Prayer to start a race

Beseeching an imaginary being for good fortune? You might not get upset if the RD went with a pagan or islamic blessing, instead, but a lot of your fellow Christians, mostly dense fundies, would be out for blood if that happened in most places around the country.

Besides, you should look after your spiritual life on your own time, not expect others to wait around while it's done publicly.

I also find it pointless to stand around while they play the national anthem before a race after the starter has called everyone to the line, to just stand there for several minutes and let the leg muscles get cold. Once some dick yelled at me because I kept doing strides during the playing of the song, I guess because I wasn't acting like some ultranationalist who stands rigidly at attention and heils the flag whenever the song is played. I'm as loyal to my country as the next cat, but I don't know why that has to be proven at some road run. I'm not out to offend people, so if there's a solution that I haven't thought about, I'd probably be open to it.

Ron Obvious wrote:

Whatever. If a bunch of delusional retards want to just stand there and recite meaningless Iron Age poetry before the start, let them. More space for me to do warm-up striders.

I agree with you Ron, but I do wonder why these delusional retards feel compeeled to pray outloud & in groups. If they truly believed what they profess to believe, they would pray silently, on their own.

Public, group prayer and religous gatherings seem to me to be forms of dick-measuring contests, everyone trying to demonstrate that they are the most pious.

Although I don't share any of these silly superstitions, I do respect those that keep their spirituality private more than the insecure dick-measurers.

Chuck Darwin wrote:

Also, violent crime has dropped every year for the last 25 years.

Thanks to Roe v Wade.

No, I'm not joking. The development in crime stats is correlated neither by economic trends nor by crime stats in other countries, so it's not a socio-economic-cultural phenomenon. Then what is it?

I've heard the point made that about one millions would-be criminal US children were NOT born in the last 30 years, thanks to legal abortions. It makes perfect sense - we know there's a heavy social bias in unwanted pregnancies.

Bet that's not what those moronic christians are praying for, huh?

Flashback wrote:

Public, group prayer and religous gatherings seem to me to be forms of dick-measuring contests, everyone trying to demonstrate that they are the most pious.

Although I don't share any of these silly superstitions, I do respect those that keep their spirituality private more than the insecure dick-measurers.

Definitely. Making a show of it does nothing to ensure strong beliefs and actions that bear out said beliefs.

Hey, it's your privilege. Happy Thanksgiving to you.

Flying Spaghetti Monster wrote:

I'm not out to offend people, so if there's a solution that I haven't thought about, I'd probably be open to it.

If you race in the south the solution is simple. Just wear a confederate flag on some article of clothing, so that if anyone questions your lack of attention to the national anthem, you can point out that you support the Confederacy, not the USA. Some rednecks try to have it both ways, but since the Confederacy was a sworn enemy of the US, it really is an either/or proposition. And down south you really won't be faulted either way.

Way to go man..tell it like it is brother.... I, me, I, me, my strider, my race, I run, me, my legs are cold, me, my, and lets not forget one more I are all words more important and placed before we, us, flag, stars, song, unification, symbolism, tradition, remembrance, commonality, and service. Brilliant. YOU couldn't do a better unintentional job summing up your point of view!

JimFiore wrote:

The BIG question of this thread is "How many people here know the origin of the name 'Ron Obvious'"? ;-)

That's two so far. I guess three with the poster himself.

Well no sh!t, Sherlock! Unintentional, you think? You fancy yourself way more clever than you actually are, I guess you want everyone to think and act alike because that's how you try to live your life? Oh, and all those words you listed after "before" in your post would be used by the 3rd Reich.

Why do I, you, or anyone else go to a road race, to serve others or hold hands and sing 'kumbayah'?? Should we all be wearing special arm bands at all times or what?

Not think and act alike, but to take a second to pause and reflect on the fact that we didn't just all get here with our roads, our infrastructure and that really nice Army we happen to need from time to time, out of happenstance. People dedicated themselves to serving for it. Maybe you don't care. Fine. Just be still for a moment to give respect please. Or you could perhaps take the pause to pray to the erudite 'Spaghetti Monster' that will be a fleeting memory as you age and when you take your last breath, it won't be used for a smug, condescending laugh, but rather perhaps used like Sartre's which was a regretful sigh that he was terribly, horribly wrong.

Before each race I offer up a prayer and sacrifice to He Who Walks Behind the Rows.

Right, because there's no other appropriate time? Yeah, it's exactly about telling others how to think and behave. I have served, too, and can tell you that you've revealed nothing original here. Save your own smuggness regarding religion for the mentally and emotionally weak, it is laughable to try such a clumsy tactic on me.

ok you win. Peace.

JEWUNIT wrote:

As a jewish runner I believe that your god was mere mortal. What kind of pompus schmuck comes on a message board and says others religious beliefs are wrong??

"You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

-Not a mere mortal

JEWUNIT wrote: There are more muslims in (the) world does that make islam the true religon?

33% of the world's population are practicing Christians, 21% are practicing muslims.

I usually try to avoid these silly debates, but do you really think a weak person would subject themselves on a daily basis to the anger and hatred that "certain" people subject them to for proclaiming their faith in God?

If you must hurl insults, I'd prefer to be labelled "ignorant, gullible (sp?), impressionable, etc."

Mentally and emotionally weak just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

I didn't pointedly apply those to anyone posting here, maybe try rereading that.

[33% of the world's population are practicing Christians, 21% are practicing muslims.[/quote]

How long does it take before they can be racing christians and racing muslims?

In the immortal words of Allen Iverson

"PRACTICE?, PRACTICE? We're talking about PRACTICE?"

I think Tim the Toot is really Tim the Troll.

No good can come from your original post so why did you do it? Troll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's all about the noodle, in all situations.

FSM

http://www.vestaldesign.com/vestalblog/uploaded_images/Touched_by_His_Noodly_Appendage-720112.jpg