School mascot: Demons

Discussion in 'Christian Issues' started by Brooke, Sep 17, 2012.

  1. seekingmyLord

    seekingmyLord Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2007
    Messages:
    1,260
    Likes Received:
    5
    These names probably aren't meant to be taken too literally or seriously...that is the point, in part. Also, as Brooke pointed out, these are not schools receiving tax money so that the government can add the stipulation against anything religious.

    Back to my thoughts (being a political fanatic and all), if Christians say we are offended by the use of names with religious connotations, then we are intolerant, but if Indians are offended by teams using names like "redskins," they are not being intolerant. Yet, we are supposed to be empathetic, so if we say they should not take names with Indian connotations too literally or seriously, we are intolerant. There is a double standard here where the Christians lose on both sides and are even shot with arrows in the back by some of our own.

    The world tells us how tolerant we Christians should be using Jesus' teachings against us, usually out of context and inappropriately, while not applying the same to themselves. Unbelievers are often changing the rules of the game so that Christians cannot possibly be tolerant enough to please the world and our Lord at the same time. We must choose whom we will serve.

    Where in the Bible is it written that we are called to be tolerant of the devil or any evil symbols as long as they are trivialized by the world? Can we as Christians visualize Jesus dressing up like the devil because we know He does not really mean anything by it? I am thinking that nowhere in heaven is it considered cute or trivial to mess with anything symbolic of evil at any time. So, if God isn't into it, why would I want to be?
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2012
  2. dawnhodge

    dawnhodge New Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2012
    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    0
    I have to say that in my small southern town, if I were to wear a symbol of my faith in public I would probably be stoned, just like the old days. I agree SOME Christians are tolerant, so are SOME of every religion. I respect everyone's right to believe what they wish and practice in any way they see fit. This great country was founded on freedom of religion. After all, it isn't any skin off my back no matter what anyone else does. What really gets to me is that the devil and demon mascots are being portrayed in some cases as our goat headed God Baphomet or Pan. This, to me, is unintentional slander out of ignorance and hate that happened EONS ago. Loads of people would be ticked if a school had a "thug" mascot and used Jesus image or a "lady of the night" and used Virgin Mary. It's the same in this case. I agree that true demons are NOTHING to be trifled with. We all, of every faith, should be more sensitive to others feelings and learn to get along. From the fingertips of a Pagan, Blessed be, love and light!
     
  3. Cornish Steve

    Cornish Steve Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2009
    Messages:
    3,534
    Likes Received:
    7
    This is very sad to hear. Jesus never slammed or mocked people who were not his followers. Instead, he criticized those who pretended to be God's followers but, in their heart of hearts, were not. Those who would look down on you, or worse, are not truly following their master.
     
  4. Cornish Steve

    Cornish Steve Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2009
    Messages:
    3,534
    Likes Received:
    7
    To those characterized by pride, there is nothing more galling than to be trivialized and laughed at.
     
  5. seekingmyLord

    seekingmyLord Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2007
    Messages:
    1,260
    Likes Received:
    5
    That is not accurate. Jesus did "slam" some who were not His followers: Pharisees, scribes, and the merchants at the temple. He also pointed out people's sins, even strangers as with the woman at the well. He did not stone anyone however. I think it would be quite a different world if every Christian treated it as Jesus did: Satan was His enemy and the whole world was His missionary field to bring people into a relationship with God.
     
  6. seekingmyLord

    seekingmyLord Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2007
    Messages:
    1,260
    Likes Received:
    5

    That may be true but you did not answer my question.
     
  7. Cornish Steve

    Cornish Steve Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2009
    Messages:
    3,534
    Likes Received:
    7
    Well, we are called to live at peace with all men (and I assume women too!) and, in general, to live low-key lives - which implies that it's wrong to rile others by imposing our personal/political views on them. The Bible says nothing about being tolerant or intolerant of symbols that are trivialized by the world - so we must use our conscience and own good judgment. Clearly, from this thread, different people will arrive at different conclusions - which is quite OK.
     
  8. seekingmyLord

    seekingmyLord Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2007
    Messages:
    1,260
    Likes Received:
    5
    It implies? :roll: God's Word can be used as a mass of implications to say just about whatever you want!

    Not to rile you up, but I could say that it also implies we should only pay taxes when someone accuses us of not paying. I could say that it also implies that we can cast lots to determine who is the bad guy. I could say that it implies that you should give everything you own to the church to prove your faith and love for God.

    Sorry, but living the Christian life low-key is not what I get out of the Bible. Jesus was definitely not the low-key type, nor was John the Baptist, Peter, or Paul and many others before and after them. We are called to do different things, but there is agreement in One Purpose.

