I'm not either. I hope it's purely a business tool to help recruiting. Kind of a figurehead staff position whose job description is written very tightly and says, "Don't meddle."
Prof. Avila
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I'm not either. I hope it's purely a business tool to help recruiting. Kind of a figurehead staff position whose job description is written very tightly and says, "Don't meddle."
I took a class called The New Testament that was taught by Dr. Avalos in the spring of 2006. It was maybe the most educational class I ever taught. We went through each section of the bible through the eyes of a Christian, a jew, and a non-believer. Dr. Avalos, although an athiest, never divulged his beliefs, and because he argued so thoughtfully in debate against the agnostics in our class, I thought he was a Christian or a Jew. Dr. Avalos is an incredibly loyal and educated man. Despite being educated at Harvard I know for a fact that he has had numerous opportunies to instruct at other universities but has remained loyal to Iowa State. When Dr. Avalos graduated from Harvard, he had a terrible illness that left him so weak that he could barely talk and move, he interviewed with several elite schools but only one university gave him an opportunity to teach and that was Iowa State. Despite making a full recovery, he is returing Iowa State's loyalty by being a professor of Religious Studies plus he runs the Latino Studies department. (And by the way, his salary is public information and I won't tell you what it is but it is considerably lower than six figures). Dr. Avalos was the brightest, most thoughtful professor I have ever met and his own personal beliefs do not matter at all in the classes he teaches. His interest in Religious Studies stems from his father being a televangelist and he always planned to follow his father's footsteps until college. I am a Deace fan and supportor of his show but he is way off base.
We have what reason not to believe what he's saying? It is consistent with what every other person we've heard from who took a class from Avalos has said.
Lighten up boys, I'm just jokin' around. However, I don't see a lot of us believing everything Hawk fans say when they predict national championships every year in football, but hey, if enough of their stories coincide it must be true, right? Truth be told, I'm not sure where I stand on this whole issue.
I truely believe that the Chaplain is not as much about promoting Christianity on the team as it is a recruiting tool to be used for southern recruits. (and yes this is my bias that southern people are more religious.)
Plus the Chaplain he had in mind is I think is a former football player and/or coach? which would give even more appeal to recruits.
Intersting story about Hector: I took a Religion class from him in 1995 and he analyzed the bible from three different perspectives. He never disclosed he was an athiest until the last day of the class and he also stated he used to be one of those campus preachers that would stand on college campuses and preach and defend the bible to a questioning crowd. He said as time went on he couldn't defend the bible anymore and became an athiest.
I also never saw his eyes until this picture because he always wore these Elvis glasses that were tinted all the time.
Plus the Chaplain he had in mind is I think is a former football player and/or coach? which would give even more appeal to recruits.
Intersting story about Hector: I took a Religion class from him in 1995 and he analyzed the bible from three different perspectives. He never disclosed he was an athiest until the last day of the class and he also stated he used to be one of those campus preachers that would stand on college campuses and preach and defend the bible to a questioning crowd. He said as time went on he couldn't defend the bible anymore and became an athiest.
I also never saw his eyes until this picture because he always wore these Elvis glasses that were tinted all the time.
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I honestly don't think it's that big of a deal and definitely not worth fighting about. I would expect the Chaplain would be under the assumption that he is serving players of multiple beliefs and respect those beliefs as they are. Other than that, it's legal, it might help kids stay out of trouble, and it might be a good recruiting tool. Not seeing a downside here.
Only problem I have is the people like Deace who rain fire and brimstone down on a man because he speaks his mind and, *gasp*, they disagree with it. That is more like zealotism than Christianity.
Only problem I have is the people like Deace who rain fire and brimstone down on a man because he speaks his mind and, *gasp*, they disagree with it. That is more like zealotism than Christianity.
While that could be the case, and that would serve to smooth over some of the wrinkles in the story, it's also pretty cynical of Coach Chizik's character.
I think it is about providing a person who can provide leadership to young men who haven't always had positive guidance. Regardless of the faith of the individual that is the chaplain, or those who he speaks with, it is a great thing to provide to your players.
I agree with you 100% here.
I also agree but that's what he gets paid to do...and he does it well. Alot of these radio and TV guys come up with "personalities" that are greatly exaggerated from their normal selves. Almost like WWE wrestlers.
I don't think I was being cynical of Cizik's character.
To be clear I was NOT implying this is Chizik's only motive for having a Chaplain for the team. The way I see it is it would help the current players (if needed) and but it might have a larger impact on recruits. Especially coming from a coach that knows he will have a difficult time recruiting to ISU from southern states but knows what it takes to recruit southern players.
Dr. Avalos
Hector Avalos was raised as a pentecostal and as a youth was a pentecostal preacher. Do a google search and I think you will find this, but I received the information directly from him. He is a great teacher, but does seem to have a chip on his shoulder regarding Christianity.
He turned away from Christianity and is very much a scientific rationalist. He rails against Christian fundamentalism (and maybe rightly so in many cases), but ignores his own belief system in regard to the Enlightenment and modernity.
Hector Avalos was raised as a pentecostal and as a youth was a pentecostal preacher. Do a google search and I think you will find this, but I received the information directly from him. He is a great teacher, but does seem to have a chip on his shoulder regarding Christianity.
He turned away from Christianity and is very much a scientific rationalist. He rails against Christian fundamentalism (and maybe rightly so in many cases), but ignores his own belief system in regard to the Enlightenment and modernity.
I can understand that Deace has a different view on the subject than Prof. Avalos (like a lot of us on this board have a different view). But I do not understand / agree with him trying to portray Prof. Avalos in bad light or trying to preach in a website meant for cyclone fans of all beliefs (and non-beliefs).
Lunatic rantings like this simply add fuel to the fire, and I too, am a Christian.:angry6wn:
