Comments on: Atheists may not be welcome in Indy

By: bikelikemike

bikelikemike — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 21:45:28 +0000

Good Lord! I could go all wack-nut on WAY over 1/2 the posts written by people who think they know it all, but don’t have a clue. That’s the problem with most people. We’re smarter than the average bear. What I don’t like is that SO many of those who ‘THINK’ they’re more intellectually evolved are so condescending toward those who don’t think just like them. Even YOU, brilliant as you say you are, don’t know what you don’t know- (and cannot know). I come from a Christian family, and Sunday school was part of the equation. My big brother said he didn’t want to go anymore when I was in 6th grade, and of course; I wanted me some o’ that too! I’d challenged my folks a year or two beforehand; why were we learning two different ‘theories’ in each school. But they didn’t answer. Dad wasn’t so religious, mom was. He was the master of the household, AND he had a genius IQ. So his answer would be relished. I figure he wanted bro and I to THINK/ REASON; as with math- do the exercise that would expand our minds and enable us to appreciate our findings. I used to hate him for that! If he was so smart, why not help us get a leg up/ head-start? Anyway.. I needed concrete evidence to cave to a speculation. I’d realized at a young age that people in supposedly authoritative positions told us all kinds of CRAP. So naturally I was a skeptic, an agnostic. I’d LOVE to believe- because it would lift us out of the turmoil of our difficult human conditions. But is that what drove our ancestors to CREATE these ‘fantasies’?? Since my youth I’ve had one eyebrow raised. I was sure (well.. not necessarily) when I was a teen that it was a crutch. I’m in my 50s; still can’t say. I think dad accepted Christ on his deathbed *for mom*. But being honest and respectful of my fellow man, I never denigrate anyone for their beliefs. I don’t think the apple fell far from the tree (unless mom fooled around), and I’m extremely philosophical (in my opinion), and I don’t allow emotion to play into the mix. The slight wisdom that I can muster tells me that a big bang couldn’t possibly have made everything so perfect. And I watched “Oh God” with George Burns when I was about 20, and his explanation seemed about right: “I don’t do miracles. The last one I did was the ’69 Mets, and now I don’t think that was such a good idea.” And; “I don’t meddle. I did all this for you. I put everything in place. The rest is up to you.”

By: jcthree0303

jcthree0303 — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:54:05 +0000

tigerwoodsballs says:
Nov 6, 2012 9:38 AM
I don’t believe in Atheists.

Also, if you don’t think there is freedom from religion, then I advise you to go move to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iran and please by all means, tell everyone your infidel beliefs. Please, go public with that, and let us see what NO freedom from religion really looks like.

WHAT? That was the most incoherent statement anyone on here has said. Who’s telling you to believe in atheists. You can believe in anything you like. If you want to believe in the easter bunny, Santa Claus, tooth fairy, god, etc that’s your business. I could care less. All the same to me but while as an young teen when most people realize there isn’t a santa claus and the tooth fairy those same people for some reason get hysterical when someone has a disenting opinion of some mythical deity that runs the universe that we can’t see, hear, touch, smell, or in the theories of St. Thomas Aquinas we as humans don’t have the ability to think about. The great thing about living in this country is that we can all believe in what we want. Luckily, we can also walk away or ignore dissenting opinions if you chose to. I love America what a country.

By: bongloader

bongloader — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:24:09 +0000

Ray Lewis has strong faith, and he was present at a double murder.

By: tigerwoodsballs

tigerwoodsballs — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:38:30 +0000

I don’t believe in Atheists.

By: sufferingphilsfan

sufferingphilsfan — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:11:11 +0000

Their team…their decision. Stay the eff out of it, dopey.

By: deeb007

deeb007 — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 06:33:07 +0000

1. The group of men that argued this nation into existence were just that: men. Men that were fallible, products of their time and education. Sure, we idolize them because for the most part they did a bang-up job, but they were people that lived and died over 200 years ago. The world has changed a bit since then.

2. I fear that there will never be a day on this planet where people DON’T get up-in-arms (literally or metaphorically) over religion. It is quite unfortunate that people allow their philosophies to prejudice their actions and words.

3. Freedom FROM religion is just as important as freedom OF religion. What we call religious persecution applies in both directions: people persecute people for being too religious, not religious enough, not the right kind of religious, or not religious at all. Not cool.

4. I walked out of a Southern Baptist sermon at the age of 4, and have never felt bad about it. Through my formative years I learned as much as I could about ALL faith traditions, modern and historical. There’s good and bad in all of them. I don’t have to believe in Transubstantiation to abide by the Golden Rule, and I don’t have to fear the wrath of the Almighty to practice decency, charity, humility, et cetera.

