[Albert Holmes Slides In]

I support a football team. I do not care about the political or religious beliefs, sexual practices, sexuality, gender, ethnicity or sexual preferences of those in and around the team, those who love and/or support it, or those who run it and are employed by it. If I could choose for everyone I'd model the club on the German club St Pauli, but that is not my choice alone.

I am an atheist. I understand there will be those of religious beliefs within the club too. That is their freedom and right. I do not, however, believe our club, supported by Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists and many other religions for all I know should be distributing Gideon Bibles to all its staff and publicising its Christianity on its website.

Gideon International distributes bibles free around the world. This is not generosity, it is what it does. Gideon is a class based organisation whose membership is limited to current or retired business or professional MEN aged 21 or older who are members in good standing of an evangelical or Protestant church. Wives of Gideons may also join the Gideons International Auxiliary.

So how does Chesterfield Football club square its support of a class-based, Christian organisation that discriminates against women with the core values it was espousing on its website only months ago?

I'm feeling dodgy about continuing my support for the club, which has been lifelong.

[The Earl of Chesterfield]

Blimey - I'd better keep it quiet that we've had Masons running CFC, then...

[Markham94Cfc]

They've been given bibles, it is entirely up to the individuals at the club what they wish to do with them.

[BigBlue]

Ideal for keeping doors open. 👍

[BeastMode]

Of all the reasons to feel dodgy for supporting the club, it's bibles that tip you over the edge.

give over man

[Phil V 72]

Better not look in any of the bedside drawers next time you stay in a hotel

[Geordieblue]

Albert, here's a little something that might cheer you up a bit.

Attached File(s)

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[kopblue]

Albert Holmes Slides In, on 21 August 2017 - 01:46 PM, said:

I support a football team. I do not care about the political or religious beliefs, sexual practices, sexuality, gender, ethnicity or sexual preferences of those in and around the team, those who love and/or support it, or those who run it and are employed by it. If I could choose for everyone I'd model the club on the German club St Pauli, but that is not my choice alone.

I am an atheist. I understand there will be those of religious beliefs within the club too. That is their freedom and right. I do not, however, believe our club, supported by Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists and many other religions for all I know should be distributing Gideon Bibles to all its staff and publicising its Christianity on its website.

Gideon International distributes bibles free around the world. This is not generosity, it is what it does. Gideon is a class based organisation whose membership is limited to current or retired business or professional MEN aged 21 or older who are members in good standing of an evangelical or Protestant church. Wives of Gideons may also join the Gideons International Auxiliary.

So how does Chesterfield Football club square its support of a class-based, Christian organisation that discriminates against women with the core values it was espousing on its website only months ago?

I'm feeling dodgy about continuing my support for the club, which has been lifelong.

Bet Christmas is a blast at yours

[Snowflake McBedwetter]

If you don't care then why do you care!?

You'll find Gideon bibles in hotel drawers all over the world. They give them away. They don't nail you to a cross and prop your eyes open and force you to read them.

[Goku]

Albert Holmes Slides In, on 21 August 2017 - 01:46 PM, said:

I support a football team. I do not care about the political or religious beliefs, sexual practices, sexuality, gender, ethnicity or sexual preferences of those in and around the team, those who love and/or support it, or those who run it and are employed by it. If I could choose for everyone I'd model the club on the German club St Pauli, but that is not my choice alone.

I am an atheist. I understand there will be those of religious beliefs within the club too. That is their freedom and right. I do not, however, believe our club, supported by Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists and many other religions for all I know should be distributing Gideon Bibles to all its staff and publicising its Christianity on its website.

Gideon International distributes bibles free around the world. This is not generosity, it is what it does. Gideon is a class based organisation whose membership is limited to current or retired business or professional MEN aged 21 or older who are members in good standing of an evangelical or Protestant church. Wives of Gideons may also join the Gideons International Auxiliary.

So how does Chesterfield Football club square its support of a class-based, Christian organisation that discriminates against women with the core values it was espousing on its website only months ago?

