Aug 21, 2012
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Weekends in the Deep South are anchored by two long-cherished traditions – church on Sunday and football on Friday. And it’s no surprise that in many Southern cities and towns football and faith go hand-in-hand.
That is certainly the case in Southaven, Miss. where football season generates a revival-like fervor – where traditions are treasured.
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For decades, before the first pigskin was passed, before the glee club sang of the “rocket’s red glare,” the crowd would be summoned to their feet. Hats were removed. Heads were bowed. And for just a moment – a hush fell over the stadium as a student delivered an invocation.
But over the past few years the intersection of the Gospel and gridiron has erupted into a storm of controversy. Christians across the Southern states have come under a fierce and relentless attack from outsiders hell-bent on banishing prayer from high school sports.
And so it was on last Friday night when the Desoto Central Jaguars opened their football season they did so without a student-led prayer. The tradition was banished after the school system was threatened with a lawsuit.
School districts across the state of Mississippi received the letter – written by the Freedom From Religion Foundation – a Wisconsin-based group whose purpose is to “protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church.”
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The FFRF’s letter informed school superintendents that it is “illegal for a public school to organize, sponsor, or lead prayers at public high school athletic events.”
“You shouldn’t have to pray in order to enjoy your high school football game,” said Annie Lauire Gaylor, co-president of the FFRF.
Gaylor told Fox News the group sent similar letters to school districts in Tennessee, Louisiana and Alabama. But the Magnolia state, she said, has been most egregious.
“We were getting so many complaints out of Mississippi about illegal prayer at sporting events,” she said. “We wanted to reiterate the law – which is very clear – that you do not have prayer and devotionals in schools – including at athletic events.”
But many Christians across the state are distressed over the ban on prayers – and some say the tactics used by the FFRF to eliminate prayers have been disturbing.
“The idea of threatening our schools leaders with litigation if they practice prayer – it’s a bit disturbing,” said Jim Burnett, pastor of Willow Pointe Church in Hattiesburg. “I think these kinds of times have a refining effect on the church. It’s time for the Christian community to stand up and speak out in a godly way.”
Carmen Kyle stood up.
She’s lived in Desoto County for more than 20 years. She has a 16-year-old who is a junior at Desoto Central High School and another child who is a seventh grader. She was part of a grassroots effort to save the high school football prayer.
Thousands of people joined a Facebook group called DesotoCounty4Prayer. Churches across north Mississippi rallied. T-shirts were made. But in the end – their efforts failed.
And on Friday night Kyle was in the bleachers with her family – watching the football game – without a prayer.
“It makes me sad for generations to come,” she told Fox News. “There’s no expression of a belief system any longer.”
On the way home from the game, Kyle’s 16-year-old son brought up the absence of prayer.
“He said, ‘that just makes me sad,” she recounted. “I said this is a perfect example – at 16-years-old where you are experiencing Christian persecution.”
“I hate it for generations to come that they won’t be able to express – that’s what prayer is,” she said. “You’re praying that God will protect those athletes, that God will surround that field with protection. You don’t have that anymore.”
It’s a tradition that’s not lost on Congressman Alan Nunnellee. The Republican represents Mississippi’s first congressional district.
“Prayer is a part of our culture in Mississippi,” he told Fox News. “We turn to prayer in times of tragedy, but it’s important for schools and extracurricular activities to prepare students to deal with the good times of life and the bad times of life. And the way we do that in Mississippi is through prayer.”
Nunellee said “prayer in public settings is part of our culture not just in Mississippi but in America.”
Nevertheless, said Gaylor, it is against the law.
“The secular constitution of the United States is part of the cultural heritage of Mississippi and is a longtime custom,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a longtime custom to violate the law. You have to stop violating it. In fact, that makes it more egregious.”
Gaylor said the fact is that many students and parents are offended by the prayers, both religious and non-religious.
“They should not have to forfeit playing on a football team or forfeit attending their football game at school because they are not religious or because they are not Christian,” she said.
But now many Christians across the southern states said they feel like second-class citizens – and in some communities there are small acts of defiance.
