Pregame prayer

[jbrown84]

.the Thunder are a privately held organization, so they can pray all they want, however, I'm not sure it belongs in a building paid for with public funds.

So how is it different from the Billy Graham Crusade that was held there?

I was at the last game and the prayer was no more than 30 seconds, did not use the name Jesus, and petitioned on behalf of health and safety of the team and fans, and a shout out to the troops. I don't know how anyone could be offended.

[PennyQuilts]

Personally, I think it is a fine thing for people to show a moment of humility and appreciation for their creator. If you are a non believer, I don't think it would hurt you to be tolerant anymore than I would think it would be too much for a Christian to be respectful if someone of a different religion was politely praying to their god. It is an excellent practice in self discipline. Religion has been a source of many evils in this world - never doubt it - but a respectful, reverent attitude frequently sets a tone of goodwill and tolerance. In the big scheme of things, this particular wiggle on the alleged separation of church and state appears, if not harmless, than potentially helpful.

That being said, no one better be passing the plate or talking about lamb's blood, please. God is Great, God is Good, let us thank her for our food is just fine.

[MadMonk]

A favorite British comedy sketch:

A Warm Welcome

Ah hello!. It's nice to see you all here. As the more perceptive of you probably realised by now, this is Hell. And I am the Devil (good evening), but you can call me Toby, if you like. We try to keep things informal in here, as well as infernal. That's just a little joke of mine. I tell it every time.

Now, you're all here for... eternity! Ooh! Which I hardly need tell you is a heck of a long time, so you'll all get to know each other pretty well by the end. But for now I'm going to have to split you up in groups. WILL YOU STOP SCREAMING! Thank you.

What's that? No, I'm afraid there aren't any toilets. If you read your Bible, you might have seen that it was damnation without relief, so if you did not go before you came, then I'm afraid you're not going to enjoy yourself very much... but then I believe that's the idea.

All right, off we go now...
Murderers? Murderers over here, please. Thank you. Looters and pillagers over there. Thieves, if you could join them, lawyers and bank managers, you're in that lot too.

Fornicators, if you could step forward? My God, there are a lot of you! Could I split you up into adulterers and the rest? Male adulterers, if you could just form a line in front of that small guillotine in the corner.

Americans, are you here? Look, I'm sorry about this, apparently God had some fracas with your founding fathers and damned your entire group. He sends particular condolences to the Mormons who He realizes put in a lot of work. That's the way the wafer crumbles. The Iranians, I'm afraid, can't be with us - someone's been holding them in purgatory for about nine months.

Em... the French, if you could just come down here along with the Germans. I'm sure you'll have plenty to talk about.

Okay, atheists? Atheists over here please. You must be feeling a right bunch of nitwits. Never mind. And finally, Christians. Christians? Ah, yes, I'm sorry but I'm afraid the Jews were right. If you would come down here, that would be really fine.

Okay. Well, it's over to you, Adolf! And I'll catch you all later at the barbecue. Bye!

[OKC4me]

Amazing.

And people wonder what is wrong with this world. When a prayer to God offends people, we have problems.

Even if you don't believe in prayer, how is it offensive to ask for the safety of fans, players, and coaches offensive.

Makes me sick.

[PennyQuilts]

I once watched the food channel show about a barbeque competition. A featured team prayed for victory (I kid you not - they prayed to win a barbeque contest!) before the judges sampled their entry.

They lost.

[Luke]

I once watched the food channel show about a barbeque competition. A featured team prayed for victory (I kid you not - they prayed to win a barbeque contest!) before the judges sampled their entry.

They lost.

Believe me, God is very particular about His barbeque.

[PennyQuilts]

Believe me, God is very particular about His barbeque.

You're right. I don't know what I was thinking. Barbeque is a form of worship for many.

[Karried]

I've been known to pray for BBQ when especially hungry.

I'm hungry right now.

Dear Lord, please drop me a rib. And a piece of garlic toast if you don't mind.

Amen

I think it's perfectly fine to pray before a game.

[Lord Helmet]

It clearly states in the Bible how life and the world were created and the things in Revelation that were prophisied thousands of years ago are comming to pass in our lifetime the 1 world government and all the famines and world issues are all comming to the end of the world which is told in the Bible which was written over a thousand years ago. so to answer your question yes there is a God who is in control of it all. The evolution therory is bunk theree is no proof in it at all.

