Religious freedom group targets Ga. high school coach
By David Purdum / For the AJC
A Georgia high school football coach is being targeted for his team’s religious practices by a non-profit organization that aims to protect the separation between state and church.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a complaint to Walker County Schools Tuesday, accusing Ridgeland High School coach Mark Mariakis of multiple violations of the First Amendment.
The allegations against Mariakis include:
–Holding pre-game meals at a local church, where a “preacher sermonizes to the players about the Christian religion.”
–Pressuring players to attend a Christian football camp that the players must pay for.
–Leading pre- and post-game prayers.
–Using bible verses on team gear and in motivational speeches.
–Taking the team to a Mormon church and afterwards making fun on the religion within the proximity of Mormon players.
The FFRH concludes the complaint by requesting Walker County Schools investigate and take immediate action to stop the violations. Read the entire complaint here.
Emails to Mariakis, Ridgeland principal Glen Brown and Walker County superintendent Damon Raines were not immediately returned. Walker County Schools confirmed reception of the complaint in released statement.
Mariakis, who survived brain cancer in 2008-2009, is entering his ninth season at Ridgeland. He is 52-36. The Panthers open their season Friday at No. 1 Calhoun.
Update: A Facebook page titled “Support Coach Mariakis” has been created and had nearly 1,400 likes as of Thursday afternoon.
Update: Walker County Schools Superintendent Danny Raines is attending a conference in Macon and will be out of the office until Monday, according to office administrator Janet Cobb. No other comment on the complaint against Mariakis is expected to be released today.
A message left on Mariakis’ cell phone Thursday afternoon was not immediately returned.
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241 comments Add your comment
Joe
August 23rd, 2012
1:22 pm
Yes Terrell, you’re exactly right. That’s the way it should be. I’m sure Jesus was a very nice man but both he and the jesus characters of the gospel myths are dead. He never wrote a thing and those who wrote what he allegedly said never knew the man. You may as well be saying Santa loves you as Jesus loves you.
Terrell
August 23rd, 2012
1:23 pm
God Loves Football
No He did not steal the holidays. What happen was that Pagens combined their traditions around these beliefs of Christians. Christmas was to celebrate the birth of Christ. There was another festival that was celebrated during the same season. People over time have just combined the traditions of tha festival with the birth of Christ. Easter is a celebration of his resurrection that somehow has been overshadowed by a Bunny that lays eggs.
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
1:23 pm
Joe- A Jefferson Bible? Come on man. Yes Jesus prayed alone in the garden but he also PUBLICLY proselitized thousands and baptized in PUBLIC.
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
1:28 pm
Joe- And he prayed vigorously while dying on the cross for your sins in public. He cared so much for sinners like me and you that he saved 1 of the other 2 men dying on a cross. That man believed. I will pray that someday you will believe too
Joe
August 23rd, 2012
1:28 pm
Hankie, I find it truly sad that you have never questioned the fables of the bible. You must have had a horrible childhood as many christians do. They can’t manage their lives so they purchase the crutch of a religion to help them get out of bed each day. You’re told what to think, what to say, what to do, what to believe, what to read, what to watch and who to vote for. I’ll pray to the Flying Spaghetti Monster that someday you will find the courage to abandon the shackles of the folly of your “faith” and liberate your mind.
Terrell
August 23rd, 2012
1:29 pm
@Joe
Ok. I strongly disagree, because what we are allowing the world to do is the same thing that the Christian faith is chastised for, but in your eyes it’s fair right? The world can force their veiws but we can’t state ours. That’s not fair. If you call Jesus a myth because man wrote the Bible then we call everything a myth (i.e. World History) because they were written by men. I find that to be a little hypocritical.
God Loves Football
August 23rd, 2012
1:29 pm
You could not be more wrong Terrell.
You are now fourth and long deep in your own half.
dilberth
August 23rd, 2012
1:33 pm
When it comes to your faith, keep it to yourself. You shouldn’t have to be advertising how pious you are. Piety has nothing to do morality. Every day we hear about another scandal from the pulpit or another priest molesting or raping young boys. It’s an epidemic with Christians. And they are so righteous and sure that their faith is the one true religion. Well, all religions can’t all be right. But they can all be wrong. And they all are wrong.
The question that Atheists never answer
August 23rd, 2012
1:34 pm
Where did love come from?
Joe
August 23rd, 2012
1:34 pm
Terrell, Saturnalia was the winter solstice festival the “pagans” celebrated long before the christians stole the holiday season. They did so because they were having a difficult time converting pagans who had their own gods with their own birthdays. Since the jesus character is largly mythical (see the story of Horus the Egyptian god). Easter was named after the Germanic god of agriculture, Eoester, not a bunny. Though I believe more in the bunny and the goddess of agriculture than the jesus character.