At Purvis High School in Hattiesburg cheerleaders passed out copies of the Lord’s Prayer – so football fans could read it during a moment of silence.
“We’re not allowed to pray as a school, so we’re doing it on our own,” student Hallie Litolff told the Hattiesburg American.
Pastor Burnett cautioned Christians on how they respond to the attacks.
“Be led by God,” he said. “We have to be careful.”
“Maybe God is asking us if we’ve had enough yet,” he wondered. “The country is turning against what we believe the Bible teaches.”
FOX News Talk
What's wrong with you people? Are they going to put us ALL in jail? I guess your religion is just that…"religion".
That's what I say. What IS wrong with you people that you are all such slow learners and wish your government to spend its time and money chasing such silly stuff.
What many non-believers don't realize when they throw up the "separation of church and state" argument is that particular political philosophy actually originated with Baptists! Yep, Baptist Christians. If you actually research the history, it was never intended to keep prayer out of the public square. It was intended to keep government – and particular government money and taxation – out of churches. It is the reason that churches are tax exempt. You see, in England, they collected taxes and used them to support the Church of England. The royals also took money from the Church when they needed it. Ben Franklin talks about it in his letter to Baptists when the group asked that the government supported one of their worthy endeavors with a grant. It is also in the Baptist doctrinal statement. Thomas Jefferson first used the term "wall of separation between church and state" in a letter (where modern day people pick it up) to a lady concerned about the state overstepping its bounds and controlling the church. He was assuring her that would never be so. So here we are, with an atheist group asking the state to control the church to keep them silent in public. Exactly opposite of the original intent. BTW, the original Constitutions of NE states like Mass only gave rights to Christians and Jews. It wasn't until a Supreme Court case in PA in the early 1800s that allowed for freedom of religion to include the right to not have one.
By the early 1800's most of the witches had already been taken care of.
Wish there was a share button here. My sentiments exactly.
You are full of shit cunt.. Fuck off
Athesist make up 3 to 5% of our population and the percentage that take issue with prayer and other religious symbolism reduces that number even further. It is time for people of all faiths to take a stand against these people. Today we learn that the 9/11 Cross must come out of the museum because it makes them physically and mentally ill. How pathetic.
I wonder what the percentage of Lutherans is in the US? In Mississippi? How about the percentage of "True God In Holiness Apostolic Fellowship Worship"?
You b wrong and full of fucking shit.. You r the one that is pathetic..
Nice reply. Thanks for helping me make my point.
I don't know what the difference is but the players and coaches could look the example from the Nebraska Cornhusker football team that takes a knee at the center of the field after every game. The groups like this one target schools they know don't have the funds for a court fight and then get lots of free press on their so-called victories.
You say that like it is a bad thing.
They have a choice… isn't it supposed to be about freedom? Banning this seems to fly in the face of what America is all about.
The ACLU has become the bully on the block – choosing targets that can't defend themselves against their huge numbers of lawyers and supporters in the press and then after beating them to a pulp anyway they use them as an example – the ACLU should just come right out and say it, SEE IF YOU DON"T DO WHAT WE WANT YOU"RE THE NEXT TARGET!!!
So little time – so much ignorance.
Does being a christian also mean you should be free to bury your wife in the front yard if that is what she wanted and is required by your religion?
I am truly thankful the Lord allowed this anti religious group to contact DeSoto County last year and attempt to stop Christians from praying at football games. This attempt has sparked REVIVAL ACROSS DESOTO COUNTY. I have seen more and more lost people come to Christ. We baptized 16 two weeks ago and had 15 more sign up for next time we baptize. Now this is just in the last month. We have a Youth rally scheduled onOctober 20 this year, we developed Take a Knee DeSoto County, Desoto County 4 Prayer was developed. God has truly moved in an awesome way using this "non believing" group in ways they never know. I thank them for their efforts because God is much bigger, they really can't stop anything and God will get His glory using groups like this to deliver His word to many. As Christians we will come under attack in many ways. This is ok, take joy in these attacks this means the word of the Lord Jesus Christ is on the move and doing well (Satan is scared), Pray for these groups to come to know Jesus and learn about true freedom and joy. I am sure someone will fire back on me about this post and I am ok with that because the fight has already been won. Jesus won, he was crucified and is alive now Loving everyone, even you guys that don't believe. God bless you all!