There is absolutely ZERO proof that God exists, or that Genesis/Revelation are or will become true. Show me a shred of scientific evidence that god exists. In fact, if you can do that, write a book and make some cash. No one in the history of the planet has been able to do it yet.

The bible that is currently used by Christians isn't even a direct translation of the original scrolls.

[Martin]

the bible that is currently used by christians isn't even a direct translation of the original scrolls.

what? you know about the other set of scrolls?

-M

[bretthexum]

Man it seems like every thread I read turns into either religion or politics.

[Martin]

^
at okctalk, we've got both kinds of discusion... religion and politics!

i think people are still winding down from the election... i'd suspect it'll be calming down in another week or so.

-M

[PennyQuilts]

^
at okctalk, we've got both kinds of discusion... religion and politics!

-M

I was going to suggest we talk about sex but then realized it would probably go right back to religion or politics...

[Lord Helmet]

what? you know about the other set of scrolls?

-M

lol...no. I was referring to the fact that the king james version of the bible is not a direct translation

[Joe Kimball]

I was at the last game and the prayer...did not use the name Jesus...

To elaborate---do these prayers explicitly endorse Christianity at all?

If not, it sounds like a small price to pay for free speech at worst.

[andy157]

I once watched the food channel show about a barbeque competition. A featured team prayed for victory (I kid you not - they prayed to win a barbeque contest!) before the judges sampled their entry.

They lost.

Lets stop and think here for just a moment. The bar-b-que team prayed, they lost. The Thunder pray, and they lose. Personally I dont care if they pray or not. But praying doesn't seem to be working, unless of coarse they are praying for the other team to win.

[millionsrmine]

PLEASE...give me a break!!!

Your worried about a simple little prayer, when people are constantly being intruded upon every single hour of every single day with cursing, sexual innuendo, every kind of belief from witch craft to, well you name it, right or wrong these are things that we "let slide" or "choose to ignore" are constantly being poured out on us and our children with no warning or permission....pick something else to get on your soap box about!

[Dave Cook]

Offend how? It's the truth there is only 1 true God and thats the God that created us and this world and everything in it. All other gods are false gods and are worthless. The people who worship idols like Buda or a stick of wood are worshiping false gods. There is only 1 True God and he sent his son to die on the cross for us so that we may have our sins forgiven and be able to enter into Heaven and be with him for ever and ever.

Oh Lord....

Bobby....has it ever occured to you that religion is nothing more than cultural philosophy? A group of ideas shared by others as to our existance?

You know....if were born in Thailand, you would have been a Buddhist. If you were Japanese, shintoism. India? Hindu. Saudi Arabia? Islam.

You're a Christian simply because you were born here and raised to believe it's true.

Trust me.....Christianity is just as silly as the others.

And if the rest of the NBA thinks we're a bunch of rednecks because we pray at games....well.....maybe it's because we are.

[betts]

Hey, I'm about ready to say I'm all for praying for a victory before every game. We have nothing to lose!

[Dave Cook]

Amen!

[kevinpate]

> if the rest of the NBA thinks we're a bunch of rednecks because
> we pray at games....well..

But are folks rednecks because they pray at games, or do they pray at games because they are rednecks?

Just another wth? moment brought to you by Life's Lil' Mysteries Inc.

[jbrown84]

To elaborate---do these prayers explicitly endorse Christianity at all?

If not, it sounds like a small price to pay for free speech at worst.

No, there was nothing explicitly Christian about it. They also DID NOT pray for victory. Get it right.

[El Gato Pollo Loco!!!]

(looking around)

Waitaminute....I think I've stumble upon the Faith & Values Open Discussion thread.

My bad....

(looks for the door to the Oklahoma City Thunder thread)

[Dave Cook]

Amazing.

And people wonder what is wrong with this world. When a prayer to God offends people, we have problems.

Even if you don't believe in prayer, how is it offensive to ask for the safety of fans, players, and coaches offensive.

Makes me sick.

Don't kid yourself.

I was disussing this with some Islamic friends today and they were saying folks would not be as respectful/favorable to an Islamic call to prayer prior to tipoff.

Can you imagine the reaction to this?
http://www.balaams-ass.com/alhaj/calltoprayer.htm

[John]

America was founded as/is/and will always be a Christian nation.