Public Figures & Public Displays of Religion

Nobody is attacking your faith. And creating a thread about a series of coincidences that led to the creation of basketball is not a mature response to people criticizing religion.

It's like your whole "untold story of LeBron James" thread from years ago. Yeah, LeBron could have been aborted, but he wasn't, so what?

And what's my religion?

Aren't you supposed to turn the other cheek? Excusez-moi but I'm not religious either.

Hey, Lamrock and Axel, calm down on the flaming. You don't see me going around hating and releasing my anger toward Islam and Buddhism, do you huh? In my honest opinion, if a player is talking about a certain topic you don't enjoy listening, then just mute the tv or turn it off. Simple as that. No need to complain about it since you we're the one who was listening it. So please be more considerate of other people's religions and back off. BTW I myself am a Christian if you're interested.

couple that with a thread on how Naismith created basketball as a missionary tool getting locked and I am now getting mad!
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=80634

Crusader!

You are right about that. However, the bible speaks about shaking dust off ones feet when they leave.... I don't want this turn into that. So I am saying please look at what I have to say and dont call me an idiot for saying it. I dont think I call any all of yal idiots for not believing my point of view on religion. I do believe you are misguided.

Someone made a crack about Christians claiming that we are the most persecuted people on earth. That is not true and far from it. I would contend that Israel is the most hated. If you take a look at what is going on right now you will see that a large percentage of them are in shelters due to the threat of war!

Btw did you know that if you are christian but do not attend the only officially recognized church in China you can be killed? Did you know that in North Korea all Christians are killed?

Hey, Lamrock and Axel, calm down on the flaming. You don't see me going around hating and releasing my anger toward Islam and Buddhism, do you huh? In my honest opinion, if a player is talking about a certain topic you don't enjoy listening, then just mute the tv or turn it off. Simple as that. No need to complain about it since you we're the one who was listening it. So please be more considerate of other people's religions and back off. BTW I myself am a Christian if you're interested.

So you're complaining that they're complaining?

I don't see the OP and others posts as attacks on Christianity, rather they're criticism of public displays of religion. The same criticism would apply if Durant was Muslim or anything else.

To note, I disagree with the criticism, everyone should say whatever they want. Sports and public figures say plenty of other stupid and illogical things, so what's just another one when they talk about their religion?

Hey, Lamrock and Axel, calm down on the flaming. You don't see me going around hating and releasing my anger toward Islam and Buddhism, do you huh? In my honest opinion, if a player is talking about a certain topic you don't enjoy listening, then just mute the tv or turn it off. Simple as that. No need to complain about it since you we're the one who was listening it. So please be more considerate of other people's religions and back off. BTW I myself am a Christian if you're interested.

I shouldn't have to mute the TV each and every time the microphone is put in front of him. He is one of the best players in the NBA, and thus one of the most interviewed. He makes a religious announcement every chance he gets, and it's ridiculous. I would single out anyone for doing it regardless of religion. And I don't care if you're Christian or not.

Very agreeable puttincomputers. You can't prove that wrong since it IS happening right now. But Islam is hated just as much.

Btw did you know that if you are christian but do not attend the only officially recognized church in China you can be killed?

How can this be, when the state recognizes FIVE religions in China?

Hey, Lamrock and Axel, calm down on the flaming. You don't see me going around hating and releasing my anger toward Islam and Buddhism, do you huh? In my honest opinion, if a player is talking about a certain topic you don't enjoy listening, then just mute the tv or turn it off. Simple as that. No need to complain about it since you we're the one who was listening it. So please be more considerate of other people's religions and back off. BTW I myself am a Christian if you're interested.

I shouldn't have to mute the TV each and every time the microphone is put in front of him. He is one of the best players in the NBA, and thus one of the most interviewed. He makes a religious announcement every chance he gets, and it's ridiculous. I would single out anyone for doing it regardless of religion. And I don't care if you're Christian or not.

But come on bro, it's only once every game, you can't possibly be that lazy...and hold up, what if Yao Ming started to freely express his love for Buddhism and if D-Wade and Dwight went further deep in their interviews talking about Christianity? You'll probably go crazy if half the NBA did that. So just ignore it and move on because you're not gonna make Durant change his religion simply by complaining about it.

