A Question About David Robinson

[Donald Kaufman]

Well I don't know about TK, but I'm an atheist. Don't believe in god so I did feel David's ending was a bit preachy. But that's me cause I'm an atheist. A friend of mine (a strong christian) absolutely loved it and told me that ending actually made it better.

I used to think I was an atheist, but I decided that it takes too much effort to be one. I'm just apathetic towards religion.

I was raised christian and had it forcefed to me when I was in school. We had to take "Religious Education" classes and we actually got graded on participation! I got a D.

[TonyMontana]

Religion is always a touchy subject (one of the reasons why I'm not a fan).

If religion works for the people that need it, more power to them. But what I don't like is how religious people always seem to be trying to convert others. I was watching his HOF speech and just waiting for the part where he talked about God, cause I knew it was coming.

I get that it's a part of who he is, fine, but he should just save that stuff for church.

Come on T.K how did he try to convert people, he shared his testemony about how God has helped him and has walked with him through every part of his life and he wishes that God will walk with others as he has with him and his life.

To me thats a man giving thanks and prasies to God, thats all. I actually thought it was very classy and very humlbe of him to share that. Am I religious, sure I am. I am a Christian, not a perfect one but I praise God everyday of my life for the most simplist things in life, like life itself.

Yet I wont sit there and force others to have faith or believe in God. Thats up to you and God will find his way to you one way or another. But again I really didnt see him preaching, if anything he was very humble and very apprecitive towards God as well as other good people that have tocuhed his life.

[co_laper]

I don't think David said anything that makes it sound like he's trying to convert others. I will say thou that I sure hope that everyone is as understanding as you TonyMontana when it comes to forcing others to have faith or believe in god. As an atheist, when people found out about it, like atleast 75% of them will want to continue this conversation by asking why and everything else and went on and on and try to make me go to church or vihara or just get on some sort of argument about god. Sure, there's 25% who's like you and just let it go and feel god will find his way to me. Religion is always a touchy subject if it's discussed between 2 people who's not in the same religion, especially if one of them doesn't believe in god at all.

in 2001, I left San Antonio to go back to Indonesia for good and that's when my father find out I don't believe in god and he forces me to go to church. He said if in 6 months I go to church and still don't believe in god, he'll stop forcing me. So I must say that's a really bad 6 months to go because it's not just that my dad is forcing his religion on me, it starts developing some hatred to the idea of god. not just christian or buddhist or catholic.

And getting back to David, I did feel that by the end of his speech, it's almost like I just got out of church of something. It's not that he's trying to convert or anything, but maybe just because the last time I went to church is in 2001. So it's been 8 years since I've heard the word god being spoken 20 times in 10 minutes.

And like you said about David wishes that god will walk with others as he has with him, i felt he was like praying to us (to me) and because i don't pray at all, that makes me feel like it's preachy or something. Cause as a guy who don't believe in god and don't believe in the point of praying, when a guy prays for me, it just doesn't do anything for me. I know it's rude, but there's this one time when a friend of mine prays for me hoping that god finds me... and he was praying right there in front of me and saying it to me and all.. I just left man... It's actually sort of an annoying subject to me.

So I guess my POV why I would rather that David not speak so much about god in his speech but i didn't think he was out of line or anything. Just that it's really not for me.

[TonyMontana]

Okay, I can see your point.

Let me explain my end without derailing this thread.
I was raised in a Roman Catholic Church in a Muslim country. My dad is Roman Catholic and my mom is Christian Orthodox, I went through everything, you name it I did it. Sunday school, ultar boy etc.
I didnt know God until I turned 16. I came from a great, a very well off family living in a very nice area of Southern Cali, but I couldnt leave my old friend and the hood I grew up in. I got in a lot of trouble doing stupid things and I went south in my life. LONGGGGGGG STORY, but I found God and I was BORN AGAIN, and ever since then I have been blessed by GOD in so many different ways, many ways.

I dont and I wont sit here and try to convert you or anyone else, if your fatih changes and if it is ment for you to find God then it will happen one way or another, but think about this.

David couldve stood up there and said nothing but thanking everyone for their supprot and guidance etc etc etc, but he has found a spritual love and guidance through God, his God and his beliefs. He feels that he is blessed and happy in his stand with his GOD not the material things or his fame. Think about it, you might not see it, but people live an empty life with nothing in their lives, no meaning, no happiness, no love.

David couldve thanked everyone and walked off the stage and that was the end of it, but he showed he grartitude and his love and he shared his joy with others.
What is wrong with that? Imagine if he wouldve said............. "I did this all on my own" "Nobody did ish for me" then what would he come off as arrogant or selfish. I bet you he would. So if someone gives praise and appreciation to his God and his beliefs then its wrong or he's preaching.
I really dont see it that way, not because Im a Chrisitan. Its because its a wonderfull feeling and its shows how humble you are that you can actually stand in front of millions of people and give glory to God.

Again Christian or not, he did the right thing for sharing his testemony and gave thanks to everyone including his savior. Nothing wrong with that. If anything it shows how he said he couldnt have done anything without his God and it proves that he is blessed, not on his own but by the grace of God.