    What is OK with you or me or others is not necessarily pleasing to God. People will always arrive at different conclusions if they base their decisions on their own conscience and good judgement, even Christians. We all fall short of the glory of God, of knowing Him and His will fully. However, I think it is not possible for those who ask seeking the Lord for His answers, rather than on their own understanding, to rule their lives to hear widely differing conclusions from Him.

    As I said previously, back to the OP, I think if public schools are sterilized of anything religious, then I would think that they would also be opposed to using symbols or caricatures of spiritual beings based on religious beliefs. It is their own rules that they are violating, as I see it. If there can be demons on signs at the school, then why not pictures of Jesus too? Logically, one cannot be acceptable and the other not.
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2012
  9. dawnhodge

    dawnhodge New Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2012
    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    0
    This answers your question seekingmylord. There are not depictions of just one person, how could you have a team of St. Peter's? It wouldn't make sense. However, a team of saints, angels, devils, demons, ect. does make sense. Showing the characteristics of an occupation, creature, or other group instead of a bunch of clones of one person or thing. See what I mean? Like the Lumber Jacks vs. the Paul Bunyuns.
     
  10. seekingmyLord

    seekingmyLord Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2007
    Messages:
    1,260
    Likes Received:
    5

    I appreciate your thoughts on this. As I see it, the concern is not between one particular figure or a generalized number. The OP was about a public school and my point is religious figures vs. any other non-religious figures as team names and mascots. Steve brought into the discussion professional teams, perhaps even some colleges, where people can choose not to attend or support the schools, teams, and games. Public school, on the other hand, is mandatory with exceptions in the law for homeschooling and private schools. As I wrote, these are government set rules against promoting anything religious in government-ran schools that they are breaking here. That is how I perceive it.
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2012
  11. dawnhodge

    dawnhodge New Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2012
    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    0
    you just made the arguement that if schools could use the devil as a nascot then why not jesus. i answered because there can be many devils but ive only ever heard of one jesus and teams are not comprised of clones. most people that have no other choice but public school dont even care what the mascot is. the few that do will resolve the issue by not supporting the team or making other schooling arrangements. mascots are chosen for the strength, power, and other fearsome qualities they project. this also paints indians, some dog breeds, the irish, and several others in a bad light if you look at it that way. in this case they arent trying to voodoo the other team into the nightosphere, its just a symbol of dominance. not all things in life are good and not all good things are dominant. thats fact. however, all i ask is that for the symbol chosen they should use the correct image. i am not in favor of demons, they are definately not a force to take lightly. i do think some get really worked up over things before they think of the original intent
     
  12. Brooke

    Brooke New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2004
    Messages:
    5,379
    Likes Received:
    0
    Actually, as the OP, I was not concerned about a public school using a religious/spiritual symbol. I was concerned at the evil nature associated with demons, even by those who do not believe they exist. I understand the desire to project a feeling of fear in your opponent, but mascots serve more of a purpose than representing a sport team. It is the association your entire region makes with your school in general. I just can't imagine a collective body of people deciding that was a good idea.
     
  13. seekingmyLord

    seekingmyLord Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2007
    Messages:
    1,260
    Likes Received:
    5
    I understand your position. However, original intention without foresight of consequences or in ignorance of rules, particularly ones the government has enforced to make public schools religiously sterilized, does not negate the aftereffect of this team name being of religious connotation. The school is simply in the wrong. There are no demons, as the logo illustrates, in the natural world. There just isn't. A demon is a supernatural being, but even if it was argued that a demon is a fictional being, which would be to say that the Bible is mythology and Christianity is make-believe. With that mindset, I would think we would also see teams named for beings like the troll, ogre, elf, wyvern, ouroboros, chimera, etc. all of which symbolize strength, power, and other fearsome qualities especially in this generation of Warcraft and Harry Potter.
     
  14. Cornish Steve

    Cornish Steve Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2009
    Messages:
    3,534
    Likes Received:
    7
    But there is no such separation, is there? How many school sports games begin with a prayer over the loudspeaker? How many Christians push for prayer in government schools? How many school buildings host church services at the weekend? In practice, there's give and take based on the preferences of the local community. Yes, when an organization contests these things legally, schools may be forced to withdraw from religious affiliation of any type; however, often the link is there.

    Personally, I wish there was a strict separation because it's not right that others are forced to participate in Christian prayer - any more than Christians should be forced to participate in Muslim prayer in Islamic countries. Also, I don't believe that churches etc. should get tax breaks, because that inevitably places them under the influence of government. In practice, though, things don't work like that. The local community tends to have a large say in what's done, and principles aren't implemented absolutely. It will have been the local community that influenced the choice of mascot.
     
