Football Players and Prayer

Re “God Wants Me to Make a First Down,” Column Left, Dec. 30:

A skeptic like Robert Scheer, who is not certain if there is a God, seems to have a better understanding of the concept of theism than most professing Christians. Consider the testimonies of Randall Cunningham, Tony Fernandez, Ross Verba and Mike Ditka; it is confusing whether they mean that God exists to serve them or they exist to serve God.

Scheer asks, isn’t it demeaning to sell religion like sneakers? It depends on to whom it is demeaning. Most secularist spectators of sports may not even care. The Christians, however, ought to be concerned.

Cynical writers make fun of religion because the religious advocates fail to give a rational response to the secular assault. Thanks to the anti-intellectualism that has pervaded modern-day Christianity, evangelism is perceived to be a charismatic rhetoric consisting of signs and wonders rather than reason.

ROB CASTRO

Chino Hills

* Since Scheer chose to point out what he sees as some of the absurdities involving professional athletes and prayer, it would have been nice to mention some of the more noble reasons players pray.

I am sure that sincere and mature players are more concerned with praying that all players play to their full potential and that the players on both teams are spared any serious injuries. A good example was when Reggie Brown, a Detroit Lion linebacker, suffered a serious spinal injury Dec. 21. Players from both teams knelt in prayer while he was being attended to by team physicians. Who won the game was irrelevant.

BILL STAMPS

Cerritos

* Thank God for inspiring an excellent column. Well, give Bob Scheer a little credit, too.

QUENTIN C. STODOLA

Redondo Beach