O-Sen: Minimal fallout expected for Dwight Howard

[maginno]

Anyone can mess up. Dwight has taken a very public stance as a Christian Athlete. Its clear he considers himself a missionary of sorts and theres nothing wrong with wanting your life to stand for more than putting a round ball into a hoop. Dwight's bigger failure will be if he doesn't step to the plate and address the inconsistency. If he does that its over and move on. If he doesn't and claims its just a private issue he is within his rights but then you would have to question how serious he was about being the light he said he wanted to be.

[MarleyMon81]

From the Sports by Brooks website, a pic of Dwight and his son...



http://sportsbybrooks.com/dwight-howard ... hood-15417

[Simplicity0]

Personally, I thought the sticker with the bible quote and the cross in the logo were overboard. Last year I think I said Dwight was trying to push Christianity down everyone's throats even though he knew he had non-Christian fans. He's calmed down with that, though. But even with that, I don't look at him as a hypocrite. He's 22, it happens. We know that Dwight will be a good father and like craig said, it's none of our business. As long as it doesn't effect his play, I'm good.

[timgator]

Guys, I hate to play the devil advocate here, but I disagree with the majority of the posts about this subject. Dwight made this a matter to the general public when he started preaching about Christianity to everyone. Had Dwight kept his personal beliefs to his church and himself, then this would not be an issue at all. It's also interesting how it appears that the ones who are forgiving Dwight the most on various message boards are users who claim themselves to be Christian. From a person cynical about organized religion like myself or from a person of a different faith, can't you see how we could see Dwight as a hypocrite? I hope Dwight learns from this lesson and realizes that if he keeps certain issues like religious beliefs private then no one would make a big deal out of a private issue such as having a child out of wed-lock.

Dwight certainly is a hypocrite if he believes the Bible to be the truth, but that shouldn't come as a surprise because every Christian is a hypocrite -- though the Bible tells us how to be sinless, not one is without sin. We all deserve rebuke and shame for our sins, Dwight is no exception, but the good news is that God showed His grace by giving His son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sins. And as Christians, we love and forgive just as Jesus loves and forgives. Hopefully, people will see that Dwight is no less of a Christian simply because of one public sin. He was forgiven of that sin and every other sin before he was even born. As a matter of fact, everyone is forgiven, but only when we first acknowledge that we are sinners and that Jesus is our one and only savior.

Being a Christian does not an easy life make. Dwight knows this, so I'm sure he'll be fine. It's good that people care enough about his faith to help keep him accountable. I hope he continues to profess God's love.

[DontPushMe]

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As opposed to that agnostic crap. I have no problem with you having your beliefs but it pisses me off to hear Christainity constantly attacked and called crap. Why don't you go out and tell people that Islam is crap and see what happens?

Agnostics are by far the most looked down on, so stop your whining about any type of anti-christian bias, you must watch fox news if you honestly think there is an anti-christian bias in THIS of all countries. I could care less about islam because its not crammed down my throat everywhere i go, but when you see, for example, a christian theocrat actually having a chance at winning an election in a country that prides itself on separation of church and state, its pretty annoying.

[maginno]

I could care less about islam because its not crammed down my throat everywhere i go.

Weak throat? Open mouth syndrome? Never could understand that rational. People go about in their life and state what they believe in. Provided no one is holding you physically down and shouting in your ears I've always considered it weak minded to classify people stating their views as "cramming down throats". Its a democracy with free speech. I live with it. I can kind of get it with the guys that go door to door knocking on your door but outside of them theres no good point there. now when a group of extremist Islamists run an airplane into a skycscraper in order to make their voice heard I'd say thats cramming down the throat but you could care less about Islam. Big chip on the shoulder there

but when you see, for example, a christian theocrat actually having a chance at winning an election in a country that prides itself on separation of church and state, its pretty annoying.

If the person has a chance its because there are enough people to vote for him. Isn't that right? Thats democracy and THATS what we pride our selves on.

[thefranchise2k5]

Well, it's scary when candidates policies infringe on the idea of separation of church and state. Someone like Huckabee wants to make this country into a religious country which would be scary.

[lovehoops01]

Well, I would say that we are a religious country anyway, even if we do not all belong to the same religion. One of the founding principles of this country was freedom of religion. The Founding Fathers just didn't want the government to force all people to follow a religion established by the government, which they had in the Church of England -- or to have to have a religion at all.

If we were not a religious country, there would not be as much discussion on this topic.

For those who do follow Christianity, though, there is no doubt that God recognizes that we are humans and humans will sin but that we can be forgiven. However, He did not set up humans to be the people doing the judging, and I think we should remember that and just move on. It is none of our business really, and babies always are a blessing, even though they often make things more difficult. Love that baby, Dwight, and take good care of him.

[DontPushMe]

Well, I would say that we are a religious country anyway, even if we do not all belong to the same religion. One of the founding principles of this country was freedom of religion. The Founding Fathers just didn't want the government to force all people to follow a religion established by the government, which they had in the Church of England.

Separation of church and state means the government half of the state has no ties to the religion half. You saying we dont all belong to the same religion leaves out the 14% of americans who arent part of any religion. Athiesm isnt a religion, neither is agnosticism.

Tell me, do you reject evolution like huckabee does? Any of you?

The FACT that we have proven that the earth is older than 6000 years, and really any basic law of physics or any science is enough to prove that the bible is mostly fictional. So how can you trust a book to tell you what happens when you die if that same book talks about people living inside of whales, noahs arc, a 6000 year old earth, selling your children into slavery, etc...

[lovehoops01]

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Separation of church and state means the government half of the state has no ties to the religion half. You saying we dont all belong to the same religion leaves out the 14% of americans who arent part of any religion. Athiesm isnt a religion, neither is agnosticism.

