There’s no arguing that religion plays a significant role in the NFL. (Of course, some people might argue that the NFL is a religion itself, but that’s another topic.) Players hit their knees to pray whenever a serious injury occurs (like with Willis McGahee this past weekend), at the end of games, whenever they score a touchdown - heck, probably to celebrate successfully charging through the smoke-filled tunnel before the game.
Which has led the folks at the NY TIMES FREAKONOMICS BLOG to ask a question: shouldn’t the folks at the atheist American Humanist Association - who recently failed in their quest to have “So help me God” removed from the presidential oath of office - be focusing on the NFL instead? After all, their rules on touchdown celebrations seem to be a little biased. For proof, check out the video from soon-to-be-ex head of officiating Mike Pereira has to say on the subject:
So basically, the league doesn’t want you to make a spectacle of yourself, unless you are making a spectacle for yourself to draw attention to your love of Jesus. Great. I wonder if there would be a flag if a Muslim receiver celebrated a touchdown by pulling a prayer rug and gives thanks to Allah while facing Mecca?
Of course, this will never happen. In order to make a big deal about this, the AHA or any other organization would have to have an atheist player to give them support. (And probably to do some sort of atheist celebration to draw a penalty and spark a lawsuit. I have no idea what that would be, other than pulling out some spray paint and making a Darwin fish on the field.) Good luck finding someone willing to go out on a limb like that.
But it does raise the question: why is a league that plays the vast majority of its games on Sunday mornings or early afternoons, drawing millions of people away from their Christian church service, willing to make an exception to its rules for an act of worship? A little bit of good old fashioned Catholic guilt, perhaps?
6:57 pm on January 21st, 2009
I would absolutely love for a touchdown-scoring player to look directly in the camera, give the devil horns and say "HAIL SATAN!"
I think most channels would immediately cut the feed, no matter what game was being televised.
6:59 pm on January 21st, 2009
Oh, God.
8:32 pm on January 21st, 2009
Brooks, are you on vacation? Some of the articles coming across the wire are absolute crap. What was the point of this write up?
8:56 pm on January 21st, 2009
Johnnie Utah:
You heathen! I damn thee to hell!
5:58 am on January 22nd, 2009
How about the stadium billboards flashing a big GOD DOESN'T EXIST YOU ARE AN IDIOT sign every time a jesusfreak does one of those religious numbers?
11:29 am on January 22nd, 2009
first there was that racism article
now this religious article
leave religion alone.
11:35 am on January 22nd, 2009
I believe you meant to say:
(crying) LEAVE RELIGION ALONE!!!!!!
11:35 am on January 22nd, 2009
i don't get this article. so, you have a problem with people praying when someone gets hurt?? i'm far from religious, but i certainly don't have a problem with it. As far as the athiest group goes….the Constitution assures freedom OF religion. Not freedom FROM religion.
11:37 am on January 22nd, 2009
My favorite religious figure is Aunt Esther from 'Sanford & Son'.
"Watch it, sucka!"
1:11 pm on January 23rd, 2009
The writer's position is ridiculous. Being a Christian (to wit, having a saving knowlege of and personal relationship with Jesus Christ) is NOT about when you worship but rather who. Being a Christian is also not about "religion" but rather about relationship. It is (or should be) WHO we are.
Chaplain M.C.
1:56 pm on January 23rd, 2009
I suppose the crybaby atheists should take a break from being crammed into lockers to take a look at this. People praying during football? OH THE HORROR!
3:23 pm on January 23rd, 2009
I would find it more interesting to find out how many of those players practice their faith. I am not religious, and one of the things that put the proverbial nail in the coffin was the hypocricy. How of these players praise God, then break 5 out of 10 commandments within the next week?
Probably more than you can count.
3:28 pm on January 23rd, 2009
Is this article designed to instigate an issue that is not one? What seems to be the problem? A small prayer is not a celebration; it is giving thanks to God. Why write an article like this? I also do not think the NFL is pulling anyone away from Christian worship service. People can go to alternate worship times. If someone truly is a Christian, they will get to a worship service.