Btw did you know that if you are christian but do not attend the only officially recognized church in China you can be killed?

How can this be, when the state recognizes FIVE religions in China?

How come there's undercover churches in China that if they're caught then they could get punishment for it. It's true and I would give you a link but I can't right now.

Hey, Lamrock and Axel, calm down on the flaming. You don't see me going around hating and releasing my anger toward Islam and Buddhism, do you huh? In my honest opinion, if a player is talking about a certain topic you don't enjoy listening, then just mute the tv or turn it off. Simple as that. No need to complain about it since you we're the one who was listening it. So please be more considerate of other people's religions and back off. BTW I myself am a Christian if you're interested.

So you're complaining that they're complaining?

I don't see the OP and others posts as attacks on Christianity, rather they're criticism of public displays of religion. The same criticism would apply if Durant was Muslim or anything else.

To note, I disagree with the criticism, everyone should say whatever they want. Sports and public figures say plenty of other stupid and illogical things, so what's just another one when they talk about their religion?

No, that's not really an accurate assessment of my criticism. I am not opposed to public displays of religion across the board. For instance, I don't mind things like the hail mary, or baseball players kissing the cross, or any of that stuff. What I do have a complaint about is when people, like Kevin Durant, have to make everything a matter of religion, even when the question doesn't concern it. "Let me just say thank that Lord" (can't remember word for word) when asked about a specific question relating exclusively to his basketball play, he has to publicly thank the lord on TV? Um, thank the Lord on your own time please. He isn't in the television audience.

I agree he has the enumerated "right" to say it, but I equally have the right to criticize him.

I shouldn't have to mute the TV each and every time the microphone is put in front of him. He is one of the best players in the NBA, and thus one of the most interviewed. He makes a religious announcement every chance he gets, and it's ridiculous. I would single out anyone for doing it regardless of religion. And I don't care if you're Christian or not.

I don't see what's wrong with a person making a religious statement during an interview. Why? So you can stop muting your TV?

Last edited by atlwarrior on Mon May 16, 2011 1:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

If you don't like it, change the channel. He can say whatever he wants, they're interviewing him.

How come there's undercover churches in China that if they're caught then they could get punishment for it. It's true and I would give you a link but I can't right now.

Yes, it's an totalitarian collectivist regime that crushes any challenges to its authority. I don't see how that changes the fact that puttin is once again factually wrong about something.

And he still hasn't told me what my religion is.

No, that's not really an accurate assessment of my criticism. I am not opposed to public displays of religion across the board. For instance, I don't mind things like the hail mary, or baseball players kissing the cross, or any of that stuff. What I do have a complaint about is when people, like Kevin Durant, have to make everything a matter of religion, even when the question doesn't concern it. "Let me just say thank that Lord" (can't remember word for word) when asked about a specific question relating exclusively to his basketball play, he has to publicly thank the lord on TV? Um, thank the Lord on your own time please. He isn't in the television audience.

I don't see the difference.

I agree he has the enumerated "right" to say it

Well, I don't agree with that.

but I equally have the right to criticize him.

I didn't say you don't.

Last edited by benji on Mon May 16, 2011 1:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Very agreeable puttincomputers. You can't prove that wrong since it IS happening right now. But Islam is hated just as much.

I agree that islam as a religion is hated and certain individuals who take that religion to its rightful extremes (I have seen the koran scriptures for myself that declare that all non muslims should be killed) are also hated.

But there is a big difference. All individuals who call themselves Christians are hated. We Christians love the people who are muslim. We just hate what they stand for.

Btw did you know that if you are christian but do not attend the only officially recognized church in China you can be killed?

How can this be, when the state recognizes FIVE religions in China?

I was referring to Christians and their place of worship. I was not referring to the other religions. You do bring up a valid point about all religions being frowned upon by the Chinese government... but that is a subject for another thread.

I shouldn't have to mute the TV each and every time the microphone is put in front of him. He is one of the best players in the NBA, and thus one of the most interviewed. He makes a religious announcement every chance he gets, and it's ridiculous. I would single out anyone for doing it regardless of religion. And I don't care if you're Christian or not.

Hmm... What about Phil Jackson and his zen?

Btw did you know that if you are christian but do not attend the only officially recognized church in China you can be killed?

How can this be, when the state recognizes FIVE religions in China?