I'll end this by saying. If I die today I would rather have a feeling and a hope that one day I will stand before a God, A God that I know has died for me and my sins as well as other people and that one day I might see him and be alongside of him in enternal life, than to die with an empty feeling and no hope that this is life I lived on earth is the best thing that I have lived for. Not me brah. I would rather take my chances with the hopes of seeing MY GOD and My savior which happens to be Jesus Christ than having no hope at all, but thats just me.

[co_laper]

I don't think that's just you... I'm pretty sure when it comes to not believing in god and all, I'm in the minority. Of all of my friends, I only know 2 people who don't believe in god. That's like 2 out of atleast 500 people. So I'm like 0.2 percent or something like that.

But back to David's speech. I wasn't saying that he shouldn't have said anything about god or not thanking god. I definitely don't mean that he should be thanking himself even if he didn't believe in god.

Like Jordan's speech, he didn't mention god at all did he? or if he did, probably like once or twice. It's just that as an atheist, when i listen to a speech that contains the word god over and over and over again, it does comes out to me as being preachy and that i was just at a church. Again, I'm not saying David shouldn't have done that because I get he's very religous and it's not like I'm trying to convert anyone to being an atheist. It's just that for me, i'm not used to hearing it as much as david said it.

But as far as not believing in god, i sure don't live an empty life or empty feeling like you said. I will say that that's not the first time I hear someone said that. A lot of religous people think that if you don't believe in god and there is no heaven and stuff, then there is no point in living in this life and it's empty like you're saying. the only difference is what happens after life and how we were made and all. I don't know how i got here. Evidence tells me I'm the evolution of a monkey. Well.. they got proof so how can I say they're wrong? and I don't know what happens after life. Science says I'll turn into dirt and be at one with crap and perhaps reborn as a coconut tree. but what happens after life does nothing for me in this life. i live my life as full as i can knowing that this is probably my only life and that there is no after life. So everything I do in this life is to enjoy this life to the best I can. I don't do things with the hope that it'll have an effect to the after life. that's not how an atheist would think. the idea of heaven or hell is fiction for me. they're like Hellboy II or Santa Clause...

[Donald Kaufman]

Come on T.K how did he try to convert people, he shared his testemony about how God has helped him and has walked with him through every part of his life and he wishes that God will walk with others as he has with him and his life.

To me thats a man giving thanks and prasies to God, thats all. I actually thought it was very classy and very humlbe of him to share that. Am I religious, sure I am. I am a Christian, not a perfect one but I praise God everyday of my life for the most simplist things in life, like life itself.

Yet I wont sit there and force others to have faith or believe in God. Thats up to you and God will find his way to you one way or another. But again I really didnt see him preaching, if anything he was very humble and very apprecitive towards God as well as other good people that have tocuhed his life.

Well I wasn't specifically calling out Admiral for trying to convert people - not at all. But I find that most religious types do try to do it one way or another.

Robinson's speech was a bit preachy, but he's passionate about his faith and hey - it was his HOF speech, and I think it was a good one. He was the picture of class and humility.

That's cool that you're religious TM, I completely respect that.

Man, it must be a slow offseason if all we can do is rap about religion!! Bring on the season I say!

[co_laper]

My name is... ck ck ck slim laper...

[TonyMontana]

I don't think that's just you...

As far as the comperison of M.Js speech and Davids. Go on the the Cs board everybody called M.J arrogant and a douche bag since they claim all he did in his speech is bring up people to bash them later. They claimed that he called those people out as a stepping stool to get where he is..
All I saw was him sharing his life and bringing people up in his life that inspired him into being more competetive and challenging him to become better and stronger.

On the other hand thats what made D.R unique casue he basically came out and gave props love and respect to his God and his beliefs for giving him the insperation in life every step of the way.

See the difference in the two people.

Also Im sorry if I said that if you dont believe in God that you have an empty life. I didnt mean it like that at all, I ment it as (Me personally) that since I have found God I have seen a lot of beautiful things in my life, a lot of blessings and I can see better things to come once I pass on to the next life with hopes of a better life to come than whats on earth here. Im no better than you and your not better than me, we are all equal. Im just sharing my testemony with you, nothing more nothing less.

Like I said if it was ment to be then God will find his way into your heart and trust me he will. As far what I have noticed about your post is I believe you are rejecting God because everyone is trying to force religion on you, but then again I could be wrong.

Anyhow brah I dont know and we have never met, but it was cool sharing with you as well as T.K on here. I hope one day good and better things will come to you and my prayers are with everyone including you. Take it for what its worth, just a bro giving out love.............. NO HOMO.

That's cool that you're religious TM, I completely respect that.

Man, it must be a slow offseason if all we can do is rap about religion!! Bring on the season I say!

Thanks brah, I mean Im religious and I have my faith, but trust me if you would ever meet me in the streets you would never guess that I have a strong relationship with God. I probably would be the last person you would think is a believer, but thats the miracle of God.
If he can take me a child that was always angry, mad and always got in trouble I MEAN EVER TYPE of trouble and convert me into a MAN with faith, love, respect and morals then that is truly a miracle......

As far as the offseason.......... I feel you on that. I was actually telling my girl that last night, and she replied........ "Dont worry its around the corner" .

[co_laper]

Haha.. that's cool. It's actually kinda nice too talking about religion with someone without them trying to force it on me. That rarely happens to me.

[SApuro_]

David Robinson is a pimp next topic please.