5. Being religious does not make a person a good person. Having respect for one another, having an open heart and an open mind does.

6. Perhaps sharing a common belief system can facilitate the kind of unit cohesion that is necessary to overcome the challenges that a team, an army, a nation will face, but it shouldn’t be a prerequisite. The clique-ish nature that many people display, whether they rally behind a flag, a team, or a God, is very troubling.

7. Belief and faith are similar, but not identical. I have faith in mankind, and I believe that by doing good in the world I can maybe leave it better than I found it. But my proselytizing goes no further than the mirror.

By: peoplesrepublic0fdabayarea

peoplesrepublic0fdabayarea — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 23:03:13 +0000

All of you inferior teams and fans should embrace science and atheism.

Sincerely,

The People’s Republic of Northern California & the San Francisco 49ers

By: purplengold

purplengold — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 21:59:01 +0000

tlmoon2112 says:
Nov 5, 2012 9:23 AM

“Folks who DO believe should not be disadvantaged either, which is what you and athiests are advocating.”
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I haven’t seen that line of thought in any of these posts. Stopping people from persecuting others is not persecution. You seem to have that complex.

By: melissasmith1596

melissasmith1596 — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:31:37 +0000

The term “faith” doesn’t have to mean a certain religion. You can have faith in anything. I think what he meant was that he looked for people with good moral character. He was with us in Pittsburgh for a long time, and that’s what the Rooneys look for. So I get what he’s talking about. No troublemakers. I don’t think the man will choose his players based on religious orientation. You’re just blowing the whole thing out of proportion. Political correctness gets annoying sometimes…

btw, I have no religious orientation and am not offended in the least by Bruce’s statement.

By: tlmoon2112

tlmoon2112 — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:23:08 +0000

“Folks who choose not to believe should never be disadvantaged.”

Folks who DO believe should not be disadvantaged either, which is what you and athiests are advocating. They have the right to hire and fire whomever they pleased based on whatever job requirements they want or need. That’s how free market enterprise works. If youre an athiest and dont want to work for someone of faith, go find an athiest job and vice versa. Its not a sweatshop, nobody is forcing anyone to work somewhere against their will.

By: ballreaper

ballreaper — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 23:47:22 +0000

It always lends itself to be CREEPY when you have someone like a Bruce Arians publicly preaching (pon intended) this type of stuff in a work environment, It just makes you want to find the nearest exit.

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 22:00:34 +0000

The founding fathers were primarily Deists who rejected organized religion. True damn fact.

By: savannahrose44

savannahrose44 — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 15:05:22 +0000

@ stull60060 says:

The phrase “In God We Trust” was officially added to US currency in 1956. While it did appear randomly on some coins prior to that it did not appear on paper currency, and was not seen on coins prior to 1864. It was adopted to replace the motto “E pluribus unum” literally translated “out of many, one”, or “One from many, which was the motto on the official seal of the United States created in 1782.

By: rushmatic

rushmatic — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:09:41 +0000

Most of the founding fathers were Deists. I’m not sure why so many people like to claim that America is a Christian nation. To say that the population is such wouldn’t be more accurate.

“Under God” wasn’t added to the Pledge until 1954.

People will believe what they want to believe.

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 22:39:37 +0000

tdk24 says:

“The Bible is the Book upon which this Republic rests.” Andrew Jackson, Seventh President of the United States

And that’s why we have admendments, to go back and fix past mistakes. Just because a forefather said or did something, doesn’t make it right in today’s world.
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More accurately, Andrew Jackson was not a founding father. He had no part in the creation of the Republic, no role in the writing of the Constitution. His assertion that the Republic rests upon the Bible is his personal opinion and no more valid than any non-binding opinion. His belief is not found in the Constitution and is not–nor ever has been–the law of this land.

As a Christian, I’ve chosen to make the Bible the centerpiece of my life. But I was free to make that choice because I live in a country that prohibits the goverment from dictating any religious doctrine, including Christianity. This is not a Christian nation and never has been. It is a nation where all are free to worship as they please … or not to worship at all.

By: wallacejay

wallacejay — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:40:22 +0000

trevor123698 says: Oct 31, 2012 6:56 PM

“The Bible is the Book upon which this Republic rests.” Andrew Jackson, Seventh President of the United States
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Are you sure that wasn’t Samuel Jackson in “Pulp Fiction”?

By: tdk24

tdk24 — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:07:01 +0000

“The Bible is the Book upon which this Republic rests.” Andrew Jackson, Seventh President of the United States

And that’s why we have admendments, to go back and fix past mistakes. Just because a forefather said or did something, doesn’t make it right in today’s world.

