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From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Monday, February 01, 1999 2:00 PM
Subject: re; AANEWS for Monday, February 1, 1999
from: AMERICAN ATHEISTS
subject: AANEWS for February 1, 1999
A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
#520 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2/1/99
http://www.atheists.org
ftp.atheists.org/pub/atheists/
http://www.americanatheist.org
---------------------------------------------
A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS
"For Reason and the First Amendment"
----------------------------------------------
In This Issue...
* Christian athletes pushing "Godmercials" on fans?
* Sumners to address National American Atheists Convention in April!
* Resources
* About this list...
WITH SUPER BOWL HISTORY, RELIGION-IN-SPORTS ISSUE LINGERS
They might not have been doing the "dirty bird" during Super Bowl
XXXIII yesterday, but players and fans were praying and making other
religious gestures as the Denver Broncos bested the Atlanta Falcons
34-19. There didn't seem to be much evidence of supernatural
intervention, though. Atlanta probably left everything they had back
in Minnesota, Bronco QB John Elway drilled his targets amidst the
mediocre Falcon defense, but, oh yes, there was the performance of
safety Eugene Robinson.
About Mr. Robinson...
Sports Illustrated refers to him as "one of the NFL's most respected
players," and he's generally credited as one of the reasons behind the
Atlanta Falcon's march this past season to their first Super Bowl.
Robinson is nicknamed "Preacher" because of his deep religious
beliefs, and penchant for quoting Bible verse, and thanking god for
his performance on the field. The fumbles and incompletes are his
responsibility, but when he connects for a first down or TD, it's due
to The Man Upstairs, right?
On Saturday night, while the pre-Bowl parties were off and running in
Miami, it seems that Eugene was allegedly luking on Biscayne
Boulevard, described as a hangout for pimps, hookers, and drug
dealers, cruising the area in a rental car. He was soon in the
custody of the Miami Police, though, and according to a report, "While
conducting an undercover prostitution sting, defendant drove up ...
and offered the officer $40 for (oral sex)." A couple of dozen other
accused Johns were caught up in the net too, according to CBS Sports
Line, along with a murder suspect from Pennsylvania. Robinson's car
was impounded, and the super star was released after signing a written
promise to return for trial.
Maybe that's why he goofed on Sunday's 80-yard TD play from Elway to
Rod Smith.
Robinson's arrest -- and remember, he's innocent until proven guilty
-- underscores the problematic situation in both the NFL and the
larger "sports world" between public religiosity and what is otherwise
a secular game, be it football, baseball, the hoops or some other
scoring contest. Sports is considered the great leveler potentially
uniting all classes and segments of society. After all, the pro
leagues especially are light years ahead of the wider society when it
comes to the color line, though work remains to be done in terms of
women's' athletics. Sports is considered something which everyone can
participate in as either fan or player, regardless of your color,
religion, ethnic background, or neighborhood -- right? The sports
world is supposedly neutral; only performance, ability and results
count.
But increasingly, pro sports along with their collegiate and amateur
counterparts, have been transformed into a stage, better yet a pulpit.
Some people object to the commercialization of the games; witness
yesterday's half- time show which was dubbed the "such-and-such
Insurance Half Time Presentation." The Budweiser blimp is overhead,
people are glued to the set just to see those $1.6 million commercial
spots for Apple Computers of Monster.com. Someone has to pay the
bills, and like it or not sports is big money.
It's also becoming a big religious forum, which is sure to offend many
of the fans. Hours before allegedly heading down to Biscayne
Boulevard in search of some Oval Office fun, Robinson had been honored
with the Bart Starr Award from the Christian religious group Athletes
in Action. The winner of that award is selected among NFL players for
the person who displays the proper religious credentials and "high
moral character." Athletes in Action is operated by evangelist Bill
Bright, founder of the mammoth Campus Crusade for Christ, and is one
of dozens of evangelical outreaches targeting professional and
collegiate athletes.
