1 it isn’t about your beliefs. I don’t care about your supernatural beliefs or that you think Jesus was a zombie. I like zombie movies too (although I don’t actually think they’re *real* I just enjoy the stories and the fantasy). It’s more about the public displays of those beliefs and the pressure, dare I say challenge, to have any other reaction other than to join in. I judge it the same way I judge two people making out on the subway. That doesn’t make me immature. It makes me normal. |
No, neither I nor anyone else in America has to pray privately. We have the rights of freedom of speech and religion. There are atheists and anti-theists in this thread that do not like those rights. One plainly states that they want to stop prayer in sports. Why do atheists and anti-theists like taking freedom of speech and religion away from people? |