By: comeonnowguys

comeonnowguys — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 18:02:42 +0000

It’s really tough to be a non-annoying person of faith in a world of annoying people of faith.

Then again, I just made myself annoying by even saying that, so, I withdraw the statement, your honor.

By: hikohadon

hikohadon — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 03:41:18 +0000

As an atheist, I think all y’all are blowing this out of proportion.

“Faith” could mean a lot of things. I have faith in my family and friends. It doesn’t have to mean belief in some random deity.

And I’m pretty sure the Colts would’ve drafted Andrew Luck even if he told them he worshiped tree spirits or Jobu.

By: thebandit27

thebandit27 — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:23:35 +0000

funtime42 says:
Nov 1, 2012 4:09 PM
1. Andrew Jackson was NOT a Founding Father (and as much as I admire his strength of character, he was not a shining example of christian manhood, either).

2. Read anything by Roger Williams, founder or Rhode Island

3. Read anything by George Washington

Belief in God, god, higher power, TPTB, the Mother Goddess, the innate goodness of mankind, or flying spaghetti will not endow anyone with a laser rocket arm or 4.2 speed, and if you think all of the above have time to listen to your pleas for a kick to go wide right, then I think your priorities (and theirs) are seriously misplaced.

Be tolerant with each other, be kind to yourself, enjoy the game, and please stop trying to save my soul.

——————–

Nobody tried to “save your soul”…a guy answered a question, and Mike Florio made an issue out of an otherwise perfectly innocuous answer.

By: thebandit27

thebandit27 — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:21:37 +0000

Good grief, what Grigson said is totally fine. He wants players to whom football, family, and faith are important. It only becomes discrimination when he cuts a player who is single or doesn’t follow a doctrine of faith, and does so for that exact reason.

It’s perfectly fine for him to draft a player who is more educated, as long as he feels like it will help the team. Is that discrimination against those that attended state colleges versus Ivy League Schools? No.

Stop making moutains out of molehills.

Also…

I’ve never understood how atheists can be offended by a God that they don’t even believe in.

Also, has anyone else noticed that it seems to be predominantly the non-believers that become enraged about the topic? I’ve always wondered why that is…

By: funtime42

funtime42 — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:09:04 +0000

1. Andrew Jackson was NOT a Founding Father (and as much as I admire his strength of character, he was not a shining example of christian manhood, either).

2. Read anything by Roger Williams, founder or Rhode Island

3. Read anything by George Washington

Be tolerant with each other, be kind to yourself, enjoy the game, and please stop trying to save my soul.

By: wicky888

wicky888 — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:53:27 +0000

When I’m watching TV and my daughter walks in and chooses to ask …. “Who are all those people on the ground covered in red?” I told her they were looking for god, but found religion instead

De La Soul

By: CKL

CKL — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:50:09 +0000

billsboy88 says:
Oct 31, 2012 8:39 PM

That said, if someone is not hired/fired due to their religious beliefs, then that is the complete opposite of religious freedom. Religious beliefs should have no place in the work world, be it by the employee or the employer.
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Couldn’t agree more. Problem is PC nation doesn’t like to offend anyone because everyone is a special snowflake (which is NOT the same thing as people all having the same rights) so there are EEOC laws saying employers must, if “no undue hardship is created” (and believe me the amount of work an employer has to do to show this is not small)allow people to circumvent their policies including work schedule accommodations BECAUSE they have certain religious beliefs. Can’t have it both ways IMO.

By: cow395

cow395 — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:31:39 +0000

i don’t believe in a higher power…does that make me an athiest?

By: S.Nevada

S.Nevada — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:43:20 +0000

I’m not sure how this is news. If we were talking about another city then I understand. But Indy is really a fairly intolerant city so it makes sense the team would mirror that.

By: tiggerblood

tiggerblood — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:32:54 +0000

And enjoy alcohol…. Beer and Ribs oh yeah!

By: icecubeusedtobeangry

icecubeusedtobeangry — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:59:11 +0000

gavriloprincip33 says:
Nov 1, 2012 4:42 AM
Asalaam alaikum!

Muslims in the house…

Your god is wrong!
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Yeah well I get to eat bacon…

By: 6stn

6stn — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:27:31 +0000

I always wanted to have Faith. Faith Daniels. That was one hot News Anchor. Where has Faith gone?

By: jahmic

jahmic — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:09:18 +0000

I guess Indy is on the northern edge of the bible belt.

Grigson: Show us your ready to back up your faith:

Trade Luck for Tebow!