Would you want a jehovah witness coaching your child?

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homefield's avatar

homefield

Senior Member

242 posts
Mar 3, 2010 12:34 AM
I ask this because i was told that one of the coaches at a local high school is a jehovah witness and has prayer meetings that he invites kids to attend.
Do you think this is proper or am i just making something out of nothing?
Mar 3, 2010 12:34am
UA5straightin2008's avatar

UA5straightin2008

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3,246 posts
Mar 3, 2010 12:37 AM
if he is preaching to them and trying to alter their beliefs then yes it is a problem..if it is an optional prayer meeting i dont see any harm if people decide to or not to attend...hes not making anyone do anything
Mar 3, 2010 12:37am
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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27,879 posts
Mar 3, 2010 12:37 AM
I don't think that's proper, but I also think churches should be burned to the ground.
Mar 3, 2010 12:37am
B

Be Nice

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1,120 posts
Mar 3, 2010 12:44 AM
^oh my!
Mar 3, 2010 12:44am
U

Upper90

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1,095 posts
Mar 3, 2010 1:01 AM
I see nothing wrong with that.

Inviting is fine. Forcing is not.
Mar 3, 2010 1:01am
dwccrew's avatar

dwccrew

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7,817 posts
Mar 3, 2010 1:06 AM
What Upper said.
Mar 3, 2010 1:06am
C

captain_obvious

Member

82 posts
Mar 3, 2010 1:36 AM
Is he prompt? does he keep the kids safe? Does he give good instruction? etc.

Now as far as the prayer meeting invite, I think it is immaterial what religion he is. Its innappropriate, and I coach at a Catholic school.
Mar 3, 2010 1:36am
Heretic's avatar

Heretic

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18,820 posts
Mar 3, 2010 2:34 AM
Wouldn't be worse than any other Christian-type cult member.
Mar 3, 2010 2:34am
F

FairwoodKing

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2,504 posts
Mar 3, 2010 4:04 AM
Steubenville's Reno Saccoccia has the players recite the Lord's Prayer before every game. I'm not aware that anyone has ever complained.
Mar 3, 2010 4:04am
G

Gobuckeyes1

Senior Member

497 posts
Mar 3, 2010 6:08 AM
FairwoodKing wrote: Steubenville's Reno Saccoccia has the players recite the Lord's Prayer before every game. I'm not aware that anyone has ever complained.
We did this when I played an no one complained, either.

I would tell my child that if the coach says anything about his religion in practice to let me know. As long as he isn't preaching during practice, and the "meetings" and optional, no problem.
Mar 3, 2010 6:08am
S

Swamp Fox

Senior Member

2,218 posts
Mar 3, 2010 6:32 AM
We had a female weight coach a number of years ago that was heavily into the activities of her church and she began to evangelize (I couldn't think of a better word). At first it was not a problem but the complaints came and the parents of a few of our kids were not happy and so we had to remove the coach for the good of the team. It wasn't that the young lady was overbearing or anything like that, but when the issue of religion comes up, it immediately becomes controversial to some. She wanted the kids to group pray and things of that nature and it can get out of hand pretty quickly. It wasn't a constant part of practice for her athletes but was done in a little group before the weight events began etc., essentially a harmless almost non-denominational generic prayer, not to win, but to pray for health, a safe trip home etc. etc.. I should perhaps tell you that the girl was not a Jehova's Witness. I have known some Witnesses and I don't think it would be a problem, if they kept their personal religious convictions out of it. Of course, that would be true of anyone regarding their religion.
Mar 3, 2010 6:32am
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

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6,196 posts
Mar 3, 2010 7:16 AM
Upper90 wrote: I see nothing wrong with that.

Inviting is fine. Forcing is not.
Mar 3, 2010 7:16am
G

Gblock

Mar 3, 2010 7:28 AM
my mother is a witness and growing up i attended the kingdom hall many times and they dont have "prayer meetings" so i question the validity of the story you were told
Mar 3, 2010 7:28am
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Mar 3, 2010 8:27 AM
coaching a kid? Wouldnt mind. INviting and attending prayer sessions? Think that is over the line. Kid may feel pressured to attend and take on the beliefs. They can be very impressionable at a young age to an authority figure like a coach.

