Is It Wrong to Be Faithful/Religious in Public?

[waitasec]

it's annoying...
but that's just me.

 

[Straw Dog]

This Tebow talk has got me thinking. Do people think it is wrong for people to be religious/faithful in public. I am a Christians whether I am asleep in bed or walking down the street or grocery shopping. I wear a cross around my neck but that is my only public acknowledgment of my faith- I am a very shy person and I don't talk in public.
But if stating your own faith is wrong, then why isn't it wrong to like a rock group/sports team/celebrity/etc in public? My daughter loves Justin Bieber and doesn't hesitate to say so, even in public. My husband is a Steelers fan, and he wants to put a Steelers stickers on his car.
I am not talking about praying very loudly on a street corner, or in a bar, etc where is can be out of place or distracting. But if someone kneels down and prays silently or very softly, even in public, and that person is not in anyone's way or is not infringing on anyone's rights, why is it wrong? If I suddenly decided I needed to pray in a public library, out of the way in a corner or something, then why would that be a problem? If a man prays when he does well at a football game, why would that bother anyone?
I am not ashamed to be a Christian. If I were a Muslim or a Hindu, I wouldn't be ashamed of that either.

What are some of your thoughts on this?

Personally, I do not think it's necessarily wrong in most contexts. I cannot imagine silencing or censoring the most sincere expressions of humanity, as long as they do not involve silencing the expressions or life of other people. I am not a football fan, or interested in sports to any degree, so perhaps my views would be different if I were. I imagine they definitely would be if I was in favor of a different team. I think that I would even openly welcome a silent bow and prayer in the middle of a mall, for example, if one was being openly mindful of their temptation towards excessive materialism counter-productive towards their own happiness and contentment.

As Jesus put it, it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven. Of course, I interpret this differently than many mainstream Christians would, but the sentiment is all the same. You're never going to find happiness shopping in this mall. Ever. Even if you owned every single piece of material in there. The Kingdom of God is within us all. Perhaps this Tebow fellow has a more shallow conception of God's grace, involving simple victories for a football team. Although, if the action does trigger his state of flow, perhaps I cannot even blame him for that after all. I don't really know.

 

[not nom]

Hmm... let's see what the Jee-man thinks.

Matthew 6:5-6

5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Interesting...

this also means not being too shy about it, IMHO. what I mean is, if you shouldn't pray just to be seen praying, one also shouldn't refrain from praying just because someone else might see it.

 

[not nom]

A football player(quarterback, Tim Tebow), from the Denver Broncos, bows down and and puts his hand on his forehead to pray whenever he makes a good play in a football game. Christians like him, but a few people criticize him for it. It's a little ostentacious, but it doesn't bother me. I am not a football fan, so I've actually only seen him do it once (yesterday). What I saw was a silent prayer on his knees and nothing more, so I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.

well, I don't know the guy, and I generally think spectator sports are fundamentally flawed and stupid and impossible to salvage -- but I guess as a human in the vicinity or seeing it on TV (not that I watch TV), it might annoy me he takes football that seriously... it's like praying that the next simpsons episode will be real funny or something. it's like people saluting flags, or putting babies in ovens.. people doing dumb **** like that just makes me sad, and sometimes angry.

 

[Heathen Hammer]

I find it highly gauche and unsophisticated

 

[Breathe]

What are some of your thoughts on this?

I think it's sweet; I certainly don't think it's wrong on any level. Let people pray in public if they want. It's their choice to pray in public or in private, and if they aren't hurting people, what's the issue other than some people don't like it?

I don't think it's possible to separate some people's being from their religion, either. Baptised Sikhs wear turbans and wield short-swords called kirpāns; Muslim women wear hijabs. Are those wrong? Telling people to lose these items, especially in the case of Sikhs, because it'd be seen as 'wrong', would get you a funny look and a 'never' as response.

I've ridden with race car drivers who cross themselves before the start. It freaks me right out. My first reaction is something like "if you don't think that your skills, experience, and car prep are enough to keep us safe, do I really want to be in this car?" :cover:

I'd love to know how you'd feel the day that you have someone pray to Śiva, God of Destruction, before a race, with you in the car. Would that be more or less scary?

