PratchettFan
Gold Member
- Jun 20, 2012
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You could have stood with the team and not recited the prayer. that's what i did. I never felt compelled to believe or say a prayer. Why would anyone?Where did I say it would be required? You might want to slow down and follow the words with your finger. Move your lips if you have to then maybe you'll understand what i said.It's not.
If a coach wants to invite a team to say a prayer so what?
You don't have to say it. I never did. My coach's religious beliefs never influenced me.
He is not forcing people to participate he is merely exercising his beliefs and there can be no law passed that prohibits him from doing so.
The players depend on the coach for playing time. A coach requiring a team Lords Prayer is in a unique position to influence his players whether they want to say it or not.
Would parents tolerate a coach who insisted his players recite that there is no Jesus?
If the coach wanted to say a prayer he should be able to. The players do not have to comply. I never did when I played and the coaches said a prayer.
Of course a coach can't "require" players to say the Lords Prayer with him
But players who depend on him for playing time would feel pressured to go along. It is inappropriate in a school setting
I admit it has been a couple of years, but when I first went on my HS team I didn't join in the prayer the first time. I was then counseled by the coach that it was ok if I didn't believe, but when the team was in the circle with their head bowed, then everyone was in. If I wasn't in the circle, I wasn't part of the team. If I wasn't part of the team, I wasn't on the team. So I did the next three years in the circle. It didn't change anything, but the coach has any number of ways to require things.
I do not think it appropriate for a coach to lead a prayer.
I abstained from the pledge of allegiance as well. There were never any reprisals or unfavorable consequences.
Oh yes, that's what I did. Nonetheless, it is inappropriate for the coach - a governmental authority figure - to be leading a prayer for students. It's no different than a teacher leader a prayer in a classroom. I don't even think it appropriate for the coach to join in, but that is debatable.
I get what you are saying. I think far too much is made of this. I have no problem with displays in the park, 10 commandments in the courtroom, people handing out pamphlets on street corners. In a free society you are going to be exposed to things you don't agree with and the best thing to do is grow a skin.