I think it is out of line for the coach to even invite. Some kids may feel obligated to go cause he is the coach.
Mar 3, 2010 8:27am
B

berry

Senior Member

475 posts
Mar 3, 2010 8:31 AM
Not a problem. But you should probably check your child for any unusual markings after each practice.
Mar 3, 2010 8:31am
G

Gblock

Mar 3, 2010 8:38 AM
i dont think any coach of any religion should invite kids to anything involving religion
Mar 3, 2010 8:38am
Fly4Fun's avatar

Fly4Fun

Senior Member

7,730 posts
Mar 3, 2010 8:48 AM
I agree with the assessment that inviting a kids crosses a line because there can be unseen pressure...

Hell, everyone knows about sports and "optional" workouts. What would the difference be between those and "optional" prayer sessions.
Mar 3, 2010 8:48am
homefield's avatar

homefield

Senior Member

242 posts
Mar 3, 2010 9:02 AM
Gblock wrote: my mother is a witness and growing up i attended the kingdom hall many times and they dont have "prayer meetings" so i question the validity of the story you were told
I don't know much about the jehovah beliefs except that he stopped celebrating christmas for his kids because he said it was wrong and yes he does have meetings at his house.My brother lives next door to him and said that he has even asked his family to attend but they declined.
Mar 3, 2010 9:02am
Thunder70's avatar

Thunder70

Senior Member

748 posts
Mar 3, 2010 9:03 AM
We had a player led (myself) prayer before each game in HS. The coaches participated and no one objected publicly...

It's not a problem if it isn't forced...
Mar 3, 2010 9:03am
homefield's avatar

homefield

Senior Member

242 posts
Mar 3, 2010 9:10 AM
I think saying a prayer before a game is fine because you are doing it for the team to be safe and healthy and maybe hoping for a little help in getting a victory but having kids think that your beliefs are the right way to live are wrong and i just don't think an adult coach should be having kids over to his house for prayer meetings.
Mar 3, 2010 9:10am
G

Gblock

Mar 3, 2010 9:11 AM
homefield wrote:
Gblock wrote: my mother is a witness and growing up i attended the kingdom hall many times and they dont have "prayer meetings" so i question the validity of the story you were told
I don't know much about the jehovah beliefs except that he stopped celebrating christmas for his kids because he said it was wrong and yes he does have meetings at his house.My brother lives next door to him and said that he has even asked his family to attend but they declined.
most likely what your referring to is a bible study not a "prayer meeting"
Mar 3, 2010 9:11am
Fab4Runner's avatar

Fab4Runner

Tits McGee

6,196 posts
Mar 3, 2010 9:15 AM
homefield wrote: I think saying a prayer before a game is fine because you are doing it for the team to be safe and healthy and maybe hoping for a little help in getting a victory but having kids think that your beliefs are the right way to live are wrong and i just don't think an adult coach should be having kids over to his house for prayer meetings.
So saying a prayer for the team is okay but having a prayer meeting (where the same exact prayer could be said) is wrong? It seems like you are picking and choosing what forms of religion and prayer should be okay and not okay. Not sure how that makes sense.
Mar 3, 2010 9:15am
G

Gblock

Mar 3, 2010 9:19 AM
during my coaching days we always left the room if the kids wanted to do a prayer before the game because you can be fired if you are said to have led a team prayer. it didnt come up on some teams but on some it did. personally i discouraged it because it can lead to problems but if they wanted to do it we would give them time to do it.
Mar 3, 2010 9:19am
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Mar 3, 2010 9:21 AM
We used to have a prayer before each game that we played in HS baseball.
Mar 3, 2010 9:21am
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

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16,754 posts
Mar 3, 2010 9:35 AM
If the coach was of the same faith as you and was inviting members of the team to church..would you still have started this thread?
Mar 3, 2010 9:35am