Well said Mr. Ronnie Pollard!
Well said Mr. Ronnie Pollard!
Amen!
At that rate you are going to run out of targets and contributors to the kitty in no time. You might have to target the Tunica casinos to keep the Benjamins coming in.
Amen Ronnie. Well said!
Amen! We as Christians have to stand united as a whole body and meet Satan head on! Keep doing what you are doing cause I got your back brother!
Amen! We as Christians have to stand united as a whole body and meet Satan head on! Keep doing what you are doing cause I got your back brother!
Amen! We as Christians have to stand united as a whole body and meet Satan head on! Keep doing what you are doing cause I got your back brother!
Amazing how God can take something that was meant for bad, turn it around and draw US all closer to HIM. That alone should make any unbeliever stand up and take notice. Thanks Ronnie and Lisa. And oh yes PRAISE YOU JESUS!!!!
I'm on your side ,, but there is no freedom for just one side
It is time for ALL Christians to stand up for their belief's. You notice these guys don't attack any body other than Christians. Kind of makes me feel good know we are making such an impact.
It is time for ALL Christians to stand up for their belief's. You notice these guys don't attack any body other than Christians. Kind of makes me feel good know we are making such an impact.
Ronnie Pollard
You're making an impact by LOSING court cases?
LOL!
Ronnie, since the number of people attending church across the country is continuing to drop (fact), you are incorrect. Sorry.
Yes sir Jay, you got it. the impact God makes every time these guys show up is amazing. See, we (Christians) don't care about "loosing" a court case because in reality we never loose. God always wins, people started looking into what He is about when all of this publicity starts so God will always win. That is what is so awesome we love these "free thinkers" we pray for them a lot and we thank them for what they do even though they don't realize what they are doing.
Thanks for your opinion Colin, However, our church and churches in and around Olive Branch, MS are steadily on the increase. Baptizes 16 two weeks ago and 15 more signed up that Sunday with 6 more today i think it was. Revival is here, God is moving, lives are being changed. Again, thanks for your opinion.
Ronnie Pollard
The free thinkers aren't doing anything wrong, so they do not need your prayers to your imaginary friend in the sky.
God, and the christians, LOST this case.
And they will continue to "LOSE" (not "loose", as you misuse the word) when they try to involve government with religious matters.
Ronnie Pollard
Colin stated a FACT. It is not his "opinion" that church attendance is DOWN across the nation. Regardless of what is happening at your personal church, attendance is DOWN.
Are you able to get that, logically? That you can not extrapolate what is happening in the country from the data from your particular church?
Jay, as I posted I am HAPPY the "free thinkers" are doing what they are doing. God bless them. I sure don't mind you or Colin stating your opinion, that is what freedom of speech is all about. We can agree to disagree on who won. God is good and will always win. God bless you, We are praying for you all friend.
Ronnie Pollard
God and her followers LOST this case. You can pray all you want.
The free thinkers are protecting YOU from the US Government in religious matters.
Jay my friend, what is it you don't understand about I LIKE what the "free thinkers" are doing!!!! God bless them!! They are bringing alot of people to Jesus. I am pumped about that. God will always win.
I do have one request for them. Our US currency has printed on it "In GOD we trust" if they hate Him so much or don't believe I'm Him give the money to us Christians, we do believe in Him and don't want them to be offended by using it.
Ronnie Pollard
I am so glad the US Constitution protects me from religious freaks like you.
O yea Jay, I do appericate your encouragement to pray as much as I want. Praying for you right now.
Ronnie Pollard
Yes. Great. Pray all you want.
It just will not in any way be sponsored by my government.
What about the money??
Jay, God is in control! I am praying.
I just read your complement. Thank you!! God bless you my friend!!
Hey Jay the constution is part of the Government like our money that supports "in GOD we trust" so hurry and get rid of that stuff since it offends you. Just drop it by the first God filled Church you see. praying for you buddy.
Ronnie Pollard
That's the stupidest comment you've made on here. And you just keep saying it.