"In-Your-Face" Religion
Increasingly, displays of religious fervor and belief are taking place
whether on the gridiron, b-ball court or other athletic venues. It's
obvious in the growing number of players who exploit prime-time
coverage to bend a knee after a successful catch or interception, or
point skyward after putting another six points on the board. It's
apparent in the hasty yet conspicuous "prayer huddles" after the final
whistle. You may have just tried to grind that quarterback or runner
into so much raw, red meat a few minutes ago, but when the score is
official, you're all "athletes for Christ" giving thanks to the The
Man Upstairs.
Religion and sports have always had a connection within the American
experience as far back as when Billy Sunday -- diamond ball player
turned evangelist/showman -- denounced the carousing, drinking and
general hell- raising that characterized much of the game. Decades
later, Vince Lombardi, a Roman Catholic, was known for taking his team
to Sunday mass. Casius Clay, aka Mohammed Ali, became a member of the
Nation of Islam at the height of his punching career. By today's
standards, however, those were relative rare manifestations of
religious fervor; by and large, fans got what they wanted, which was a
match, face-off or battle on the field sans the proselytizing.
In the early 1970s, sheets and banners reading "JOHN 3:16" began
appearing in stadiums and arenas. And now, the culture war phenomenon
of "in your face" religiosity and calls for moral purity have stormed
onto the field or court. Players "thank god" for their successes, use
the microphone as a pulpit; and no longer does the finger pointed
skyward after a TD or home run mean "We're Number One." It has become
a religious statement thanking the deity.
Philadelphia Daily News writer Jim Nolan took all of this to task last
week in a piece aptly titled, "Praise the Lord, Pass the Ball -- Pro
Players Want You To Know: God Is The Coach." He dubs all of the
religious theatrics on the field a "Godmercial," whether its coming
from the lips of Reggie White, or some member of the controversial
Champions for Christ, an Austin, Texas-based group whose membership
rolls is laced with some of Sportsworld's leading players. For these
religiously energized athletes, touchdowns, QB sacks, three-pointers
and slam dunks are now credited not so much to hard work and savvy,
but to The Man Upstairs. Human bias and selectivity are at work here,
though. Observes Nolan, "Not everything, from a contract extension to
a game- winning field goal, is lauded as God-given. To fumble is
human. To catch the winning TD divine..."
One critic of the "Godmercial" syndrome and player religiosity is
humorist and TV host Joe Bob Briggs. Writing in a recent issue of the
satirical religious magazine, "The Door," he asked, "Why is it, we
might wonder, that celebrities who have been believers all of 10
minutes become the trumpets of salvation? Or should I say the paper
party horns of salvation." Nolan quotes Briggs -- the host of TNT's
hit "Monstervision" program -- taking Dallas Cowboys cornerback Deion
Sanders for his "spiritual showboating." Advises Briggs, "KEEP YOUR
DAMN MOUTH SHUT... The J-Man (Jesus) waited about 30 years before he
opened his mouth..."
Teams, Management Concerned
It's one thing for sports heavyweights like Deion, or boxer Evander
Holyfield or other Sportsworld heavies, to transmogrify themselves
into pop- culture billboards for the Almighty and "share the good
news" with paying fans. One characteristic of the sports world is
that it is ideologically and religiously neutral; you don't head for
the arena or stadium -- especially if you've paid the expensive ticket
price -- expecting political statements and proselytizing. You do
anticipate the entertainment of athletic prowess, confrontation and
contestation. Americans pride themselves on a sports world which is
"not political" (we point to the 1939 Nazi Olympics as an example of
the worst) and which concentrates on the game. We go to see Mark hit,
or Michael slam-dunk, or Ron run. Period. That standard, however, is
being eroded in a growing wave of player religiosity and display.
