'faith day' at Dodger Stadium (christianization of pro sports)

[donsu]

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-krattenmaker18aug18,1,7138088.story?track=rss&ctrack=3&cset=true


Should God go to the ballgame?
Events such as 'faith day' at Dodger Stadium signal the Christianization of pro sports.


On Sunday, Christian baseball fans will stream into Dodger Stadium for what is becoming more common fare at professional ballparks across the country -- "faith day."

Following the Dodgers vs. Rockies game, fans with special tickets will gather in a corner of the parking lot for a concert by the Christian rock band Hawk Nelson, an appearance by characters from the "Veggie Tales" Christian television program and testimonials by several devout Dodgers. The purpose, according to event organizer Brent High, is to promote the Gospel of Jesus.

High and his Christian events-promotion company, Third Coast Sports, have been organizing faith days and faith nights around minor league baseball for years. They reached the major leagues last season with three events at Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves, and will be in 10 major league cities this season. The event at Dodger Stadium will be the first in L.A.

These events, which blend religion and commerce, are the product of a partnership between High's company and host teams. Third Coast undertakes energetic outreach to evangelical churches, getting baseball-loving church members (and, more important, their unconverted invitees) to turn out for the game and a special religious program. Believers nourish their faith and perhaps extend it to others, and teams welcome the typical surge in ticket sales and action at the merchandise and food stands. The result, according to High, "is happy teams, happy churches."
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"blend religion and commerce"

being a con job, all religions do 'commerce'

[RB TexLa]

1. Entertainment enterprises do whatever it takes to put asses in the seats

Someone comes and says they can help do that, unless it's a group of pyromaniacs or some other hated or dangerous group it's going to be done.

[liberalmuse]

2. I like how God will help a sports team...

or a movie actor, but fuck those starving kids in Africa.

[maveric]

3. And the rival San Diego Padres are having a "Gay Day".

Which really got O'Reilly and Hannity all in a spin.

Would you rather attend "Gay Day" or "Faith Day" at the ballpark?

[kenny blankenship]

4. That's easy: FAITH DAY!

I like to go to fucked-up places to watch freaks in action.

[sarcasmo]

8. I choose Gay Day.

[Mountainman]

5. They have gay days too in San Diego. If you don't want to go don't go.

It would by nice to have a tolerance day where all types of believers and non believers could go and love each other. Never happen!

[prole_for_peace]

6. people complain about "gay day" trying to force "the gay" on them

isn't this the same thing? trying to force THEIR (christian's) lifestyle choices on others.

"those christians can live any way they want (in private) but something like this...its just trying to make me accept their choice and i don't like it....it is an immoral and evil way to live."
:sarcasm:

[sarcasmo]

7. self delete

[KiraBS]

9. They should try that in Britain...

The soccer fans could do with a new reason to riot and fight...
They should go to Anfield in Liverpool, White Hart Lane in North London, with its big Jewish neighbour hood or better still in Scotland in Parkhead and tell the Catholics of that gentle city called Glasgow that support them, how to find Jesus.

[valerief]

10. It's a good thing I hate spectator sports nowadays. The Ancient Romans knew how to do it right. nt

[tinymontgomery]

11. Another good

Another good reason not to spend my money on sports games or crap.