How come there's undercover churches in China that if they're caught then they could get punishment for it. It's true and I would give you a link but I can't right now.

http://www.persecution.com/

Um, thank the Lord on your own time please. He isn't in the television audience.

Thats just it. We believe he is!

Yes, it's an totalitarian collectivist regime that crushes any challenges to its authority. I don't see how that changes the fact that puttin is once again factually wrong about something.

And he still hasn't told me what my religion is.

Was I supposed to?

Hey, Lamrock and Axel, calm down on the flaming. You don't see me going around hating and releasing my anger toward Islam and Buddhism, do you huh? In my honest opinion, if a player is talking about a certain topic you don't enjoy listening, then just mute the tv or turn it off. Simple as that. No need to complain about it since you we're the one who was listening it. So please be more considerate of other people's religions and back off. BTW I myself am a Christian if you're interested.

I shouldn't have to mute the TV each and every time the microphone is put in front of him. He is one of the best players in the NBA, and thus one of the most interviewed. He makes a religious announcement every chance he gets, and it's ridiculous. I would single out anyone for doing it regardless of religion. And I don't care if you're Christian or not.

But come on bro, it's only once every game, you can't possibly be that lazy...and hold up, what if Yao Ming started to freely express his love for Buddhism and if D-Wade and Dwight went further deep in their interviews talking about Christianity? You'll probably go crazy if half the NBA did that. So just ignore it and move on because you're not gonna make Durant change his religion simply by complaining about it.

It's only once every game?

WTH?

Just answer the reporters questions. Period. And I am complaining about it because I want to and I have the right to. This is a web forum and we discuss things that we like and dislike. If everything we discussed on here had to have a tangible real-world end, then we would talk about nothing.

But he could also be trying to influence other people into Christianity, too? The main goal for us Christians is to save each one of you in this earth so when judgement day comes, you don't go with Satan to hell. That's what our goal is and so you could have ever lasting life. You may not believe it but that's probably what Durant has been taught throughout his life and now he is applying what he has been taught into his life using it to his advantage. Makes sense?

All individuals who call themselves Christians are hated.

All individuals are hated by someone for some reason.

Was I supposed to?

Yes. You made the claim I have a religion, I'd like to know what it is.

All individuals who call themselves Christians are hated.

All individuals are hated by someone for some reason.

Was I supposed to?

Yes. You made the claim I have a religion, I'd like to know what it is.

Agreed on the first part.

Is there anything you believe of disbelieve.

I will catch up with yal tomorrow. It is 11:22PM here in Virginia.

Good discussion!

You are right about that. However, the bible speaks about shaking dust off ones feet when they leave.... I don't want this turn into that. So I am saying please look at what I have to say and dont call me an idiot for saying it. I dont think I call any all of yal idiots for not believing my point of view on religion. I do believe you are misguided.

Someone made a crack about Christians claiming that we are the most persecuted people on earth. That is not true and far from it. I would contend that Israel is the most hated. If you take a look at what is going on right now you will see that a large percentage of them are in shelters due to the threat of war!

Btw did you know that if you are christian but do not attend the only officially recognized church in China you can be killed? Did you know that in North Korea all Christians are killed?

Stop making things up.

You said this:

Ah. It is awesome how we Christians get discriminated against by people who follow the religion of atheism! They always prove Jesus and the Bible right! BAHAHAHHAHA

Which was:

A. A blanket statement about atheists and falsely implicated me as an atheist based on your misguided, bigoted statements about atheists.

&

B. Playing the victim, acting as though Christians are always being persecuted by atheists.

So yes, I did make a sarcastic comment about Christian's being the most persecuted people on earth, because it is obviously false. It was not a "crack at Christians". It was a crack at YOU for being a self-victimizer, which you continue to do. Somewhere a violin is playing for you, but it's too small for me to even hear it.

Last edited by Axel on Mon May 16, 2011 1:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I will catch up with yal tomorrow.

Please don't.

Is there anything you believe of disbelieve.

What.

If you don't like it, change the channel. He can say whatever he wants, they're interviewing him.

Simple as that. No need to start anything. And if you want to keep debating go ahead but really in my opinion that right there would be the best option to follow.

I will catch up with yal tomorrow.

Please don't.

QFT.