  15. seekingmyLord

    seekingmyLord Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2007
    Messages:
    1,260
    Likes Received:
    5
    There is separation. As I understand it--not having been in a public school for decades but this is how it went in my small town school--the students cannot be encouraged to nor discouraged from agreeing to pray together, but teachers could not lead and were discouraged from involvement in, say, a morning prayer circle. As long as the prayer activity was initialized by the students, it fell under freedom of religion and religious requirements are accommodated for other religions besides Christians, actually as much as Christians have pushed to protect their right to have prayer they receive less consideration in some schools than Muslims. Here is an article worth reading: http://www.christianpost.com/news/w...for-muslim-prayers-not-welcomed-by-all-66216/

    I would have agreed with you about no tax breaks in regards to churches at one time, however I once had a discussion with another local man who believes many of the things you seem to and he stated that if the government could tax churches, it could tax them out of existence...kind of like how small businesses are being taxed out of existence now as I see it, so he had a valid point. The government would have even more control if churches were taxed.

    As to churches leasing school building on Sundays, when the schools have no activities on that day at all, that is not something that is done in every state or even in every county. I was surprised when I moved to Georgia that is was done here because it was unheard of in Florida and Ohio when I lived in those states, but I am neutral on the matter. It clearly is not a school function, but a business transaction benefiting the school financially. It is actually quite difficult on the church to rearrange the meeting area, unpack, set up, tear down, pack again, and arrange the meeting area back to its original condition just for Sunday morning services and have no regular meeting place during the rest of the week. I would not think it would be worth it, but many churches start out that way until they have enough money to build or buy another church property--and the problem there is that some counties keep changing the zoning rules every few months so it is increasing difficult to build new churches, but that is another story.

    As to choosing the school team mascot, that is where the people in opposition need to be going to the BOE meetings. Even as a homeschooling parent, I would go to voice my disapproval...as long as my tax dollars are going there, I have as much say as anyone else.

    It has been an interesting conversation, but I have other pressing obligations so this will be my last post on the matter.
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2012
  16. dawnhodge

    dawnhodge New Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2012
    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    0
    The only thing I can figure is that in this case, they are not thinking about the religious aspect of it. There are more people in this world that don't think or don't care than do.
     
  17. Cornish Steve

    Cornish Steve Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2009
    Messages:
    3,534
    Likes Received:
    7
    And I shall leave it there, too. I've spent the last 3-1/2 weeks in Britain helping to take care of my sick mother - while using Skype and email to get my work done every afternoon and evening. Today, I left Cornwall on a 6:30am bus, and I've just arrived home (my previous post was made from the airport in Toronto while changing planes) - a 23 hour journey. For my sins, I must fly to Las Vegas on Saturday for an industry event - which is not one of my favorite places (apologies to any Nevadans present). Thank you as always for an engaging conversation.
     
  18. Brooke

    Brooke New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2004
    Messages:
    5,379
    Likes Received:
    0
    Just being in the Las Vegas airport is penance enough. :lol: As I hustled my Dd12 through, the nice lady with us as we stepped off the tram looked at Dd and said, "just take your mom's hand and look down at the floor." I kid you not.
     
  19. Lindina

    Lindina Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2009
    Messages:
    6,102
    Likes Received:
    11
    It just occurred to me that a lot of schools' mascots were chosen decades ago (ours in the 50s, others longer ago, so 60 or 70 years ago?), when public sensibilities were much different than they are now. I wonder what mascots would be chosen now, if suddenly everybody had to choose a new one? Through the decades they've become traditions, and hard to give up, even if public sentiment has changed.

    It's interesting, too, that mascots like Crusaders, Knights, Centurions, and the like, are most often chosen by religious private schools instead of public ones. They're just fearsome warriors, and yet they're perceived as religious.

    Other fearsome warriors could be Spartans, Gladiators, Vikings, Mongols, Huns, Barbarians, Turks, Cossacks, and of course the ever-popular Trojans -- but I don't see a lot of teams named after those. I don't see a lot of teams named Dragons, either. I wonder why.
     
  20. dawnhodge

    dawnhodge New Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2012
    Messages:
    120
    Likes Received:
    0
    My votes would be for black widows, hogs, and bucks. Anything that will make my DH step away slowly (without gun in hand of course) is not something I'd want to fight.
     

Share This Page

Members Online Now

Total: 72 (members: 0, guests: 68, robots: 4)