Tell me, do you reject evolution like huckabee does? Any of you?

The FACT that we have proven that the earth is older than 6000 years, and really any basic law of physics or any science is enough to prove that the bible is mostly fictional. So how can you trust a book to tell you what happens when you die if that same book talks about people living inside of whales, noahs arc, a 6000 year old earth, selling your children into slavery, etc...

As you can see if you'll go back and check, I modified my statement to say that those rights also give people the right not to believe. I also think the Founding Fathers wanted to prevent the state from allowing people to take away their right to follow a religion. I do not think this is the place to debate religion or politics or whether people should or should not believe in either. I come here to avoid those debates, and you're probably not going to change anyone's mind anyway. We have enough trouble having civil discussions on sports.

[Duradero]

what a sad reality you live in if you reject religion...

[TheRevTy]

Friends, Magic Fans, Countrymen (and all those from outside the country), lend me your ears...

That is the extent of my Shakespeare knowledge, and I thank you for the oppurtunity to use some High School junior year English. Now onto the good stuff.

Dwight Howard may or may not have at some point tried to, as it was put, "shove Christianity down people's throats." That much is unclear, and is unfortunately a possibility. A fact remains that one of his closest friends on the team is Hedo Turkoglu, from the country of Turkey, which boasts a largely Muslim population. As to whether Hidayet is actually Muslim, I do not know. But I digress.

I recently encountered a fellow in a mall who was handing out tracts. He gave me one, and I was incredibly dismayed to discover the words held on said tract were appalling. It talked of Hell, hatred, and sin. At the end, it mentioned what we Christians call "Gospel," which is the good news of salvation, but that was not the focus of the work. I was livid. I approached the fellow and introduced myself and told him my religious background (for those who are wondering, I am studying to become a Lutheran pastor currently). I then went on to explain to him how I think tracts of this nature (and tracts of any sort, really) tend to do a lot of harm. No one takes well to hard-sell (the act of attempting to force someone into accepting any sort of service offered). This method tends to give the impression that the Christian feels they are better than everyone else. No no, far from the case.

Christians, and Dwight Howard included in this, are human beings, and as such, are far short of perfection, and can never achieve perfection. This goes back to Adam and Eve, kind of long and involved, if you have questions, e-mail me, I'd love to have a back and forth. At any rate, Christians should NEVER give the impression that they are better. To any of you who have ever been the inconvenienced recipients of a Hellfire and Brimstone tract, I sincerely and truly apologize. Christians are not better than you. You are not better than Christians. We are all in the same sinking boat, doomed for the depths. All Christianity is is a rescue boat, available for all eternity. So please, don't think Dwight Howard is better than you (unless you refer to basketball, and unless you are among the select few, he is better than you, sorry). And if you are Christian, forgive him. He sinned. So do you. Thank God for God.

Sorry for the length, got on a roll. If you actually read it all, thanks and your medal will be in the mail shortly.

[TheRevTy]

One final thought: how many of you have been to the mall, and had those people who sell that weird fingernail stuff harass you to buy their product. It always starts the same "Excuse me, sir, may I ask you a question...?" I'll be honest, they caught me off-guard, and I ended up getting a fingernail polished, and truth be told, that junk works pretty well. However, I did not, and will not, buy that product, simply because the salesperson made me extremely uncomfortable. The same can be said for many people and Christianity. The product may be sound, but if it is forced on you, you will never consider it. It is only natural. So again, I apologize on behalf of Christianity. We are, after all, sinners.

Also, DontPushMe, if you really would like to hear as to why I personally believe in the Bible, feel free to e-mail me. I'll do my best not to give a whole bunch of irrational theological arguments.

revty77 @ yahoo.com

[Simplicity0]

what a sad reality you live in if you reject religion...

Huh? Explain. Some might say people who believe in religion don't live in reality at all.

[The Letter J]

This should point you in the right direction:

http://www.gotquestions.org/sex-before-marriage.html

See, that is what I am talking about. NOT ONE of those verses refers to premarital sex. They only refer to sexual immorality, which is never referred to as premarital sex. They only refer to adultry or perversion. NEVER is premarital sex mentioned.

[mhectorgato]

See, that is what I am talking about. NOT ONE of those verses refers to premarital sex. They only refer to sexual immorality, which is never referred to as premarital sex. They only refer to adultry or perversion. NEVER is premarital sex mentioned.

afaik, relations between non-married people in the Bible is considered immorality or fornication. If one of the parties is married and it's not with their mate, then it's adultery.

If relations outside of marriage is not being referred to in Biblical verses, then what else would fall under the term immorality or fornication?

The Bible uses other terms when referring to homosexuality and it also explicitly refers to bestiality, so these are not being specifically refered to here.

[The Letter J]

afaik, relations between non-married people in the Bible is considered immorality or fornication. If one of the parties is married and it's not with their mate, then it's adultery.

If relations outside of marriage is not being referred to in Biblical verses, then what else would fall under the term immorality or fornication?

The Bible uses other terms when referring to homosexuality and it also explicitly refers to bestiality, so these are not being specifically refered to here.

Verse please...

[Dunkin On Ya]

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Verse please...

Here you go...

http://www.new-life.net/premarital.htm

[DontPushMe]

what a sad reality you live in if you reject religion...

Yeah, its a tough life being restrained by facts and data.

Sorry if some of us dont need sky fairies to tell us how to live our life. Its ok though, ill let you live your little fantasy reality while i live in the real world.

[mhectorgato]

Verse please...

1 Cor 7:2 - Paul recommends marriage because of the prevalence of fornication. So this sets the definition of what fornication is - relations outside of marriage, be it pre-marital or extramarital.

* I don't want to join in this thread's religious debate, so I am going to bow out of further discussions. For me, there are times and places for which are more appropriate to do so.*