Nolan notes that it was eight years when a San Francisco '49-er tight
end, Brent Jones, organized the first "prayer huddle" after his team
faced off against Green Bay. The Packers, of course, were known for
their religiosity during the Lombardi era; but "but Minister of
Defense" Reggie White, an ordained preacher, carried that to new
excess, and has offended many with his theological remarks on and off
the field. Last March, in a guest appearance before the Wisconsin
State Legislature, White insisted that "we as a people need to come
together, and this nation needs to submit under God and his authority
and denounce sin." Reggie also held forth other opinions, including
his deity's displeasure with homosexuality. Communications giant CBS,
which had White under consideration for a sports commentary job,
backed off the deal as a result saying that the network had "a
hard-and-fast policy against bias of all kinds..."
At least in the National Football League, there is growing concern
over the hold which some religion-based groups appear to have on
players, and their lucrative bank accounts. Above the locker rooms in
the corporate offices, agents and management executives are worried
about the target which players, and their six and seven-figure
salaries can become to unscrupulous faith-based organizations which,
some charge, are even borderline cults. And what about the impact on
the bottom line? A fan revolt hasn't set in yet, but some observers
already consider player religious display to be bigoted, exclusionary
and hypocritical. One psychologist told Nolan, "I am for the
separation of church and sports... I see it (player religious
display) as exclusionary," adding "Most of the public displays we see
are not including everyone and I think sports is for everyone."
"Kids should be able to have their heroes without religion being in
the mix..."
Last fall, word leaked out the the NFL's security division, was
investigating the Texas-based group Champions for Christ. In leaking
the story, the New York Times wrote: "Their concern? That playrerss
may be giving an inordinate amount of money to the group..." The
probe originally focused on Chicago Bears running back Curtis Enis, a
CFC member, but quickly spread to another team, the Jacksonville
Jaguars who "have similar concerns about some of their high-profile
players..." The League also attempted to look into ties between Greg
Ball, head of the Champions, and a man named Greg Feste, a "newly
certified sports agent and a longtime benefactor of the ministry,"
according to CNN/Sports Illustrated. One concern -- that players,
buoyed by newfound religious zealotry, may suddenly be dumping their
traditional agents in favor of those approved by or linked to
faith-based groups. Another is that agents linked to such ministries
could persuade the players to make substantial and tax-deductible
"offerings" to the ministry. The League also noted Feste's background
as a bankrupt businessman who was fined over $250,000 by the National
Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) before finding god and
joining Champions for Christ.
Players have insisted that CFC consists mostly of Bible study
sessions; but some of the workshops are taught by Feste, who allegedly
reminds the athletes of their Biblical obligation to tithe, or donate
10% of their income. That can translate into big bucks, as in the
case of Jaguars offensive tackle Tony Boselli, and QB Mike Brunell.
Both men praise the Champions for Christ and deny that their
involvement has anything to do per se with football. Even so, their
contributions to the organization last season -- based on their $5.4
million dollar combined salaries -- would come to a hefty $540,000.
Says Boselli, "The Bible says to give a tithe, so I give 10% to the
ministry of the church I'm part of..."
Champions for Christ is just one of a slew of organizations, many of
them relatively new, which are turning to athletes in hopes of
recruiting new members. Nearly all of them are identified with an
evangelical, "spirit filled," or fundamentalist tendency. They range
from the relatively staid and conservative Fellowship of Christian
Athletes, founded in 1954, to the more impromptu "ministries" founded
by individual players or coaches. Islamic groups have also gotten in
on the action. Heavyweight champ Mike Tyson was profiled in PR
handouts for his recent conversion to Islam. While "Iron Mike" rarely
uses his time in the press conference to praise the merits of his
religion, another ring giant -- Evander Holyfield -- has embraced
fundamentalist political causes, including the National Council on
Bible Curriculum in Public Schools based in Greensboro, North
Carolina. The group is heavily involved in the effort to introduce
Bible verse reading and study in public school classrooms. Going up
against Tyson in late 1996, Holyfield gushed to reporters, "I didn't
just go in there myself to fight Mike -- I thank God. I prayed during
training, I prayed when I got into the ring. I prayed when I was
fighting him."