It's a FACT Jay. It does say it. You know it and just don't know what to say about it. If you use something that says "in GOD we trust" you must believe or you wouldent want any part of it. I wouldent take part of something
I don't believe in. Do you have a Buda in your home, a pentagram maybe? I bet not because you don't believe in those things either. But you carry around with you everyday "in God we trust" and pass it out to others promoting it. God bless you buddy.
Good night my friend. I'll catch u in the AM.
Ronnie Pollard
That is an idiotic argument. Please tell me you know that.
Later, buddy.
It's idiotic because you don't know how to argue it. that is the way you guys are when u don't know what to say or things don't go your way it's "stupid" and "idiotic". It's cool though I still will pray for you buddy. God bless.
Ronnie Pollard
You are an idiot.
Point proven, just like a child now we are name calling. Still praying for you my friend.
Ronnie Pollard
With an argument as dumb as yours, you deserve to be called much worse!
LOL!
Think about it Jay, if you are right and their is no God and you live according to the Bible you will live a good life caring and helping others and just be gone from this earth when you die. If I am right and their is a God and you live your life the way you are denying God you are going to burn in hell for eternity. Now, I'm not much of a gambler but this is a no brainier my friend. Do u really want to take that kind of chance when you really don't know if God is real or not? Think about it buddy.
BTW did u approve my friend request ?
Ronnie Pollard
People of weak intellect, like you, need the bible to tell them how to behave. And you christians can't even do that right.
I have no need for the words written long ago by ignorant men.
Ok so what about the gamble of simply living a good life or burning in Hell?
BTW how old are u! I am 48.
What grounds are you basing these men being ignorant? We're our founding gathers ignorant?
Ronnie Pollard
The bible is FULL of ignorant things.
FULL of them.
Ronnie Pollard
You live in Mississippi. That explains a lot.
The least educated state in the Union.
Let me guess…you were born and raised there?
Nope Jay I wasent born an raised there. Why is it you won't answer my question?
You just keep throwing out a blanket statement "the Bible is full of ignorant things" can you be more spicific and give me maybe a couple of these ignorant things? Can you please simply answer my questions.i have asked several questions and you have answered none.
Ronnie Pollard
I answered your question. I base their IGNORANCE on what is IN THE bibLIE.
I'll get back with you tomorrow. Go back and read my questions throughley and give me some good answers and we can talk tomorrow. Take care buddy, I'm praying for you right now. God Blesd !
Ronnie Pollard
Don't waste your time.
Ronnie Pollard – Here's one for you!
Deuteronomy 25:5
"If two brothers are living together on the same property and one of them dies without a son, his widow may not be married to anyone from outside the family. Instead, her husband's brother should marry her and have intercourse with her to fulfill the duties of a brother-in-law.
So, the bibLIE advocates INCEST. And RAPE if the woman is unwilling.
Great. Yes, IGNORANT.
I do understand how this could be very confusing to a non believer. This goes way back before the birth of Jesus where the ancient Hebrew law was being practiced also this practice is known as the Levirate marriage that is a custom under the Mosaic Code. Back then they didn’t have court systems and lawyers to settle a man’s inheritance. So they had to come up with ways to settle this among families. This law was also a way that they kept a family’s property intact. Let’s analyze what you’re saying this verse says. “So the Bible advocates incest”, if you related this verse to today’s laws and definitions the answer would be yes that is what it is saying. However, this was not taking today’s laws into consideration. This was a totally different way of life just like the tribes in Africa that exist today; we would think the ways they do thing are crazy and barbaric. However, that is their heritage and the ways they have done things for years so it is their way of life. Your next concern was “rape”, again, in today’s laws and definitions yes it would be. But this was not a blood brother it was a brother in law this verse it talking about so according to their beliefs and heritage it was not rape. This all is based on the Hebrew law. This is the old Testament before Jesus. He came to fulfill the law and that is why we are released from the law today and live on grace. I hope you can understand this. It is very difficult for a non believer to understand but I hope I could clear this up for you. God bless you Jay, I am praying for your salvation.
Ronnie Pollard
Like I said. The bibLIE was written long ago by ignorant men.
