# Is Tim Tebow a hypocrite? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 29, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717 "2011-12-29T13:43:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/21 "2011-12-29T15:43:46Z")
I don’t see how Tebow’s actions are at the expense of the game or his team mates. Nor how it is a “social ill”. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/22 "2011-12-29T15:53:35Z")
The Bible also says to “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17. I don’t _think_ that Tebow is being hypocritical if he is sincere in his prayers and would be doing the same if the cameras weren’t on him. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/23 "2011-12-29T16:15:24Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Legality isn’t the issue, the attention given to a single player’s off the clock actions (at the expense of the game and other team members) is what we are discussing here. Blaming the media for all our social ills is a cop-out. Someone once said, I think it can probably be attributed to a coach, said “There’s no \*I \*in team.” Shame Tebow missed that memo. Praying is now a social ill? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/24 "2011-12-29T16:25:29Z")
> [@Smitty](#): > > But that’s the thing. He IS praying in public. As I said, maybe it didn’t start out as his intention. I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. However, it has, at this point, obviously become something of a public spectacle. There is much discussion in the public arena. Other people are publicly “Tebowing”. In my opinion, if Tebow were actually doing it for himself and his own beliefs, he would take it out of the public arena at this point because of all the attention it has garnished. Maybe he is trying to reinject public displays of faith into the American psyche after years of having it scrubbed from our media. Make it socially acceptable to pray in public. When was the last time you saw anyone pray at restaurant (other than on Sunday when everyone is trying to outjesus one another when they go tou with their church group). I don’t see how Tebowing is any more offensive that touchdown dances or rude gestures. I don’t know that it would be a horrible thing for some sitcom family to pray before dinner. Little House on the Prairie used to do it and they were reasonably useful storyline mechanisms for tying together the episode. > [@Shodan](#): > > I don’t see how Tebow’s actions are at the expense of the game or his team mates. Nor how it is a “social ill”. Its certainly no worse for society than glorifying a bunch of guys play catch for a living. ---
**Author:** ![Smitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Smitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smitty)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/25 "2011-12-29T18:17:28Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Maybe he is trying to reinject public displays of faith into the American psyche after years of having it scrubbed from our media. Make it socially acceptable to pray in public. So, in your scenario, he is not doing it in order to have a relationship with God. He is doing it with ulterior motives. I would call that hypocritical and attention seeking. Your opinion may differ. [QUOTE=John Mace] Is that what he’s praying for? I’m not enough of a football fan that I watch games not involving the Raiders or the 49ers. Is it possible that he’s praying as in “God, protect us as we play this dangerous game… etc, etc, etc.” [/QUOTE] A Denver pastor with ties to Tebow’s family has said that he believes that God is intervening on the Bronco’s behalf. [http://www.tmz.com/2011/12/12/tim-tebow-god-pastor-wayne-hanson/](http://www.tmz.com/2011/12/12/tim-tebow-god-pastor-wayne-hanson/) I can’t tell you what Tim is actually saying, but I doubt that he is asking for general protection given that he does his thing after every score. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/26 "2011-12-29T18:30:31Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I don’t see how Tebow’s actions are at the expense of the game or his team mates. Nor how it is a “social ill”. > > Regards, > Shodan I intended to lump Tebow’ stunts with the other off-field actions that garnered media hype such as Vick’s crimes, and complaints against Roethlisberger and Favre. The media isn’t to blame for the attention. (Although I guarantee if Tebow were to sport an upside down cross, draw a pentagram into the endzone, sacrifice a chicken or perform some other attention-getting symbolic homage to a non-Christian god: scores of Christians would claim “social ill” and unsportsmanlike conduct. Lucky for Tebow he worships a popular god.) ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/27 "2011-12-29T19:20:23Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > I intended to lump Tebow’ stunts with the other off-field actions that garnered media hype such as Vick’s crimes, and complaints against Roethlisberger and Favre. The media isn’t to blame for the attention. IMHO, that’s a false equivalence. “Vick promotes dog fighting”, “Roethlisberger accused of rape”, or “Favre emails naughty bits to women” are all legitimate news stories. “Tebow prays” is not. [hijack]Why is it always quarterbacks?[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/28 "2011-12-29T21:20:10Z")
Yes, yes he is ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/29 "2011-12-29T21:24:40Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Yes, yes he is That’s very convincing. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/30 "2011-12-29T21:56:40Z")
I don’t think he’s a hypocrite. I think he’s a sanctimonious ass, but not a hypocrite. I mean, I think he really believes in God, but I also think he’s a dick about it. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/31 "2011-12-29T22:03:10Z")
Don’t follow sports and wouldn’t know Tebow if I bumped into on the streets. I know religiousity irks me, but I admit that’s my problem. I am curious how many Tebow fans would perk up if Tebow was Muslim and instead of “Tebowing”, he uttered “Allahu Akbar” after every TD. How much of his support is due to him being devout and how much of it is due to him being devoutly Christian? ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/32 "2011-12-29T22:06:19Z")
> [@Smitty](#): > > @Oliveritaly > > I know what you mean. I’m not a Christian, but I would think that to believe that capital G God Almighty would actually intervene in something as insignificant as a football game would sort of diminish Him. If you believe that God is as much as you say he is, why would he get involved? You’re missing the point. I’m not a Christian either but I know that they believe that to God _nothing_ is insignificant. He watches over all and he listens to all prayers. He may not answer them but he certainly won’t dismiss something as being beneath his consideration. Different things are important to different people and Christians believe that their god is aware of this and understands it. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/33 "2011-12-29T22:19:12Z")