Good Grief
August 23rd, 2012
1:35 pm
Joe – as has already been stated, when Christ prayed in the garden, he was just a short distance from the disciples. Their alertness doesn’t matter. He wasn’t exactly hidden. And he prayed at the tomb of Lazarus. He prayed on the cross. He even taught people a prayer to say, demonstrating the humility and desire Christians should have. You say that I need to read the Bible more closely, but you’re kind of cherry-picking instances that support your point of view.
Good Grief
August 23rd, 2012
1:38 pm
dilberth – That’s a strong statement. Find one religion that has never had any kind of legal controversy. You can’t. But to hold all members of a religion responsible for the acts of a few is rather short-sighted. It’s also rather arrogant to say, with the certainty you say it with, that all religions are wrong. So if you know for a fact that all religions are wrong, then please tell us what is right.
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
1:41 pm
Joe- You are so sadly mistaken. Of course I have questioned things in the Bible just as I questions things that go on today. That’s why it’s called faith! I wish you had it but that’s up to you right? And as far as my life that you seem to think you know? My life is great. Great job, wife, kids, house, bills paid on time and enough left over for saving too. More importantly I have eternal security. We can differ on the Bible, this is America for now but we don’t have to resort to cheap insults, we can just disagree. And we do.
Amanda
August 23rd, 2012
1:48 pm
I support the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Team members are allowed to pray before, during and after football games, but the coach is not allowed to lead or participate in prayer because he is acting in his official capacity as a school official and his actions constitute the school’s endorsement of religion.
Good Grief
August 23rd, 2012
1:49 pm
Joe @ 1:28 – I just read this post (missed it the first time through thanks to refreshing my browser). I’m not sure what your idea of Christianity is, but I’ve grown up in church, in a religious family, and I am a licensed minister in the Baptist church. i’ve never once experienced the things you wrote about. My church doesn’t tell people what they can and cannot do, eat, say, or read. We’re a pretty tight-knit family that takes care of one another and tries our best to aid the community around us. I don’t know anyone at my church that would say they had a horrible childhood.
And why is it that you assume people who dedicate themselves to a religion have limited their mind? In your eyes, are we stupid? Because I looked around at this natural world and saw something created instead of seeing a golrified accident that was the result of random processes, does that make me less intelligent than you?
I don’t know what happened to make you think that Christians use their religion as a crutch. Some do, I’m sure. But you castigate all of us as though we are feeble-minded simpletons who are incapable of action unless the church leaders tell us what to do. The reality couldn’t be farther from that point of view. I go to church with Republicans and Democrats. Blacks and whites. Rich and poor. We don’t preach politics, we preach Jesus. We don’t hide ourselves in the closet just because you think that was the only thing Jesus said about prayer.
Please don’t lump us all into one group just because you don’t like Christ.
Joe
August 23rd, 2012
1:51 pm
Hankie, I love it when you people talk about your gods and your eternal destiny as though you know what happpens when you die, it’s a hoot. Have a little bit of self honesty and intellectual integrity. You purchase your eternal security with your money and your time, and it only exists in your mind because you can’t admit the most basic of facts. The afterlife is unknown, if there is one. I have a great job, wife, house kids and am debt free also, without the help of the gods which you must pay for each week at the church store. Difference? I’m free.
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
1:51 pm
Amanda- Aren’t the players (with the school name on their uniforms) acting as school representatives when they play? They certainly aren’t independent of the school are they?
rev. doug medlin
August 23rd, 2012
1:54 pm
ok, for all of you who cite thos. jefferson. want to know how much of a christian he was? read his version of the GOSPEL. no jesus, no miracles, no nothing. and you want us to emulate that racist? check out his ‘doings’ in the slave quarters. lots of hanky-panky down on the old plantation, for sure.
Joe
August 23rd, 2012
1:58 pm
Grief, Don’t like christ? Never met the man, and neither have you. You’re right, I shouldn’t lump you all together, there are about 20,000 documented christian denominations now, all claiming to be the exclusive purveyors of the one true god and christ. The catholics, the southern baptists, the mormons, and on and on. Each mutually exclusive, believing the others are less in the eyes of their gods and christ characters. So wait, yes, in that sense, you all do deserve to be lumped together.
sugar bowl
August 23rd, 2012
1:59 pm
For the last freakin’ time. You are free to pray anytime and anywhere you want. The government doesn’t stop that at all. You simply cannot use a government funded institution or agency to promote one faith over another. When you do that, Christian or not, you are no different from the Taliban. When you allow Christian proselytization (look it up), then you will also have to allow every other religion that same freedom and that will include satanists and wiccans (or get ready for the lawsuits). And, by the way, Thomas Jefferson was not Christian and he had no use for organized religion. Ben Franklin had more that 20 illegitimate children so it’s probably safe to say he wasn’t a practicing Christian.
