Read the 250 comments on that article's website. Some good points made there.
my point (extreme i suppose) is that both preach the holy word, push their beliefs on everybody else and then go on to sin themselves. and for the record, i just googled priest so i doubt this particular person sexually abused anyone. then again, who really knows. still, it was a poor comparison so i deleted my initial post.
Last edited by atxrocker; 01-12-2008 at 04:12 PM.
I'm sorry but the most ridiculous thing said in this thread before your post has been said by you.
How the being Christian could be something awesome ?
I can't say I'm surprised that Dwight Howard has a kid out of wedlock.
adolf hitler was a christian. how did that work out??
Hogwash. Learn some history before making such idiotic claims.
So you aren't a hypocrite, is that really what you're saying? Because I'll be the first to step up and say that I'm definitely a hypocrite. And I sincerely believe that anyone who says they aren't is lying and in complete, abject denial
Newsflash: Christians sin. Shocking. I wonder what book you could look up that openly states that? Hmm. Perhaps the Bible?
Thanks for enlightening us all.
Amen. Christians don't preach that they never sin; because of what they believe, they try not to, but they will inevitably fail at some point or other. The difference is they are forgiven because they put their faith in the only person who didn't sin.
i think i get it now. what you're saying is that as long as i read the bible, wear a cross necklace, go to church, sing holle- ing-luya, tell you what the not to do and preach the word, then it's ok for me to bang up a ty cheerleader and produce a bas child? then, because of my religious convictions, noone should judge me. right?
I disagree with you. Money has never (to my knowledge) been a subs ute for maturity, nor does being rich suddenly grant you a moral compass. Howard is doing the right thing here when easily he could shrug, forget about it, and pay child support without ever meeting or knowing his child.
Last edited by Cry Havoc; 01-12-2008 at 05:08 PM.
bad ass. next time i need some cash, i'll rob the liquor store on saturday and repent at church on sunday. then all is right. this christian thing sounds kinda cool.
How about you read the Bible first. That should erase a lot of the other things you stated in this thread. But you make my point quite nicely for me: you judge him because he made a mistake while espousing Christian views. This is not based around the fact that forgiveness is easy and ready whenever necessary. It requires humility, realizing one's actions and the consequences of such, and actually realizing that you must put your own ego aside because you need to ask for help.
In fact, he probably wouldn't mind you judging him. I'm sure he's already judged himself for that wrong, if he is a true Christian. And if you thinking looking yourself in the mirror and truly realizing that you made a mistake and need to change is easy, you've never attempted that.
However, you probably don't want to hear any of this, from the amount of vehemence you were spewing forth in your diatribe. I don't know why the actions of an NBA superstar who's actually doing the right thing would piss you off so much, except that perhaps you're looking for any ammo you can find to make vast generalizations against an entire group of people.
While I'm sure you're not speaking seriously, as I doubt you are that uneducated as to the principles of the Christian faith, the fact that you must resort to such petty, childish comments is rather indicative of how condemning and spiteful you are.
No. Those things don't make you a Christian. If you actually believe in Christ and are truly repentant, it doesn't mean it was 'ok,' but it does mean you will be forgiven.
Of course, 'repent' would include returning the money and taking responsibility for any people you hurt. Faith does not mean you can avoid responsibility or punishment in this world, just the next one.
I was replying to Thompsons post that I interpreted as him saying that everyone can sin, but the ONLY difference is that those who practice faith are forgiven. I made an extreme example of that interpretation to prove a point. I am not going to get into a religous debate as my opinions on it are rather strong, but it's funny that Howard apologists are quick to overlook something that is generally frowned on in traditional religion.
You mean those who are humble enough to realize the need for forgiveness, accept their own imperfections and misdeeds, and actually ask for that forgiveness with a mindset to not make that mistake again. There is a gulf of difference between the superficial asking of forgiveness and what is actually spoken about in the core of faith.
So what if Christians sin, you don't go around preaching and flaunting your faith and then make decisions that CONTRADICT your beliefs and then flaunt that too. That's bull and blatant hypocrisy. It's also very annoying.
He's also a 22 year old guy who's been thrust into the limelight of the United States sports system. It seems as if he's trying to be a role model, but he struggles with maturity and knowing how to do the right thing all the time.
I mean, really... were you so mature when you were just old enough to drink? At least he's owning up to his mistakes and trying to make amends. He's handling this situation like a man. Most wouldn't have the same mindset at that age, especially when a bit of money could make it all go away and let them back into the crazy lifestyle of an NBA player.