I'm feeling dodgy about continuing my support for the club, which has been lifelong.

It was an unintelligent decision to accept the bibles. We should've given them a 'your gesture is appreciated but we're ok thank you', like when Jovos come to the door and you just politely tell them to go away. As for our esteemed Chairman Mike Warner's comments on it which were along the lines of 'we all need a bit of spiritual guidance from time to time' think I cringed into next week when I read that.

You'll get criticised for your criticism of the club but religion has no place in football due to its inherently discriminatory nature.

edit; i will say that reconsidering your support for the club over this is a bit strong though

This post has been edited by Goku: 21 August 2017 - 03:21 PM

[Toddhopper.]

Albert, you are not alone in being offended by this. I know the club have had a struggle with PR recently but it seems the idiot responsible for this is not the same idiot who usually messes things up. I know most won't give two hoots about this but Warner's comments are incredibly stupid (and wrong) & the club should not be associating itself with any particular brand of mumbo jumbo.

[Tips M'Gee]

I'm with Stephen Fry

https://www.youtube....h?v=2-d4otHE-YI

[Snowflake McBedwetter]

Goku, on 21 August 2017 - 03:01 PM, said:

It was an unintelligent decision to accept the bibles. We should've given them a 'your gesture is appreciated but we're ok thank you', like when Jovos come to the door and you just politely tell them to go away. As for our esteemed Chairman Mike Warner's comments on it which were along the lines of 'we all need a bit of spiritual guidance from time to time' think I cringed into next week when I read that.

You'll get criticised for your criticism of the club but religion has no place in football due to its inherently discriminatory nature.

Just because you're (presumably) an atheist doesn't mean everyone else is.

He'll get 'criticised' by me because he seems to be able to handle the 'club' running bogus raffles etc etc, but is thrown into a moral tailspin by a book someone gave away that nobody has to read or be exposed to unless they choose to be.

Live and let live FFS.

[frearsghost]

Albert Holmes Slides In, on 21 August 2017 - 01:46 PM, said:

I support a football team. I do not care about the political or religious beliefs, sexual practices, sexuality, gender, ethnicity or sexual preferences of those in and around the team, those who love and/or support it, or those who run it and are employed by it. If I could choose for everyone I'd model the club on the German club St Pauli, but that is not my choice alone.

I am an atheist. I understand there will be those of religious beliefs within the club too. That is their freedom and right. I do not, however, believe our club, supported by Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists and many other religions for all I know should be distributing Gideon Bibles to all its staff and publicising its Christianity on its website.

Gideon International distributes bibles free around the world. This is not generosity, it is what it does. Gideon is a class based organisation whose membership is limited to current or retired business or professional MEN aged 21 or older who are members in good standing of an evangelical or Protestant church. Wives of Gideons may also join the Gideons International Auxiliary.

So how does Chesterfield Football club square its support of a class-based, Christian organisation that discriminates against women with the core values it was espousing on its website only months ago?

I'm feeling dodgy about continuing my support for the club, which has been lifelong.

Gideon's also like to distribute bibles to school leavers although, today, the disinclination of schools to proselytise has reduces their market. Why the Gideon's would want to give the club bibles, other than to use it as a means to promote their god, goodness knows.

It's extraordinary that the club should publicise this. Maybe they could redress the balance by distributing copies of 'Evolution of the Species' or even Dawkin's, 'God Delusion.' - a best seller I recall.

As a shareholder, I don't think the club should have any business promoting a god.

This post has been edited by frearsghost: 21 August 2017 - 03:39 PM

[Toddhopper.]

KevinArnottsGoldenBoot, on 21 August 2017 - 03:24 PM, said:

Just because you're (presumably) an atheist doesn't mean everyone else is.

He'll get 'criticised' by me because he seems to be able to handle the 'club' running bogus raffles etc etc, but is thrown into a moral tailspin by a book someone gave away that nobody has to read or be exposed to unless they choose to be.