4:04 pm on January 23rd, 2009
After 8 yrs of the christian bush, and american christians not protesting in mass to rid us of him for the last 7 I'm sick to death of the whole christian cult. I do believe in a beginning and a creator , but I don't call it a religion with dogmatic crap and try to force it down everybody in the worlds throat. For once when a player screws up and fumbles the ball to lose the game, they extend their arms out with palms up and ask that christian god why? Or is he only a god when the pass is complete for a touchdown ? Please spare me and others your end times death cult religion symbols.
4:27 pm on January 23rd, 2009
I do find it funny that this is an issue except that it has been so easy to see this year. With Jesus being mentioned on National Telivision during the title game and John 3:16 on the QBs face and now with NFC Chapionship game with another QB talking about Jesus and it is about to happen some more during the Super Bowl. These men have been given an awsome responsibility to be a good example and role model. I think they are doing a great job of showing our youth the right way to act.
There is also a great differnce between religion and a relationship. These players are celebrating with their best freind not trying to bring attention to themselves. Just being a good role model.
3:49 am on January 24th, 2009
I'm not big on religion myself and I have met many a religious idiot in my time yet I don't have a problem with players praying during an injury or even with what Kurt Warner said in his NFC Championship victory speech. Kurt, IMO, was just thanking god & jesus out of humbleness. This guy has gone through a lot in his life and time and time again he always seems to come back and now he's going to his 3rd Super Bowl. He's just an incredibly gifted person who accomplished all these things himself, yet he thanks god. He's too humble to admit or boast about how great he is.
Both the religious and non-religious alike can be annoying dix at times, like whenever they try to force, or enforce by law, their views on everyone else.
9:49 am on January 24th, 2009
I'm amused at the responses to this article. While I agree the article is a little silly, the response are worse. There is clearly no understanding of what an atheist is. An atheist is not going to "celebrate" because they have nothing to celebrate. It is not a belief system, it is not a religion. An atheist does not believe in a god (s). That is all. They do NOT deny the existence of god.
Reference to Darwin is silly because both theists and atheist believe in evolution. Atheist only have ONE THING in common, as stated above. Beyond that, they are democrats, republicans, scientists, constructions workers, morons, geniuses, pro-life, pro-choice, etc.
Lastly, as someone mentioned, I too am glad that Bush is out. He literally defied the constitution and supreme court and got away with it because he was the president. President Obama, in one sentence changed that, and said something no president ever had the courage to say…"This is a nation of christians, muslims, jews, hindus and non-believers".
4:16 pm on January 24th, 2009
As an atheist I don't mind individuals demonstrating their religious beliefs, but what burns me is when it's included as a ritual for a group — like a prayer before the game.
9:44 pm on January 24th, 2009
I completely agree with this article. Watching these brainless brutes bang each other on the football field with psalms painted on their eye black is the epitome of brainless religous fervor. Wow, a hulk can throw a football, and now wants to preach to the masses. When Tebow can walk on water, cure cancer, and turn turds into wine, then I may listen, but until then, shut up and play football!
Check out my blog at:
LasVegasHeatt.blogspot.com
10:40 pm on January 24th, 2009
Last time I checked, this is a free country. That is all that needs to be said about this article, interpret your own meaning
11:54 pm on January 24th, 2009
What's the problem with people praying? I do not think and should not be a problem at all. In the bible it says that people are sinners and we are not perfect–neither are Christians, we, including athletes in the NFL are not perfect, but our God does forgive us. At least these people are family oriented people, don't do drugs, nor carry guns. These are the positive role models for the leauge.
12:20 pm on January 25th, 2009
I agree with Rev. Atheist's comments in the posts. The responses are worse than the article. Somehow (as usual), the religious fanatics have somehow taken the article to be an attack on their religion. If you actually read the article (and understand it), you would realize the writer is simply speculating on what might happen if atheists cared enough to make a big stink about other people praying, which they haven't.
It's just an article to encourage discussion; it's not an attack on your religion; get over it.
