Super Bowl Sunday a "Faith Based Experience" according to group
Is it rooting for your team, or an establishment of religion? Well, a group that promotes the separation of church and state has filed court papers to have all references to the Patriots' appearance in the Super Bowl this Sunday removed from state and municipal property in the state of Massachusetts on the basis that such displays "promote the establishment of a religion that may appear secular in nature, but, in the end, follows that same patterns of worship and ritual displayed by those religions that are admittedly more spiritual."
"It's no accident that the Super Bowl and most NFL games fall on a Sunday," said Steve Barrett of the Center for the Separation of Sports and State. "Sports fandom follows a very ritualized behavior pattern, plus the Patriots logo amounts to nothing more than a symbolic talisman. Tailgate parties are really just a high calorie Communion."
Does one genuflect at such public displays of faith?
Jerry Wilkins of the Center for Faith Based Government finds the notion that sports fandom can be equated with religious worship absurd. "This nonsense is ridiculous," said Wilkins. "Everyone knows that Jesus is a football fan, but I haven't seen Tom Brady ever rise from the dead. Maybe the Patriots as a franchise, but that's so different. "
The major assertion of the Center for the Separation of Sports and State is that displays intended to root for one team create a culture of "groupthink" that then leads to a state sponsored religion. The judge hearing the motion to remove signs supporting the Patriots is expected to laugh his ass off.
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"It's no accident that the Super Bowl and most NFL games fall on a Sunday," said Steve Barrett of the Center for the Separation of Sports and State. "Sports fandom follows a very ritualized behavior pattern, plus the Patriots logo amounts to nothing more than a symbolic talisman. Tailgate parties are really just a high calorie Communion."
Does one genuflect at such public displays of faith?
Jerry Wilkins of the Center for Faith Based Government finds the notion that sports fandom can be equated with religious worship absurd. "This nonsense is ridiculous," said Wilkins. "Everyone knows that Jesus is a football fan, but I haven't seen Tom Brady ever rise from the dead. Maybe the Patriots as a franchise, but that's so different. "
The major assertion of the Center for the Separation of Sports and State is that displays intended to root for one team create a culture of "groupthink" that then leads to a state sponsored religion. The judge hearing the motion to remove signs supporting the Patriots is expected to laugh his ass off.
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