@suzianne saidYes, I've always felt that the more ostentatious the piety, the less sincere.
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." -- Matthew 6:5-6, KJV
If the coach wants to showboat in the configuration of a praying mantis on the field, well, who cares? I don't.
@fmf saidChurches were kind of a later invention, weren't they? Keep the sabbath holy and all that, but as far as I know there's nothing in the instruction manual (i.e. the Bible) about convening with others in a big building to make a big show about it.
@Suzianne
I am not so interested in Matthew 6:5-6 because it butts up against people in real [Christian] life praying in church, prayer groups, vigils etc. Matthew 6:5-6 is ripe for cherry-picking.
No. Instead, I am more interested in why there is this movement in American culture that seeks to drive religion and faith out of the public domain and away from the public square, so to speak?
@soothfast saidBut there was overwhelming desire to build the Temple and to get the "holiest of holies" out of a tent in the desert.
Churches were kind of a later invention, weren't they? Keep the sabbath holy and all that, but as far as I know there's nothing in the instruction manual (i.e. the Bible) about convening with others in a big building to make a big show about it.
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@fmf saidOkay, I grant you that. I also grant that I called your position, not you, idiotic.
You may disagree with what I have posted on this thread but I don't see how calling me "idiotic" makes your stance any more persuasive.
How about ignorant?
You're certainly ignorant about American politics. You perhaps could have saved us all a bunch of time by admitting that right from the gate.
@suzianne saidI think my ambivalence about the way this coach was treated overlaps or concurs with what millions and millions of Americans think, and they are covered by the term "American politics" surely? So. Ignorant? No. Idiotic? No. Simply saying something that differs from your particular "American" political opinion? Yes.
You're certainly ignorant about American politics. You perhaps could have saved us all a bunch of time by admitting that right from the gate.
@fmf saidChristianity without persecution is like pancakes without maple syrup (and melted butter, of course).
"Joseph A. Kennedy, a former high school football coach, was fired after he made a habit of going to the 50-yard line after his team’s games to thank God and to lead his players in prayer. On Monday, the Supreme Court heard his suit." ~ The Daily
Isn't feeling excluded from such moments simply character building?
Thoughts?
@kevin-eleven saidSo now upholding the Constitution is "persecution"?
Christianity without persecution is like pancakes without maple syrup (and melted butter, of course).
@suzianne saidIt seems you have skipped over a few steps.
So now upholding the Constitution is "persecution"?
Please show your work. 😉
(I had the same problem in school.)
@suzianne saidre: The Constitution ~ The idea that the football coach was establishing "a state religion" is ludicrous. I hardly think it is a proper use of the constitution to try to insulate people from witnessing other people's personal expression of faith.
So now upholding the Constitution is "persecution"?