Jim, only thing I’d add to yours is it’s not a lack of anything. It’s an absence. But right on!

Ellie, again Brian said it better than I will but, yes, that is what makes America great. So let’s turn it around, shall we? Why are some hypocrites (that’s my term because I strongly feel that anyone who really has faith is not threatened by my absence thereof) always making an issue of their faith as opposed to its coming up naturally in a conversation?

What the hey? Read through Kevin’s blog. We’ve already taken on Atheists who act holier-than-thou. Theists definitely aren’t exempt. And, aside from what Brian said about businesses and employees which I agree whole-heartedly with, Tebow’s nonsense was just plain weird.

Besides it’s hardly either peaceful or sincere when it’s done just to inflict it on every aspect of public life in a vain attempt to either force everyone to kowtow to it or be excluded from participating. Especially not in a country as diverse as our own. There are many types of theists out there so it isn’t just the Evil Atheists you’re picking on, you know. Or does it also threaten you if someone believes in a different god/gods/goddess/goddesses than you?

(I must be evil. I’ve been known to tickle my grandson mercilessly.)

That is a good thing. Not because I find god claims credible, I don’t. I find any claim of an invisible brain with magical super powers absurd, by any name a

But the free market is a good thing, as much as it allows absurd claims, it also allows scrutiny of those claims.

If a player wants to thank god in an interview, THEY CAN there is nothing legally stopping them, true. I disagree with doing it in that context because they are not taking into account that not everyone who watches that sport is into the same god they are. It is a mass presumption and an advertisement.

If I own a business, and it is not an atheist organization, just a generic business, I would want to appeal to the most people I can. But if my employees are advertising something that is not my goal, and could potentially turn someone off, I would not want them doing that.

It makes sense for a Christian book store that caters to Christians to advertise as such. But the NFL and MLB AND NHL are not religious organizations. I think using it as a billboard for religion, any religion, is divisive when sports is supposed to unite.

My lack of belief is as sincere and (usually) peaceful as your belief. It’s something I came to after a great deal of thought over a long period of time and don’t take lightly.

Whether fortunately or unfortunately, we live in a country that allows religious expression and the freedom of. Men have the right to take a knee before a game and pray for strength. It’s not an evangelical tool, and it’s sad that you’re cynical enough to think of it as such.

The larger question becomes: Why do some atheists feel so threatened by a peaceful and sincere expression of faith?

I have no doubt that people like Tony Dungy, Albert Pujols and Kurt Warner are very sincere about their faith, but at the same time, I don’e necessarily want them in my face proclaiming it. It then becomes an evangelical tool and I don’t need prostelytizing with my punts and pop flies.

Tom Hanks praying as coach of the Georiga Peaches in “League of Their Own”

I’ll be frank and honest (which I almost always am and which almost always gets me in trouble). Private prayer is not an issue. It’s between the person and their deity. I prayed in school all the time (dear god, let me pass this test; dear god, don’t let that mean boy notice me; dear god, let that cute boy notice I exist) and nobody ever knew it because I just said it in my head to god. If all prayer in school were like this, there would be no controversary about it.

However, all too many make a show of it. They grandstand their prayer. They want to make an issue of it. That’s not genuine prayer; that’s politics and hypocrisy. And it always puts me in mind of something Jesus said about when you pray not being like the hypocrites praying in the public square but going into your closet (which I think was more figerative than literal meaning go some place private to be alone with god).

Disclaimer: I hate both god nonsense and sports so should I even be commenting?