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Sunday, August 30, 2015

Atheists Warn Coaches Not to 'Instill Christianity in Vulnerable Young Men'

(CNSNews) - An atheist group is demanding that publicly funded universities take immediate steps to bar Christian coaches and chaplains from "converting football fields into mission fields."

"The words of coaches and chaplains make clear that their purpose is to instill Christianity in vulnerable young men," the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) says in a new report, titled "Pray to Play."

"Public universities and their employees cannot endorse, promote, or favor religion," the report states. "Yet, many football coaches at public universities bring in chaplains -- often from their own church or even members of their own family -- to prey on and pray with students, with no regard for the rights of those students or the Constitution.

"These coaches are converting playing fields into mission fields and public universities are doing nothing to halt this breach of trust. They are failing their student athletes."

In an August 18 letter to the University of Missouri chancellor, FFRF warned of the "legal liability that the University of Missouri exposes itself to by allowing its chaplaincy to continue," adding, "it is not a matter of if but when an issue will arise from this entanglement."

More here

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

These people are idiots

Anonymous said...

and atheists, whoever they may be, exercise what type of control over organized football again? Oh yea, none. Useless information meant to stir the proverbial controversial pot.

Anonymous said...

These atheists need to go on down the road - they are real idiots.

Anonymous said...

who are they to tell us when to pray and not to if they don't want to hear it leave,Christians need to stop let these people take them around by the nose and control us. If they are so smart why do they fight so hard against something they don't believe in. I pray for there souls on the day they draw there last breath here on earth and start eternity after facing our Lord and Savior and then know it's real so sad

lmclain said...

9:30...I agree.
They sound like some pathetic, whiny, little babies, huh?
If college kids praying is the biggest problem they have in life, well, they don't have much of a life.
And if they don't stop, they won't have much of an afterlife, either.

Anonymous said...

"...and atheists, whoever they may be, exercise what type of control over organized football again? Oh yea, none..."

Well, except that these particular atheists have four full-time lawyers that they use to bully and threaten people, so they can be a real pain in the butt, especially to publicly-funded entities that can't afford to defend themselves against the threat of a lawsuit.

They know that, that's why they lean all over the schools and towns.

Like I said.. bullies.

Anonymous said...

Oh, yeah.. I forgot to mention that when these bully atheist lawyers sue and win/settle, they demand reimbursement for their 'legal fees'.

That's right.. the bullies demand that you pay them to sue you.

10:57 AM


Anonymous said...

Atheists don't want strong men. They want to feminize male sports.

Anonymous said...

Atheist = Democrats

Shoot them all because they are traitors

Anonymous said...

Why are atheist so worried about it lol. Enough said...

Anonymous said...

Matthew 6:5
“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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full!
6 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.

Anonymous said...

Lets put this in perspective. The FFRF is asking that a public university not be used as a proscyletizing mission. The football program is about, playing football, not bible study.

How would you feel if there were Muslim coaches or Hindu coaches offering to "pray" and indoctrinate the students... not so shiny happy now is it?

If the school is a public university receiving public funding, there should be none of these shenanigans during "football" time.

BTW, I'm Atheist AND Conservative. Start exercising your brains folks, and stop parroting bad ideas.

Anonymous said...

Atheism is a religion. NEVER allow yourself to be intimidated by anyone or any group. Go forth in the name above all names; Jesus.

Anonymous said...

Atheists are two faced. If they truly are atheists and do not believe in christian beliefs then why does it bother them so when we practice?
Answer is simple they are false believers in their own non belief and fear gods retribution. They know Christians are right they just want to be different and don't know how to express it otherwise.
Tis sad but true

Anonymous said...

@12:01

You have asserted the positive claim "Atheism is a religion". Please to support this claim, or I reject your claim as false.

@12:12

To help you understand, Atheists have no problem at all with anyone practicing their religion as they see fit. Where we have a problem is when you start forcing other people to submit to your religious wishes, or start imposing your religious views on the public. This is where we step up and say it's not o.k.


