Religious Symbols Reportedly Banned From London Olympics‘ ’Faith’ Badge
- Posted on May 7, 2012 at 10:35am by
Billy Hallowell
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Some will charge that it’s an example of political correctness run amok, while others will say it’s a decision made out of respect for diverse peoples of faith. The Telegraph is reporting that religious symbols were banned from a faith badge that was designed for chaplains to wear at the 2012 London Olympic games. The underlying reason, the outlet reports, centers upon an urge not to offend people who wish only to wear their own faith symbol.
The lapel pin, which is intended to showcase the role that religious leaders will have in the 2012 games, has become the center of moderate controversy after religious symbols were scrapped from the design. The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) apparently asked an advisory committee of representatives from various faiths to provide ideas for the badge’s look and feel.
While there were purportedly plans to include symbols from all nine of the faiths that were present on the representative committee, the design was inevitably rejected. The central notion was that not all individuals wearing the pin would feel comfortable sporting symbols of other faiths.
The Telegraph continues:
The final badge — presented to the Archbishop of Canterbury and eight other faith leaders when they toured the Olympic park — simply features the word “faith” and a globe, alongside the Olympics and Paralympics logos. [...]
The badge will be worn by the 193 faith chaplains — who will look after athletes, officials, staff and members of the media.
Although there was support for a badge bearing the nine symbols — including the cross and Islamic crescent — the organisers say it would have “limited” the “appeal” to religious athletes and spectators.
The group also dismissed other proposals for the design, including images of hands in prayer and a lit candle.
“We discussed lots of ideas — it is always difficult to get a symbol that is comfortable with everyone,” said the Rev. Canon Duncan Green, who serves as an Anglican priest and the head of Locog’s multi-faith services. ”We wanted something that people of all faiths could wear and feel comfortable with and that showed the world faiths coming together. If we want something that appeals to all faiths it has to be neutral.”
(H/T: The Telegraph)
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Comments (54)
Rowgue
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 2:33pmMost of the people commenting are clearly just going off of the headline and didn’t actually read the story.
Report Post »Sol Invictus
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 3:42pmYep, that’s how it works on here. You just have to put the key words in the headline…“atheist” “global warming” “evolution” or “Soros” usually work. If you can combine all 4 into one headline many Blazers would actually explode with indignation.
Report Post »qzak491
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 1:42pm.
Report Post »There is no room for religion in the olympic games, the people are athelites period. The only symbol is the 5 rings. Adding religion only adds a means of hate. The olympics brings athelets together for sport without any other associations. THAT’S THE WHOLE POINT
DenisWTexas
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 1:41pmSoon all badges, license plates, plaques, lapel pins, etc. will only be a blank field, because NOTHING is allowable without offending some idiot somewhere. Of course, then we get to fight over whether the blank field is white or black, because that would be racist…
Somebody eject these morons off my planet before I do it.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:32pmtotally the cowardly way out. all clergy should wear their own denomination’s symbols. Hell with the muslims and atheists who do not like they are not alone on earth.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 2:31pmRead the story again.
They didn’t ban people from wearing religious symbols. What they did was remove religious symbols from the official olympic badge that clergy affiliated with the games are going to wear.
Originally these badges contained the symbols of pretty much every religion under the sun. They correctly thought that it might be rather offensive for say a rabbi to be forced to wear the star and crescent as a part of their olympic attire.
Report Post »LMW
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:02pmWhen it has become that a chaplain of different faiths can not show their faith then it is time to end the charades. The US should not go or be part the Olympics anymore as it has become nothing more then a political sideshow and showcases the forced cheating and lies of the athletes who are forced by their countries to win at all costs. The Olympics has gotten away from the real meaning.
Report Post »PaxInVeritate
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:38pmThe games have always been political.
Report Post »GodHatesFigs
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:55pmFrom reading the article, it is my understanding that certain religious symbols were not included on the badge that all chaplains wear. I believe that individual chaplains are not banned from wearing their own symbols of faith. No biggie.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:00pmDoes that include head-dress?
>It should; No?
Report Post »Best_Patriot
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:59amIf people were more secure in their own faith, they wouldn’t be so bothered by all this.
Alas, insecurity rules the fearful folk who now constantly complain about the slew of non-stories such as these.
Report Post »PaxInVeritate
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:21pmSome are so secure in their faith that they are ready to blow themselves and those who don’t believe as they do away. Yeah, Coexist (everyone secure in their own faith beliefs with live let live) mentality doesn’t work when one faction wants to annihilate the others.
Report Post »Best_Patriot
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 3:02pmPax, I think you misunderstood the content of my post.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 5:31pmYeah, we should be so secure that we should allow anti-Christian bigots like you to abolish freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:54amWhy does the Olympics need chaplains? I‘m pretty sure that you can find whatever house of prayer you’re into in the city of London. This is what you get when you have an atheistic government trying to provide religious services. Somewhere Kafka is laughing like crazy.
Report Post »drbage
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:05pmThe Olympics are so worried that some PC terrorist will attack the athletes that basically they will be held hostage in the Olympic Village from their arrival until their departure from the games. Regarding this decision about symbols, it goes right along with the PC madness: “Thou shall not offend anyone.” I guess even Scotland Yard has bought into that meme since it has just announced that it will no longer use the term, “blacklist,” because it might offend someone. Is there a group somewhere which goes through the dictionary seeking words which could be construed as being prejudicial?
