What's All This Fuss About Jesus?

Well, by now, everybody knows.

God took the Patriots....and a whole lot of points.

Yep, Tim Tebow, the Denver Broncos, and probably the city of Nazareth lost big last Saturday and I guess that means this media frenzy is over for now.  Praying can resume when training camp re-opens in July.

Frankly, I do believe, in my heart of hearts, that the young quarterback doesn't just wait for a touchdown to hit his knees and talk to the guy upstairs.  This is a kid who has been raised with religion and is still incredibly in touch with his faith.

The horror.

I was astounded by the bashing Tebow took over his thanking God every time he managed to allude some tackle for a score.  How dare he rub our faces into his beliefs?  Some of these comments come from the same people who are always hysterically amused at the gyrations of some players in the end zone after scoring a touchdown.  Did you see the way some of those common ass wipes on the New York Giants carried on during their victory against the Green Bay Packers?

Yeah, we live in a world where it's okay to be a moron, but not a person who "talks" to God.

Shameful.

And, as if this is something new?

Last week, the MLB Network was running a lot of clips from the 1988 World Series, which was the last time the Los Angeles Dodgers played in (and won) the Fall Classic.  Orel Hershiser is pitching and gets the last out in Game Five to close down the series victory.  So, what does he do?  He hits his knees and prays.  For perhaps no longer than ten seconds, but he genuflects nonetheless.  A private moment between him and his Lord and Master---the one not named Tommy Lasorda.

I don't remember the flurry of disdain upon Hershiser.  As a matter of fact, I don't recall a single word of dissent.  Now, I'm fully expecting that history will repeat itself if current Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw ever gets to achieve the same feat.  Kershaw's deeply religious and even goes to Africa every January to work with his Christian missonary wife amongst some needy villages.  Clayton will no doubt thank God as well.  Expect hand wringing to ensue.

So, what's changed in the 26 years between Orel Hershiser and Tim Tebow?  Little, you say?  A lot, I say.

Let's face it.  America's almost maniacal need to be all things for all people has now fatally backfired in all of our faces.  Suddenly, you cannot practice your own Christian religion for fear of offending somebody else.  Because, you know, we need to be conscious of that mosque being built around the corner.  Or the temple that is meeting in the basement next door.  Every religion but Christianity seems to be getting a hall pass to roam the campus freely.

A young quarterback kneeling down in the end zone?  The nerve.

This all comes on the heels of my own Christmas Eve service at church, where my screwball-of-a-liberal pastor felt a need to include elements of interfaith in the celebration.  Come on, I don't begrudge anybody's religious beliefs, but I'd also appreciate it if you didn't infringe upon mine either.  I'll make a deal, please.  You stay out of my way on Christmas Eve and I'll steer clear on Yom Kippur and any of those Allah-based holy days that are too numerous to mention.

Every one asks "can we all get along?"  I ask "can't we just leave each other alone?"

Don't get me wrong.  Tebow is obviously a Fundamentalist Christian and those folks can get in your face a bit.  Some of the "John 3:16" coincidences were dragged out ad nauseum.  Gee, did you know that Tebow had $3.16 in his locker at the time he scored the winning touchdown?  Come on.  Enough.  And, personally, I do take issue with some of the basic tenets of their faith, especially in regard to ethnicitiy, sexual preference, and abortion.  And I certainly can make similar arguments with other religions as well.  Last time I heard, those terrorists weren't exclaiming "I'm coming home to you, Jesus" when they flew those planes into the Twin Towers on 9/11.

But that, my friends, is old business.  Once again...

There is no one single religion that is right or wrong.  It all works for the same purpose.  To help keep somebody grounded and on the righteous path, regardless of who is doing the final judgment at the end of your mortal days. 

Isn't that what it's supposed to be?

You want to achieve world harmony?  Let everybody do what they need to do.  In their own way. 

I pray that this can happens in my lifetime. 

No, wait.  Can I say that?

Dinner last night:  Tortellini with chicken and pesto.