The way people post here makes me think that not very many people here know anything about Atheists or atheism, nor have they taken any time to read and understand differing perspectives. It's a shame.

Anonymous said...

12:12pm "If they truly are atheists and do not believe in christian beliefs then why does it bother them so when we practice?"

Partly for the same reason it bothers you when Muslims practice, not because they are two faced.Also it is an exclusion activity in a secular game.When there are atheists football players or any others who are different there should be no exclusion.Not in a public or secular college here in America at least.

Belief and worship is a personal matter not to be thrown in the face of others but it is done a lot especially by Christians,Muslims and conservative Jews. Now it seems more than ever some atheists are hitting back.

12:12 also says, "Answer is simple they are false believers in their own non belief and fear gods retribution. They know Christians are right they just want to be different and don't know how to express it otherwise."
Tis sad but true

This paragraph is really illogical and and shows an inability or an unwellingness to understand.

Anonymous said...

Why are the atheists not taking Disney to court? All those fairies, trolls and gnomes that are brain washing people. You don't believe they exist either yet you don't mind them

Anonymous said...

@1:16

Disney's fairies, trolls and gnomes aren't trying to hold compulsory prayers in public places. They aren't trying to shoe horn their religious ideologies into public policy.

They are also not spreading lies and disinformation and distortions about atheists.

Anonymous said...

Why the need to make a public display of your faith? Seems that is between you and your God, not for show.

Anonymous said...

The atheists here and elsewhere are mis-characterizing the activities of the chaplains, coaches and many others.

NOBODY is forcing ANYBODY to pray, speak or believe anything.

They are freely exercising their First Amendment right to pray (or not), thank God (or not), or offer words of encouragement.

This entire FFRF war on Christianity is based on FALSE premises.. lies. The idea that allowing free exercise is forcing a religion on people, the idea that the Constitution prohibits citizens from the free exercise of their religion on public property, the idea that people praying on public property is establishing an official religion.. all FALSE.

The idea that the Constitution demands a 'separation of church and state'.. FALSE.

Lies. Coming from the father of lies.

Anonymous said...

@2:01

You cannot stand up in the middle of a movie in the theater and hold a prayer and claim that it is your first amendment right to hold the prayer publicly. That time is used for watching a movie, others there are not there to participate in your prayer, they are there to watch the movie.

Same with the football players. They are there for football. Not for a prayer meeting or for a bible service. If the players had signed up for the Christian organization group it would be appropriate. But they are signed up for football.

One can offer words of encouragement that don't need to be religious. I don't think these coaches are doing anything malicious, but what they are doing is still inappropriate, and exclusionary to anyone not of the coaches religiosity.

Trust me, as an Atheist I know it is better to just keep my mouth shut and pretend to pray, than it is to "not participate" for fear of ostracization, or being pushed of the team. I know what it is like to be forced to participate... and this is why what is happening here needs to stop.

Anonymous said...

Tebow was as popular as Jenner, and seen as the same kind of person, A Fruitcake!

Anonymous said...

Very well put.

Anonymous said...

Nobody is telling anyone they can't pray. You don't need to stop the festivities on everyone else's time, just to "pray". Say all the silent prayers you want, without making it a scene.

Anonymous said...

They shouldn't instill athesim, either.

Anonymous said...

@6:39

Pray tell, how would they "instill atheism"? I mean, how would that work, exactly?

I keep trying to understand what you mean by that and with out further clarification it doesn't seem to make any sense.

I mean, they won't be doing any stamp collecting at the football games or practice, so... Does that mean they will be installing "non-stamp collecting" also? What you are saying just does not make sense.

Anonymous said...

Sense and theism are mutually exclusive.

Anonymous said...

Beware anyone wearing there religion on their sleeve for all to see. They are hiding something.

Anonymous said...

Amen look at the duggars....