@fmf saidHe also led his players in prayer...so basically a government employee acting in an official capacity encouraging a specific religious practice.
Our 1st Amendment to the US Constitution says that there shall be no establishment of a state religion.
I don't think a sports coach praying is establishing "a state religion", do you?
He shouldn't have done it. As for what I think should happen - first tell him to stop doing it, and only fire him if he keeps at it.
Edit: assuming his high school is a public school.
@fmf saidThat's not the issue. The problem is that is he invited the high school players to join in the prayers. While he claims no student was forced to join the prayers, a situation was created where the students may have felt they had to.
"Joseph A. Kennedy, a former high school football coach, was fired after he made a habit of going to the 50-yard line after his team’s games to thank God and to lead his players in prayer. On Monday, the Supreme Court heard his suit." ~ The Daily
Isn't feeling excluded from such moments simply character building?
Thoughts?
Think of it like someone's boss asking them out on a date. There is an inherent power imbalances where the employee may feel pressure to comply. Same for those students being asked by their coach to pray.
29 Apr 22
@fmf saidIt would probably be braver of you to pose questions about things going on in Indonesia.
"Joseph A. Kennedy, a former high school football coach, was fired after he made a habit of going to the 50-yard line after his team’s games to thank God and to lead his players in prayer. On Monday, the Supreme Court heard his suit." ~ The Daily
Isn't feeling excluded from such moments simply character building?
Thoughts?
@vivify saidI don't really see there being much of a problem if the students "felt they had to" or if they felt a bit bad that they didn't.
That's not the issue. The problem is that is he invited the high school players to join in the prayers. While he claims no student was forced to join the prayers, a situation was created where the students may have felt they had to.
If someone doesn't believe in God or if they don't believe in prayer or they don't want to pray at that moment, I do not see why such a big issue has to be made about it.
It's as if the people who wanted the coach fired somehow want all the teenagers to be kept in a psychological/interpersonal oxygen tent.
29 Apr 22
@suzianne said
Do you think state institutions such as a Capitol building, or a high school, should display, in a conspicuous place, the "Ten Commandments"? This is the kind of thing the 1st Amendment prevents.[/i]
Yes. The government promoting the 10 commandments is what I see as being what the 1st amendment is about. But I don't see a football coach praying as the same as the government establishing a "state religion".
29 Apr 22
@bigdogg saidWouldn't it have to be a government-endorsed school policy for it to be an "official capacity" or to be a "state religion"? Aren't feeling excluded from such moments or resisting pressure to participate/comply or learning to exercise one's conscience simply character-building and run-of-the-mill life experiences?
He also led his players in prayer...so basically a government employee acting in an official capacity encouraging a specific religious practice.
29 Apr 22
@fmf saidA high school prominently displaying the "Ten Commandments" is the same as a high school football coach praying (with team members or without) in the middle of a football field at a game attended by members of the public.@suzianne said
Do you think state institutions such as a Capitol building, or a high school, should display, in a conspicuous place, the "Ten Commandments"? This is the kind of thing the 1st Amendment prevents.[/i]
Yes. The government promoting the 10 commandments is what I see as being what the 1st amendment is about. But I don't see a football coach praying as the same as the government establishing a "state religion".
State officials are promoting ONE religion. This is the "establishment" the amendment disallows.
@fmf saidNo.
Wouldn't it have to be a government-endorsed school policy for it to be an "official capacity" or to be a "state religion"? Aren't feeling excluded from such moments or resisting pressure to participate/comply or learning to exercise one's conscience simply character-building and run-of-the-mill life experiences?
29 Apr 22
@vivify saidI don't think a boss trying to have sex with one of his or her subordinates is a good analogy for people praying together.
That's like asking "was anyone denied a promotion for not agreeing to date the boss"?
The simple act of making the request is problematic, whether there were consequences or not.