 

[9Westy9]

It's not wrong to express you beliefs but when done publicly you shouldn't expect to receive no criticism or respect for your beliefs.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

this also means not being too shy about it, IMHO. what I mean is, if you shouldn't pray just to be seen praying, one also shouldn't refrain from praying just because someone else might see it.

IMO, Tim Tebow's post-touchdown prayers are a clear example of praying to be seen praying.

 

[9Westy9]

it's annoying...
but that's just me.

It's not just you, don't worry

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I don't go around and announce my religion to everyone, I don't know how you got the idea that is what I was saying.

I didn't say you did, but your OP also touched on Tim Tebow. He's more what I was thinking of when I wrote that.

Why would it bother you if a driver prays before he drives? Is he/she forcing you to pray with them or something?

Because in that particular case, I'm in a situation that's potentially very dangerous, and he's effectively declared through his actions that the things I think actually exist aren't enough to keep us safe, and that he's going to rely on something I think doesn't exist for our safety.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I think it's sweet; I certainly don't think it's wrong on any level. Let people pray in public if they want. It's their choice to pray in public or in private, and if they aren't hurting people, what's the issue other than some people don't like it?

How would you feel if Tim Tebow harped on politics instead of religion? Instead of "first I'd like to thank God..." he said "first I want to thank the economic policies of _____, because without them, I would never have been able to play pro football."

 

[Breathe]

How would you feel if Tim Tebow harped on politics instead of religion? Instead of "first I'd like to thank God..." he said "first I want to thank the economic policies of _____, because without them, I would never have been able to play pro football."

His choice. It doesn't hurt me.

 

[9Westy9]

His choice. It doesn't hurt me.

:yes:

 

[not nom]

IMO, Tim Tebow's post-touchdown prayers are a clear example of praying to be seen praying.

sure, I get that and I agree, when it comes to athletes or politicians etc... but when it comes to the personal part of the OP, for example as she said, when an ambulance goes by, or when you're relieved or scared (because of something that matters, not football...!), and you feel like praying, pray! it's nothing to be ashamed of, and nothing to hide.

jesus prayed a LOT in front of other people, by the way. I just don't think he did it for show, and therein is the difference, or something like that.

 

[Tom Terrific]

This Tebow talk has got me thinking. Do people think it is wrong for people to be religious/faithful in public.

What are some of your thoughts on this?

The day when people have to hide their faith in public is the day we are no longer free.

I am a Witch, not a Christian; but regarding Tim Tebow, I say, More power to him. He believes that Jesus has given him the strength to accomplish what he does, and he has every right to say so.

I think there's something very wrong with those who mock him or want to shut him up. That's intolerant, tyrannical and, ironically, appallingly self-righteous.

 

[Kathryn]

I definitely think it is wrong for your husband to put a Steelers sticker on his car. ; )

 

[not nom]

I think there's something very wrong with those who mock him or want to shut him up. That's intolerant, tyrannical and, ironically, appallingly self-righteous.

I can live just fine with those 3 attributes ^^

 

[Kathryn]

You do know that when you give Tebow all this attention regarding his faith, you're playing right into his agenda, right?

That being said, I say live and let live. If someone wants to offer up a quick prayer or gesture in public, and it doesn't infringe on the rights of others, I say have at it.

 

[ChristineES]

How would you feel if Tim Tebow harped on politics instead of religion? Instead of "first I'd like to thank God..." he said "first I want to thank the economic policies of _____, because without them, I would never have been able to play pro football."

That wouldn't bother me. It wouldn't bother me if he said "hail, Satan"- that is his choice. As long as he doesn't expect me to go along with it- I don't see him saying that anyone else has to pray with him.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

That wouldn't bother me. It wouldn't bother me if he said "hail, Satan"- that is his choice. As long as he doesn't expect me to go along with it- I don't see him saying that anyone else has to pray with him.

I've been trying to figure out why that sort of behaviour bugs me, and I think I figured it out: when we advertise our affiliation with the "in group" on a divisive issue like religion ir politics, not only do we show support for our "team", but we also tacitly endorse that "in group"/"out group" dynamic.

I'm not a fan of exclusionary arrangements, so I think that might be part of what bothers me about this.