High School Cheerleaders in Trouble for Bible Verse Banners

[SzczerbiakManiac]

Reason number 5,349,381 why I have no intention of ever setting foot in the Bible Belt.

Here's just a snippet

from the Chattanooga Times Free Press
Cheerleaders’ religious signs draw fire
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009

Community members are rallying around Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders after they were banned from displaying signs with Bible verses urging fans and players to "commit to the Lord" and "take courage and do it."



The banners—the paper ones that football players crash through at the beginning of games—have been common sights in the school’s football stadium since 2003, local officials say.

"The cheerleaders are not trying to push a religious cause, to shove religion down someone’s throat," said local youth minister Brad Scott, who was LFO High’s class president in 2004. "The cheerleaders are just using Scripture to show motivation and inspiration to the players and the fans."

Not trying to push religion down our throats!?!?!

[BarTopDancer]

Can't get worked up about this. We did questionable stuff in high school too.

It's not like it said "Accept Jesus or you will burn in Hell".

[SacTown Chronic]

You little maggots need Jesus to fire you up? Bullsh*t! You get your asses out there and you win for it me. Got it? You win for me, and your family, and your country, you little nut-huggers. Jesus don't live here anymore, pansies. Now get out there and stomp those Lakeview Country Day faggots a new asshole! Who's with me? Damn right, all of you little mommy-fvckers are or I swear I will molest your family pet this weekend! Now huddle up. "Destroy" on the count of three. One. Two. Three.

DESTROY!!!

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I'm not familiar with the source.

[SacTown Chronic]

That's me if I coached those bible-huggers.


Well that's not actually my coaching style, but it's fun to pretend. Also, I'm not a pet molester.

[flippyshark]

Slightly off topic - Has anyone ever noticed that every time the topic of religious proselytizing comes up, the phrase "shove it down my throat" or a close variation, is ALWAYS employed? As an atheist, I am no fan of evangelizing, but as a person who dislikes overused language memes, I'd love it if media, and the population as a whole, would let this tired phrase go. (I've been complaining about this one for a long time.)

Back on-topic - There's a lot of this kind of thing going on - particularly in smaller, more homogenous communities, where people tend to assume that pretty much everyone else is a believer, so if the tiny minority of atheists or pagans have a problem with such public sentiments, that's their problem, and why should it impede on the good will and godliness of the majority? This is one tough attitude to change. All the same, it is jaw-dropping that a pubic school official would fail to see that such signs are very actively pushing a religious agenda.

[Moonliner]

While I don't see this particular case as all that earth shaking or even interesting, I am interested in your comments:

Originally Posted by fylippshark

particularly in smaller, more homogenous communities, where people tend to assume that pretty much everyone else is a believer, so if the tiny minority of atheists or pagans have a problem with such public sentiments, that's their problem

The majority should rule? Is that really what you are saying? Because I can see a wide range of minority issues that would not do so well under majority rule. At what percentage do the views of the many outweigh the rule of law? 50? 60? 80? 99?

[SacTown Chronic]

That does seem to be a rather loose interpretation of Phillippians 3:14.

[flippyshark]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

While I don't see this particular case as all that earth shaking or even interesting, I am interested in your comments:



The majority should rule? Is that really what you are saying? Because I can see a wide range of minority issues that would not do so well under majority rule. At what percentage do the views of the many outweigh the rule of law? 50? 60? 80? 99?

Wow, you really need to re-read my posting. I was pointing out that such communities see their Christian majority as a justification for ignoring church/state separation - hence they don't see any problem with religious banners at public school events. I wasn't giving my own view. My stated atheism should be a clue that I am quite in sympathy with the rights of minorities. There is often good reason to abhor the tyranny of a majority.

[Strangler Lewis]

Put all the Jesus on there you want. The dominant image is still a bunch of football players bursting through a thin barrier held by cheerleaders.