Live and let live FFS.

Just because you're a christian (presumably) doesn't mean everyone is... That's the point surely. And if you can't understand why religion is controversial well that really does deserve an FFS!

[JonB]

Report suggests 34 other clubs got these before us so seems we're not a one off and they are probably trying it with a few more after us.

This post has been edited by JonB: 21 August 2017 - 03:32 PM

[Toddhopper.]

JonB, on 21 August 2017 - 03:31 PM, said:

Report suggests 34 other clubs got these before us so seems we're not a one off and they are probably trying it with a few more after us.

It gets worse! Its enough to have to put up with footballers demonstrating their gullibility by crossing themselves etc without the clubs becoming actively sectarian too.

[Snowflake McBedwetter]

Toddhopper., on 21 August 2017 - 03:31 PM, said:

Just because you're a christian (presumably) doesn't mean everyone is... That's the point surely. And if you can't understand why religion is controversial well that really does deserve an FFS!

What deserves another 'FFS' is your totally incorrect presumption that I'm a Christian.

I understand perfectly that religion is controversial, I just don't care to censor other people because they believe in something I don't.

And as a matter of fact, Warner said everyone 'needs some spiritual guidance', which doesn't necessarily imply religious meaning. The way I read it, it could be interpreted as a'thanks for the books, not necessarily our thing, but everyone needs to consider matters spiritual sometimes'. Hardly a religious tirade. But why let a small matter of fact get in the way of a perfect opportunity for some virtue signalling.

[Toddhopper.]

KevinArnottsGoldenBoot, on 21 August 2017 - 03:39 PM, said:

What deserves another 'FFS' is your totally incorrect presumption that I'm a Christian.

I understand perfectly that religion is controversial, I just don't care to censor other people because they believe in something I don't.

And as a matter of fact, Warner said everyone 'needs some spiritual guidance', which doesn't necessarily imply religious meaning. The way I read it, it could be interpreted as a'thanks for the books, not necessarily our thing, but everyone needs to consider matters spiritual sometimes'. Hardly a religious tirade. But why let a small matter of fact get in the way of a perfect opportunity for some virtue signalling.

FFS I wasn't presuming you were a christian you Chris Turner I was demonstrating your reasoning leads to the opposite conclusion you are coming to.
I also think you need to read Warner's whole comment instead of a bit of it, perhaps you could then see his meaning instead of coming up with one of your own that doesn't actually resemble the words.


Apologies for the Chris Turner I meant to call you a certain kind of root vegetable!

This post has been edited by Toddhopper.: 21 August 2017 - 03:49 PM

[danblue]

Albert Holmes Slides In, on 21 August 2017 - 01:46 PM, said:

I support a football team. I do not care about the political or religious beliefs, sexual practices, sexuality, gender, ethnicity or sexual preferences of those in and around the team, those who love and/or support it, or those who run it and are employed by it. If I could choose for everyone I'd model the club on the German club St Pauli, but that is not my choice alone.

I am an atheist. I understand there will be those of religious beliefs within the club too. That is their freedom and right. I do not, however, believe our club, supported by Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists and many other religions for all I know should be distributing Gideon Bibles to all its staff and publicising its Christianity on its website.

Gideon International distributes bibles free around the world. This is not generosity, it is what it does. Gideon is a class based organisation whose membership is limited to current or retired business or professional MEN aged 21 or older who are members in good standing of an evangelical or Protestant church. Wives of Gideons may also join the Gideons International Auxiliary.

So how does Chesterfield Football club square its support of a class-based, Christian organisation that discriminates against women with the core values it was espousing on its website only months ago?

I'm feeling dodgy about continuing my support for the club, which has been lifelong.

Just so we cover all bases, they should include copies of
Hindu's Vedas, Buddha's Dhammapada, the Hebrew Bible to cover Judaism, the Islamic's Qur'an, Guru Granth Sahib for the Sikhs'
and The Profanisaurus for the non-believers