You prove my point! Thanks!
OK Jay, I hope you are right buddy because if you are not you are in alot of trouble. God bless you my friend praying for you.
Ronnie Pollard
Pascal's Wager is a discredited argument.
Look it up.
Ronnie Pollard
Pascal's Wager is a discredited argument.
Look it up.
Since it occurred without her knowledge or consent, was Mary's pregnancy the result of a legitimate rape?
May God bless Desoto county.
Do you mean kind of like dog blessed his chosen people?
Fuck Desoto..
May God bless Desoto county.
Again no one is saying you cannot pray, we are saying that this cannot be mandated by the school or coaches. When Nebraska players take a knee at the center of the field they do so on their own volition, not all players participate in this. I am willing to be those players who do not participate are looked at differently. Athiests numbers are way above 5%. Williamson a lot is two words just a friendly correction from someone who has made that mistake many times. Ben franklin also said that a light house is more useful than a church. Jefferson actually disliked the Bible and the way it was written that he wrote his own Bible.
Again no one is saying you cannot pray, we are saying that this cannot be mandated by the school or coaches. When Nebraska players take a knee at the center of the field they do so on their own volition, not all players participate in this. I am willing to be those players who do not participate are looked at differently. Athiests numbers are way above 5%. Williamson a lot is two words just a friendly correction from someone who has made that mistake many times. Ben franklin also said that a light house is more useful than a church. Jefferson actually disliked the Bible and the way it was written that he wrote his own Bible.
I am so very proud of the students at Purvis High School and others who are standing up for Jesus. (Yes, my baby was mentioned in the article). There are many times when I've been proud of my children but this has got to move to the top of that list. When I hear these people, who truly are foreign to our land because our land contains the Holy Spirit, talk about us breaking the law by practicing our God given right it tears at my soul. They speak of using equipment paid for by tax dollars of public citizens, not Christians….well I have news for the FFRF…in our town it is the Christians who are the public citizens….it is the Christians who are paying taxes…it is the Christians who live here with others of like mind and hearts because we want to be in a Godly community to raise our kids. Either the good Lord placed us here or we chose to be here, not somewhere Wisconsin.
Wow Litolff…listen to yourself are u saying that there are only christians in your community. Is that what u are saying? In that entire community there is no one of a different faith, there is no one that has nt particular religious association, there are no agnostics. You can be proud of the students they have done nothing wrong but what u are saying is very wrong.
What part of "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" doesn't the legal system understand! Congress shall make NO law prohibiting the free expression of religion. The constitution guaranteed Freedom OF Religion – NOT freedom FROM religion. We need to sue the FFRF for violating our constitutional rights to freely exercise our religion…and I am more than willing to allow agnostics and atheists the same right to worship their idols…whatever they may be! If they want to pray to their none existent gods let them pray.
You were home schooled weren't you? Do you want us to believe that the SCOTUS has not stumbled across the first line of Amendment 1 in any of their uninterrupted string of decisions going back over 200 years. Accordingly, they have told us all through their decisions what the meaning of Amendment 1 is. As long as you live anywhere in the US, their rulings apply.
Do you know what the first action taken by President George Washington and the entire congress took after he was inaugurated on April 30, 1989? They gathered in a church to pray for God's divine guidance on the United States of America. That same church is at ground zero for the World Trade Center bombing ….You do the math!!!! Are you telling me he didn't understand the Constitution? Are you telling me the men who wrote and signed the Constitution didn't know what they were doing????
There is nothing Christian or American about Christian conservatism.Many lie, hate and discriminate in God's name.You not only deny basic civil rights to some Americans but you also deny basic religious freedoms of others.Perverting the Bible to support your own ignorances and prejudices is never acceptable.
Many jesus freaks are claiming that Darwin's theory is wrong..
Hope they realise that it has stood up for 152 years and never been wrong.. EVER!!
But, let imagine that the freaks are right…
Let's use the bibles account of events..
Adam and Eve were the first people.. They had 2 boys, Cain and Able.. To reproduce these boys fucked their mother, only female after all..
So I guess we are all inbred..
No wonder jesus cunts like to fuck children..