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
1:59 pm
Joe- Salvation is a free gift of God. I could never pay for it. The Bible teaches men should pay their tithes, yes. My church and the majority of Christian churches do not require you to pay a penny to be a member there. Get your facts in line sir before you accuse
Joe
August 23rd, 2012
2:01 pm
Tried to tell Hankie bout jeffersons bible rev doug but he was incredulous. doesn’t read much I guess. Too busy prayin for our souls.
dilberth
August 23rd, 2012
2:01 pm
Prayer and all of its attenuating ceremonies are useless. Prayer is only talking to your hands, or whispering to yourself. Prayer never even got a first down in any football game. Prayer is like being in a rocking chair. You may have found something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere. This coach should be fired for relying on prayer to win games. He is a pervert and a predator. Times are changing and Christians must stop sinning. People are emptying out pews in churches faster than the bladders of thirsty beer drinkers. Atheism is on the rise. Religion is dying out because more and more people realize that they have been duped.
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
2:03 pm
Good Grief- Thanks
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
2:04 pm
Joe and rev doug- I am not concerned ( big difference than not aware) with Jefferson’s Bible
Cliff
August 23rd, 2012
2:06 pm
This should not be an issue. It is time for the coach to stop trying to change us. When I was in school we didn’t have people trying to impose their beliefs on us in pregame prayers. We need to remove God from the government sector.
Larry
August 23rd, 2012
2:06 pm
These same blockheads will elect the adulterous Bill Clinton and crack addicted Marion Berry but want to neuter a football coach.
No surprise here…
Larry
August 23rd, 2012
2:08 pm
dilberth,
If you don’t believe in God, you’d better be right!
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
2:09 pm
Joe- you know all the hate and the insults doesn’t make me look bad. It makes you look bad. I haven’t once insulted you or any atheist but simply dissagree. See the difference?
Joe
August 23rd, 2012
2:11 pm
Hankie, you pay for your salvation. Check your checkbook. Tell your minister that you have decided that your salvation is free and you no longer want to buy it and see what he says. In order to be part of the body of a christ character you must belong to a church store and for this you must pay money…..for the rest of your life! You cannot escape that fact with your semantics! My salvation is truly free. I don’t pay a dime for it, and I’m not obligated to join one of the myriad bodies of the various exclusive christ characters. the truth sets you free man! Intellectually and financially!
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
2:11 pm
Larry you’re right. And Joe- If I’m wrong for believing then I led a productive life just like you. But if you’re wrong, well then you know what that means.
Good Grief
August 23rd, 2012
2:14 pm
dilberth – If there is no God, as you say, then how should Christians stop sinning? If the being that determines sin is nonexistent, then logically sin is also nonexistent.
Also, how is the coach a pervet and a predator? I’ve never met him and know nothing of him except what this article says. Are you saying that leading kids in prayer is predatory and perverted? I don’t believe anyone should be forced to pray. From what I can tell, this students were not forced to pray. If they were, then shame on the coach. This is why I could never work for government. Apparently you have to check your religion at the door.
Joe
August 23rd, 2012
2:14 pm
Hankie, you need not say anything, your belief system is insulting enough in and of itself. It’s a delusional set of rituals the nicest part of which is that you can have your god and eat him too!
dilberth
August 23rd, 2012
2:14 pm
The fool said in his heart, there is a god. HA! HA!
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
2:15 pm
Joe- Come to my church and you will be set free! There are many people who never pay a dime to the church yet are on their way to heaven just like me. I went for 15 years without paying any money to my church because I didn’t have it. They never through me out and never mentioned anything about it. You said your salvation is free. What is your salvation and who does it come from sir?
C Add
August 23rd, 2012
2:16 pm
Teach your child to be open minded
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
2:17 pm
dilberth- got anything of value to say? Come on
Down-with-Meebo
August 23rd, 2012
2:19 pm
I wonder what all of you Christian radicals who complain about “liberals trying to take religion out of America” would think if this Mariakis fool was Muslim and pressed Islam on these kids. You Jesus-freaks would go insane.
That’s the whole point of the “freedom FROM religion” idea: nobody should be pressured to observe or follow or join ANY religion because faith and beliefs should be a personal thing that nobody is pressured into.