Is Public Sectarianism Exclusionary, Unfair To Fa
Atheists certainly view these athletic players' displays of public
religiosity to be absurd, even hypocritical. Does god reward his
religious followers with extra points, TD's, baskets and other perks?
What if opposing teams are praying? And management, coaches and
players all know a more basic truth -- prayers are no substitute for
tough workouts, strength training and flawless execution.
On a symbolic level, most sports fans seem tolerant to a wide range of
behaviors. Even in his Islamic "hellfire" days when he praised
National of Islam founder Elijah Mohammed, most boxing enthusiasts
acknowledged Muhammad Ali as "The Greatest." The Muslim's bizarre
theology and warning of "white, blue-eyed devils" did not discourage
the former Cassius Clay from embracing whites as friends, as in the
case of broadcaster Howard Cossell. The fans have also managed to
tolerate, even come to love the colorful Dennis Rodman. What about
today's prayer huddles, kneeling running backs and upraised fingers
pointing toward heaven? Fans may continue, for a while at least, to
tolerate it, and will likely continue to judge their players on
performance rather than religion or politics.
Are the complaints that such religious outbursts and posturing is
"exclusionary" valid? They may be. After all, when teammates
recovered from revelations of Eugene Robinson's alleged behavior in
downtown Miami, the Super Bowl bound pro may have received some extra
consideration and support because of his faith credentials.
Linebacker Henri Crockett insisted that he didn't believe that
"Preacher" Robinson was soliciting hookers for oral sex, and Falcons
coach Dan Reeves -- also a god invoker at victory time -- immediately
cleared him to play against the Broncos. "Unfortunately, even as
Christians, we do things wrong," lamented the coach.
But how far does the public religiosity go? Reggie White exploited
his status as a defensive great on the Packers Team to lecture the
state legislature, and the public, with his bigoted, homophobic
message. Are gay fans welcome at Lambeau Field? And while players
may be behaving legally in expressing religious enthusiasm, are they
being responsible and inclusive? Are they thanking fans for their
support, or imposing a religious litmus test in the stands and
bleachers? Only time will tell as "spirit filled' athletes push the
envelope of public patience, tolerance, and plain common sense.
**
PAMELA SUMNERS TO SPEAK AT AMERICAN ATHEISTS CONVENTION
April 2-4, 1999 Piscataway, New Jersey
Civil liberties attorney Pamela Sumners will be a guest speaker at the
25 National Convention of American Atheists, April 2-4, 1999 in
Piscataway, New Jersey. A graduate of Stephens College, she received
her Masters from Syracuse University and her J.D. from University of
Virginia.
As a cooperating attorney with the ACLU, Ms. Sumners has been at the
forefront of some of the most recent and important state-church
separation cases involving the Establishment Clause of the
constitution. The include the case of Judge Roy Moore who begins jury
assembly with Christian prayer and posts a copy of the Ten
Commandments in his courtroom; the case of MICHAEL CHANDLER v. FOB
JAMES, ET AL., in which Alabama's fourth school-prayer statute was
struck down as unconstitutional and in which Alabama Governor Fob
James proclaimed that the Bill of Rights does not apply to the State
of Alabama; and the case of HARRING v. KAY ET AL., which involved a
challenge to the establishment of the Christian religion in Pike
County, Alabama and the treatment of the only four Jewish students in
the school system.
Ms. Sumners will speak on "Fighting the Religious Reich: Tales From
Alabama."
For more information, and to register on line for the National
Convention of American Atheists, visit us at
http://www.atheists.org/convention99.html.
We look forward to seeing you April 2-4, 1999 in New Jersey!
**
RESOURCES FROM AMERICAN ATHEISTS...
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articles from the current or back issues, as well as special web-only
features. Visit us at http://www.americanatheists.org
* If you are a current member of American Atheists, sign up for our
e-mail discussion group, aachat. We have over 120 participants who
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