Is my Wrestling coach too religious?

Question

Hello, just so you know I'm an Atheist, and for those who don't know that means i don't believe in a God. I go to a public school obviously funded by tax money. I am a Junior in High School.

Our team shirts have verses from the bible and every practice / meet or even tournaments he has us hold hands and pray.

I don't want to confront him about anything because he is around 60 years old and drives three hours to the school for work every morning, meaning he is up at three. I have a lot of respect for him and don't want to hurt his feelings.

This was never a problem for me until today when he had us watch clips of the passion (movie with Mel Gibson) which made me late for a group project.

I need your advice on what to do. Religion is not allowed to be funded through tax money or to be practiced in groups on school hours. I don't want to tell the principal and be hated by the team :[

Hello, just so you know I'm an Atheist, and for those who don't know that means i don't believe in a God. I go to a public school obviously funded by tax money. I am a Junior in High School.

Our team shirts have verses from the bible and every practice / meet or even tournaments he has us hold hands and pray.

I don't want to confront him about anything because he is around 60 years old and drives three hours to the school for work every morning, meaning he is up at three. I have a lot of respect for him and don't want to hurt his feelings.

This was never a problem for me until today when he had us watch clips of the passion (movie with Mel Gibson) which made me late for a group project.

I need your advice on what to do. Religion is not allowed to be funded through tax money or to be practiced in groups on school hours. I don't want to tell the principal and be hated by the team :[

EDITED ---

Thank you all, and we are not a small district it is Avondale of Michigan.

Answer 1

If you don't act, you get what you deserve.

This is clearly unconstitutional.

Answer 2

Unfortunately it sounds like he is being over zealous. If this was a Religious School and could understand it, but since it is a Public School, why is something not being done about it.
Public School has many different religious denominations and one particular Religion should not be preaching, as he is.

What about the rest of the team, what do they think. Discuss it with your parents and get the other children, who agree with you to talk to their parents.

Then get one or two parents to go to the Principle and state their case.

If I was a parent, I would have definitely objected that he had shown the Mel Gibson movie. I would not go and see it because it was so very blood thirsty and high school kids should not be made to sit through something like that, if they chose not to.

This is quite confusing, because everything you state, the team shirts and the prayers, connect with a Religious School and not a Public School.

I do not understand why nothing has been said about this before. You cannot push one religion on everybody, especially in a public area.

Answer 3

Call the nearest branch of the ACLU and tell them your story. If they agree to investigate get an attorney and sue the school for upsetting you and violating your constitutional rights .

Edit in repsonse to robert h's answer :
Just try wearing a "Religion is Myth" shirt when you show up for practice and see how understanding the coach and his followers are . You shouldn't be put in this position . Call the ACLU !

Answer 4

First talk to the other guys in your team about it because if you can confront this as a group its better than you coming accross as the "one crazy one opposed to it".. Also once you find others in your team (im sure there is at least 1), be honest and discuss it with your principal or something. I'm somewhat conservative but I am Jewish so things like this do offend me...

Answer 5

"I don't want to confront him about anything because he is around 60 years old and drives three hours to the school for work every morning, meaning he is up at three. I have a lot of respect for him and don't want to hurt his feelings."

If you don't want to hurt him, then don't follow the advise of these troublemakers that replied to your question.

As a Christian and a father of a state high school wrestling champion, I can assure you that your coach is not harming you. He is trying to do what he thinks is best for you.

If you don't want to hurt him, then speak to him, respectfully. Atheists can be loving too, right?

I think if you are willing to have a give and take conversation, listen to his points and consider them. But ask him to listen to yours, and try to be persuasive. You might be surprised at the outcome.

Obviously, if he is driving three hours to school and coaching you guys -- he loves you guys and wants to do what's best for you.

It's obvious you like this guy, so don't follow the advise of these troublemakers. They want you to behave like a baby. Instead be a man. Your coach wants to see you be a man. Why do you think is is coaching wrestling?

Man are not overly sensitive to hearing things they disagree with. You may still be required to here some Christian viewpoints. What's the big deal.

Talk straight, but respectfully, listen, consider, -- and you will feel a man and be able to hold your head high.

Answer 6

You can tell the principal without everyone else knowing about it. The fact of the matter is your coach is breaking the law and can lose his job over it. Your principal will most likely discipline him and ask you to keep quiet about it to keep the school board from finding out about it.

Answer 7

I am a christian, and I sincerely desire that you would one day come to the saving knowledge that Jesus Christ loves you and died to reconcile you to God.

However, I think we all should obey the laws of our land and I think we as christians hurt our testimony and misrepresent our Lord when we break laws to accomplish even a worthy agenda.

As a christian, your coach knows that God establishes the worlds governments, leaders, and allows whatever laws rule the land. So as a christian, He should be praying for you and living a christ-like lifestyle in front of you. But, he should not be breaking the laws to witness to you.

You should give him the courtesy of first talking to him man to man in private if you respect him that much.

Answer 8

Yes, he is way too religious and what he is doing is ILLEGAL.

You need to stand up for yourself!! Stop wearing shirts with bible verses, and refuse to pray each and every time.

Make sure you report him to the school (and school district) administrations. If you have any trouble with them, contact the ACLU and the State.

Good luck!

Answer 9

I WILL TELL YOU THAT I AM AN ATHEIST AS WELL. SEEING THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR HIM, AND HE PROBABLY REALLY ENJOYS HIS JOB,THOUGH YOU COULD MAKE A VALID BIG DEAL OF THIS AND IM SURE WIN YOUR CASE. I DONT THINK YOU SHOULD FOR THESE REASONS I JUST STATED. ALSO I THINK YOU PROBABLY WOULD HURT HIS FEELINGS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE TIMES TO MAKE A STAND FOR ONES FEELINGS AND OTHER TIMES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AS DISTASTFULL AS I UNDERSTAND FOR YOU THIS IS. I WOULD JUST LET THIS ONE GO. BEST OF LUCK BOB

Answer 10

Why do you think he does what he is doing? Do you not think he is aware of the consequences of what he is doing? Listen he is trying to help you. What if you are wrong and this man is right? He is not trying to harm you! What you need to do is listen to him with an open mind,he just may be right.

Answer 11

Anonymously send a letter to the board of
education.

Or, you can be brave and follow in the footsteps of
Matthew LaClair.

"IF WE DO NOT STAND UP FOR OUR CIVIL
LIBERTIES, WE WILL LOSE THEM."