Here’s a litmus test for you Bible-thumpers: If you take any situation like this, but substitute Islam/Judaism/etc. for Christian, and it makes you upset… then that tells you what other non-Christians think and should inform you about whether it’s appropriate or not.
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
2:20 pm
Joe –For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Where does it say I have to pay for salvation sir?
Good Grief
August 23rd, 2012
2:20 pm
Joe – Again, don’t know where exactly you are getting your information. The church I attend as a weekly offering. it’s 100% voluntary. The deacons aren’t going to hunt you down if you don’t give. The money taken up is used for upkeep of the building and grounds, paying the bills, and performing services for the community. We have several charity drives throughout the year. Never have we disallowed someone from joining in worship with us because they couldn’t pay. If you truly believe that all churches are just “stores” then you’re sorely disillusioned.
And try this one on, Joe. I can leave the church whenever I want. I’m not obligated to be there. I choose to be there. No one forces me. You act as though Christianity is imprisonment forced upon people by church leaders. Again, that’s far off base from reality.
Joe
August 23rd, 2012
2:21 pm
Grief, you know damn well that these kids if they want to remain on the team and be a participating member have to go with the flow that the coach sets because he has the power to bench them. So whoever doesn’t show up to christian football camp or join in the prayer nonsense will be labeled a misfit or not a team player. It’s intimidation. It has no place in sports. Doesn’t matter how he intimidates.
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
2:23 pm
Down with Meebo- That would be perfectly fine with me to substitute Islam/Judaism for Christian.
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
2:24 pm
The players could choose to play for the coach or not right?
dawgfan
August 23rd, 2012
2:24 pm
I am Christian and I support STRICT adherence to seperation of church and state. There is no place for religion in government. Go look at the middle east to see what happens when you mix the two. Its not much fun. This coach is a public employee and he is using his position to indoctrinate others in his beliefs. He can spread the word on his own time. He’s crossed the line.
And I always appreciate the atheists for telling us all how dumb we are for our beliefs. I’m glad they have unlocked the mysteries of the universe and have everything figured out. This life must be very boring to them knowing what it all means and why we are here. Let us all bow to them and their infinite wisdom.
What a bunch of clowns.
Truth Speaker
August 23rd, 2012
2:25 pm
Good Grief
By “open prayer” I mean the type of organized public prayer and endorsement of religion in which this coach is alleged to have engaged and which the school appears to have been complacent in allowing. Yep, even the gather at the flag pole pray thing would be bad in my opinion if a teacher or administrator were present and actively involved. The devil is always in the details…
I think everyone understands students pray all the time in school and before events (athletic, musical, or otherwise). That’s an individual act and not school endorsed. I think that is a pretty big distinction.
Hankie Aron
August 23rd, 2012
2:25 pm
Just as Good Grief says we choose to be there. NO ONE MAKES ME
dilberth
August 23rd, 2012
2:27 pm
So Hankie, you must believe that you are born with something wrong with you (in a state of sin no less) and your only hope is to believe in the impossible; a new life after you die, as if this life is not good enough and there is a better life somewhere above the clouds. You are so delusional for believing in this raft of religious garbage and fabricated fables that you cannot see through it all. By the way, faith is not a virtue. Merely having faith is a cop-out. I have faith… in my golf swing and I don’t consider it a virtue.
Down-with-Meebo
August 23rd, 2012
2:28 pm
Joe, seriously, these people are not logical thinkers. They’re just spewing random biblical passages and repeating the nonsense they’ve been brainwashed with since they were three. Trying to use reason and logic with them is completely pointless. These are the same knuckleheads who teach their kids the world was created 4,000 years ago and humans existed with dinosaurs like the Flintstones.
Joe
August 23rd, 2012
2:28 pm
Hankie and Grief, your gods killed Ananias and Sapphira because they didn’t contribute enough money to their church store. Check out Acts Chap 4. Your salvation is not free. If you didn’t pay with your money you paid with your time. I don’t need an instructional book of fables to keep me out of a mythical hell. I need not worry about meeting my Creator. He gave me a brain to use, not pay someone else to fill it full of guilt laden, egocentric, fear based folklore and fairy tales.
Good Grief
August 23rd, 2012
2:28 pm
Joe, if the coach does indeed handle things like that, then I agree he should be out of the picture. And he may actually handle things that way. But neither one of us really know if that’s the case, do we? I mean, I understand that you already think of me as intellectually beneath you, simply because I choose to believe in God. Your posts have more than verified that fact. But do you know, with absolute certainty, that this coach was using prayer to intimidate his own player? If he was, I’ll join you in condemning the action. But without concrete proof, I’m not going to blame him for something that is only conjecture.