> [@Oliveritaly](#): > > Does Tebow really feel that his ability to play a game of football is worthy of God’s attention? Why wouldn’t it be? The Bible says that not one sparrow falls outside of God’s care (Matthew 10:29). If God cares about the sparrows, why wouldn’t he also care about things that matter to the people who serve him? Now, I’m not saying that a football game is of paramount importance, on a par with world peace or curing cancer. Obviously, it’s not. I see no reason to believe that it is something which God must consider to be contemptibly beneath his notice, though. After all, we don’t know what Tebow is praying, but if he simply says, “Lord, please help me to do my best” or “Please don’t let me screw up,” then I see no harm in God choosing to honor such a request as best fits his sovereignty. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/34 "2011-12-29T22:29:29Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > That’s very convincing. Yes, yes it is ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/35 "2011-12-29T22:31:08Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > I intended to lump Tebow’ stunts with the other off-field actions that garnered media hype such as Vick’s crimes, and complaints against Roethlisberger and Favre. Public prayer, dogfighting, rape, and dirty pictures. One of these things is not like the others. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/36 "2011-12-29T22:45:30Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Why wouldn’t it be? The Bible says that not one sparrow falls outside of God’s care (Matthew 10:29). If God cares about the sparrows, why wouldn’t he also care about things that matter to the people who serve him? > > Now, I’m not saying that a football game is of paramount importance, on a par with world peace or curing cancer. Obviously, it’s not. I see no reason to believe that it is something which God must consider to be contemptibly beneath his notice, though. After all, we don’t know what Tebow is praying, but if he simply says, “Lord, please help me to do my best” or “Please don’t let me screw up,” then I see no harm in God choosing to honor such a request as best fits his sovereignty. Any god distracted by the prayers of an overpaid, attention whoring ninny at a football game but who can’t be bothered to spare innocent children the horrors of war, famine, disease, rape, and torture is undeserving of either reverence or sovereignty. I can’t imagine a more undignified testimony than Tebow’s grandstanding. > [@Shodan](#): > > Public prayer, dogfighting, rape, and dirty pictures. > > One of these things is not like the others. > > Regards, > Shodan Apparently God was too distracted by Tebow’s simpering adoration to intervene on behalf of these victims. I mean sparrows. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/37 "2011-12-29T23:00:33Z")
He’s hardly the only one. The next time you see the Steelers playing, pay attention to Troy Polamalu, who makes the Sign of the Cross after each play. He’s often praying on the sidelines, and sometimes he even has a Rosary with him. And people don’t go after Troy for that. (Troy, BTW, is my favorite NFL player) I think it’s just the over-hype around Tebow. For godsakes, the dude _prays_. Who cares? He’s not out there doing hookers and blow. (Well, not that we know of). He seems like a nice kid. The only problem is that God is a Steelers fan. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/38 "2011-12-29T23:00:55Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Don’t follow sports and wouldn’t know Tebow if I bumped into on the streets. I know religiousity irks me, but I admit that’s my problem. > > I am curious how many Tebow fans would perk up if Tebow was Muslim and instead of “Tebowing”, he uttered “Allahu Akbar” after every TD. How much of his support is due to him being devout and how much of it is due to him being devoutly Christian? Much of his support, such as it is, is coming from atheists, like me. I don’t get the butthurtedness of people who are bothered by this, jumping on a hyper-literal interpretation of a Bible they don’t even believe in. My feeling is, let the guy have his superstitious moments. It affects me not one bit. He can sing the praises of God, Allah, Vishnu, or The Great Spirit for all I care. You Tebow dissing folks need to watch some European sports like the Tour de France. Most riders, when they win a stage do a ceremonial crossing of themselves. BFD. It’s just what they do. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/39 "2011-12-29T23:08:35Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > He is only a hypocrite if he only prays in public. My understanding of Tebowing is that it is something he does on the sideline and he was photographed doing. There is no way for him to run into the locker room when he wants to pray once the game starts and there is no part of the sideline where he can not be photographed. So his only options is to pray in public or not pray. If he is doing it to be seen and admired then he is a hypocrite and should not be doing it, but if he sincerely is doing it to commune with God then there is nothing hypocritical about it. His motivations are known only to himself and God so there is no way of knowing. Everyone who meets him seems to think he is very humble and very sincere, so my presumption is that he is praying for the correct reason and is not being hypocritical. Is bowing down necessary for prayer? Why couldn’t Tebow just sit on the bench quietly and do his thing, rather than kneeling down for attention? I mean, come on, I don’t even watch football and I know he does that shit for a reaction. I don’t believe for a second that he isn’t doing it on purpose. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717/40 "2011-12-29T23:10:09Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Any god distracted by the prayers of an overpaid, attention whoring ninny at a football game but who can’t be bothered to spare innocent children the horrors of war, famine, disease, rape, and torture is undeserving of either reverence or sovereignty. I can’t imagine a more undignified testimony than Tebow’s grandstanding. If you want to start a thread about the [problem of evil](http://christiancadre.org/topics/evil_suffering.html) – in other words, why God allows pain and suffering in the world – go ahead. That’s the sort of subject that philosophers have debated for centuries. It’s also irrelevant to the topic at hand – namely, whether God _should_ care about something as mundane as a football game. This is exactly the sort of irrelevancy that renders discussions like these counterproductive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tim-tebow-a-hypocrite/607717.md?page=3)