4:11 pm on January 25th, 2009
Johnathan…….how do you know they're family oriented people that don't carry guns? Just because they walk around with silly chapter/verse painted under their eyes, or because they pray?
That's one of the silliest things I've ever heard. 75% of the prison population are christians. How do you know what these people do? What they're all good because they're christians? Guess what? I'm a good family man that does not own a gun and I'm an atheist.
Religion and morality have nothing to do with one another.
In fact, the percentages would say that Pacman Jones, Mike Vic and Plaxico are christians, or at least two out of three. Those are the stats.
7:28 pm on January 25th, 2009
To all of you God haters and Satan lovers out there, just wait, as this will come just for you weenies when a NFL player scores and says into the camera (as he is making the sign of the Cross), "You are Screwed, God haters! Because Jesus has already beaten your leader Satan by conquering eternal death for his followers!"
Sucks for you guys, don't it?
8:39 pm on January 25th, 2009
Jon……uh, how can an atheist hate something he doesn't believe exists? That would apply to both god and satan, therefore, we don't care and it doesn't concern us anymore than santa claus not dropping down our chimney on xmas eve.
"weapons of mass destruction…..holy bible and koran"
11:30 pm on January 25th, 2009
The U.S. was founded on Bible principles and is a Christian nation. It's ridiculous to bring up Muslim analogies. Do we believe in killing everyone in the name of Allah. No. If we did then you could raise the Muslim flags at the games…. Until then, its not happening…
11:44 pm on January 25th, 2009
JIM*****WRONG!! The United States is NOT, NOT, NOT a "christian" nation. We are a secular nation. That was the whole point. You know, that silly 2nd amendment, religious liberty, freedom of, and FROM religion, which cannot be obtained without separation of church and state.
The founders of this country LEFT England because of religious tyranny. Muslims have as much rights as christians in this countries, contrary to christians. So do jews, atheists, wiccans, jains, etc.
Please get your facts straight. Incidentally, the bible sure does believe in killing plenty of people in the name of "god". As stupid as the 10 commandments are, take a look at what the punishments are for breaking them, which most people break at least two or three a day.
So, spare me the hypocrisy.
11:48 pm on January 25th, 2009
PS- there is no muslim flag. muslim is a religion, not a country. you're thinking of a flag from iran, iraq, etc.
we don't fly a "christian" flag at games either, nor would we ever.
BECAUSE WE ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11:28 pm on January 26th, 2009
Nijohn, I'd love to see where you're getting those statistics on Christians.
You should also work on not confusing cause and effect.
Finally, to say that religion and morality are not related is completely ludicrous.
12:22 am on January 27th, 2009
Wow, unfortunately I am never surprised how arrogant the vast majority of atheists and egocentric liberals truly are. Why it bothers anyone that a person chooses to believe that they are here for a purpose and that they were placed here by a power higher than themselves is truly amazing. But why should I be amazed when we are in a culture that glorifies pop icons and reality TV while ignoring anyone who actually contributes anything positive to society.
Oh by the way, this is a Christian nation, read a book about our founding fathers and stop watching TV.
5:31 pm on January 27th, 2009
slf….we have no "religion" as a nation. there is a good chance I've read more books than you. how do you know that I'm liberal, or like reality TV (i don't) or ignore anyone who contributes anything to society? You don't, but you make ignorant, self righteous statements about others. Additionally, what makes you think it bothers me, or anyone, what you believe about being here, a higher power, or anything? I don't, because being an atheist means not believing in a god (s), nothing more. We don't deny the existence of one, therefore, don't care what you believe. Maybe you should do some reading before you make generalizations on subject you show clear ignorance on.
jason- how can you even suggest that morality and religion have anything to do with each other? morality existed 1000 years before religion. "right and wrong" is inherent in a human being, it doesn't need to be taught. I'm a "moral" person and I'm an atheist. to me, that's all the proof i need. my 10 year old has a good sense of morality yet he's too young to understand the concept of religion. 15% of the country does not believe in religion and do you honestly believe they're not "moral"? finally, 75% of the population of the US prison system is christian. There is correlation between religion and morality.