Right, I acknowledge that, but if you choose to be a role model, back up what you say. What he's gotten himself into is a double edge sword. If he says nothing, he's denying his child and a bad father. If he says something, he's a hypocrite. Funny thing is if he would have practiced what he preaches he wouldn't be in the situation. Like I said in an earlier post in this thread, he made the right decision regarding what to do. I have no problem with him having the child, I have the problem with him not practicing what he preaches. People who reveal their faith and set themselves up as role models can be admirable because it's not an easy thing to do, but they lose all credibility when they mess up. Fair? Maybe not, because we all make mistakes. Don't preach and then do something like this though. It's just annoying.
maybe this is what happened. the kid is the second coming! this time, rather than inpregnating a virgin with the holy spirit, god decided to use a black mans and a ty cheerleader instead of a mary type figure. guess he really wanted make it much more modern. it all makes sense how someone of howards religious beliefs could do such a thing. in the name of the lord of course! holleluya.
First, I may have said and done some hypocritical things before but I try very much to not be a hypocrite in the things I say and do.
But more importantly, I am not a (self made, yes he made it be known that he wanted to be one) role model to millions of kids. I don't preach to people what they should or should not do. I don't have the stage or celebrity to where my hypocrisy is witnessed, observed, and analyzed by those millions of people who follow my life.
You can criticize me for criticizing him. Carry on with your judgment of me. Hypocrite.
I agree with some of what you say. I think he's too young to be a role model, but can you fault him for TRYING? I mean, look at the other players in the NBA. You have ballers like Stephen Jackson getting continual praise, and they are absolute thugs outside of their starring roles in American sports. I do not feel proud of him for his mistake and yes I think his Christian family should pull him aside (if they haven't already) and talk to him very seriously about the proper ways to conduct himself in this situation.
I just feel that he is being unnecessarily attacked because he's a Christian and for no other reason. In the grand scheme of things, he had sex with a cheerleader (which I think most of us would be extremely tempted to do given the opportunity) and is now going to be a dad. He's accepting that responsibility. Does that deserve the kind of bile being tossed at him in this thread? The NBA is full of players who get convicted of dealing/doing drugs, stealing, and, you know, SHOOTING people. Yet all of this hate is being directed at Howard because he's tried to step up and failed. I think the fact that he's making an attempt and has screwed up at 22 is still pretty early to be casting him out as a complete failure of a human being.
Did I just not state that I'm a hypocrite? Trust me, you aren't telling me anything I don't already know.
Secondly, I'm not "judging" you. That would involve me condemning you to for starting this thread. I'm stating my opinion and debating the situation with you. How is that judging?
Exactly. You aren't in that situation, facing the things that an NBA player deals with. I'm not saying your life is any harder or easier, but you have to admit that you really don't know how you would react in such a situation. I purport myself to be a Christian, albeit a bad one, and yet if an Orlando cheerleader and I hit it off... I mean, what can I say? I'm not perfect. I deal with lust on a daily basis. And that would be very hard to just shrug aside. Not to mention the tens or hundreds of other girls throwing themselves at Howard because he's one of the top talents in the NBA.But more importantly, I am not a (self made, yes he made it be known that he wanted to be one) role model to millions of kids. I don't preach to people what they should or should not do. I don't have the stage or celebrity to where my hypocrisy is witnessed, observed, and analyzed by those millions of people who follow my life.
Howard is making an effort. And he's owning up to his actions. I find neither de able nor worthy of the negative reactions that I've seen in this thread.
Uhhh yeah. Exactly why I called you that.Did I just not state that I'm a hypocrite? Trust me, you aren't telling me anything I don't already know.
Secondly, I'm not "judging" you. That would involve me condemning you to for starting this thread. I'm stating my opinion and debating the situation with you. How is that judging?
I found these comments as judgmental:
Never said I knew the things he faced nor how I would react if in the same situation. I do know that he had propped himself up as a devout Christian who would be a role model for younger Christians, that he scolded NBA players for their profanity and promiscuous lifestyles, and that he vowed that he would remain a virgin until he was married.Exactly. You aren't in that situation, facing the things that an NBA player deals with. I'm not saying your life is any harder or easier, but you have to admit that you really don't know how you would react in such a situation. I purport myself to be a Christian, albeit a bad one, and yet if an Orlando cheerleader and I hit it off... I mean, what can I say? I'm not perfect. I deal with lust on a daily basis. And that would be very hard to just shrug aside. Not to mention the tens or hundreds of other girls throwing themselves at Howard because he's one of the top talents in the NBA.
I don't say he shouldn't be able to make mistakes. I don't say he shouldn't be forgiven by anyone he wants forgiveness from. I just point out his hypocrisy. That's all.
Never called it de able. Nor did I personally have a very negative reaction to it. I only stated that I don't like hypocrisy, especially from someone who makes himself appear like he's above others or beyond reproach.Howard is making an effort. And he's owning up to his actions. I find neither de able nor worthy of the negative reactions that I've seen in this thread.
Take it however you want to take it.
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