Report Post »KingCanon
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:53amBeing PC means that one is PENALIZING CHRIST.
Report Post »It’s really what it all boils down to, now isn’t it?
TheEDGE
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:33amHow about suicidal?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:33amI wonder if one religion in particular will ban suicide bombers from the Olympics?
Report Post »TheEDGE
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:08pmI wouldn’t hold my breath. That would be like China banning diving or Jamaica banning steroids. It’s their only shot at success.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:12pmI don’t think they are counting on it . . considering the security that they have … too bad they didn’t put a dove of peace on the pin .. but that would offend the terrorists.
Report Post »tzion
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:30amHonestly, I think the collage was a bad idea. It reminds of those “coexist” bumper stickers where all the letters are made up of religious symbols. There’s a difference between respecting another religion and ignoring the differences between religions. For example, the Christian cross, from my perspective as a Jew, falls just short of idolatry because it is seen as being a holy symbol. The Star of David, meanwhile, has no religious meaning and is merely a symbol of the Jews, possessing no holiness of its own. I could never be comfortable wearing a cross because of how it is seen by Christians.
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:41pmBut would you try to stop me from wearing the Christian cross?
Report Post »Master.Debater
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:23amHmmm… I wonder which religion’s leaders had a problem wearing an emblem with symbols of other faiths?
Report Post »Constructionist
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:19amFaith is supposed to be a unifying phenomenon; they should make a faith badge that reflects something that everyone can agree upon… like the fact that the Olympics will probably be bombed by Muslim terrorists.
Report Post »PaxInVeritate
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:18amSure make it neutral. Then let the faith leaders to put their own religious symbol on themselves. Problem solved.
Report Post »GodHatesFigs
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:57pmI think that was the point.
Report Post »heyjms
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:14amApparently these people have never looked at the Flags of other countries….
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:31amexactly my thought
Report Post »brother_ed
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:09amThe way I read it, instead of a collage of symbols, they opted for no symbols at all.
Why can’t they wear a badge with only the symbol of their own religion?
When you try to please everyone, no one wins.
I opt for individual representation, but it is apparently not an option.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:07amHow can you ban someone from wearing a pin? I say don’t wear it going through the gates, but put it on afterwards. If I pay money to attend Olympic games then I can wear what I want.
If wearing pins might offend others then women can not wear the hajib, as that is a religious symbol and it would offend me when they wore it; as I am Christian not Muslim.
If I wear a pin it is for me not anyone else. If they get offended then too bad. For the record I do not get offended by women wearing a hajib, it was used only for illustration in this post.
Liberals must realize some people live to be offended at everything. It is time you ignore them, that the rest of us have learned to do. YOU CAN’T SAVE EVERYONE, GET OVER IT!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:06amAMERICA~~~~Do not participate in the nolympics this year. Please. It is a godless mess, esp. this year in the safe haven of the muslimes of Europe. Almost could guarantee kidnappings of USA and ISRAELI participants. Please, AMERICA AND ISRAEL… stay home this year. Boycott them, whatever. Just say NO!
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:33amthat‘s what i thought I wouldn’t participate in this. you have the terrorism factor, you have the PC garbage this is no longer fun and games it is serious. id you see the story of the man that snuck a fake bomb in? yes but lets be worried about a religious symbol….I am so sick of this PC garbage
Report Post »Sol Invictus
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 12:01pmGrandma, please stay at home under the duvet. DO NOT leave the country and continue to encourage anyone who thinks the way that you do to stay at home. “Fundamentalist” – someone afraid that someone out there is enjoying themselves. You really were made for propaganda weren’t you?
Report Post »lcallday
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:05amPermitted will be Pentagrams, Horned Goat’s Heads, and Forehead Tattoos.
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:11amExactly as Christian we need to unite and form the most power voice the planet has ever seen demand freedom or all gather in a single nation as create an offical christian nation.
Report Post »edcoil
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:14am“Some will charge that it’s an example of political correctness run amok, while others will say it’s a decision made out of respect for diverse peoples of faith.”
Bull
“diverse peoples of faith have no problems with others”
Report Post »Sh3LLz
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:05amThe bible is clear when it says not to use images, idols and symbols in worship. Yet all of you do….. Its a practice that God clearly does not want.. and yet all of you ignore Him…
Report Post »brother_ed
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:11am@SH3LLZ
Idolatry is a sin , however, I’m not sure they are worshiping the symbols.
In this case, they are being used as a means of identifying which religion you belong to.
Report Post »hgaut
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 10:58amIf the Olympics were being held in the Middlde East, would they be so accommodating? Also isn’t there a verse in the bible that says ( paraprhased ) If you don’t confess Me before men I will not confess you before the Father? Come on Chaplains. Get some backbone!
Report Post »grannyjojo
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 10:51amFigures. When you take the Lord out this is what you get. No religious symbol……and what comes next? Of course, soldiers and missiles stationed on rooftops….. This world is going down, and going down fast. Lord, come quickly. “Every knee will bow and every tongue confess”
Report Post »Chromo200
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 10:48amWho cares about the Olympics .. They have become PC and the average person will have no opinion. For that I may watch some of the venues, but mostly I have interest in it.
Report Post »marthasusan40
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 10:44amThis is ridiculous, our Creator Weeps…….
Report Post »RANGER1965
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 10:56am….from the effort of holding back a sea of wrath.
Report Post »Sol Invictus
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 11:27am….with laughter at this story.
Report Post »Balrog28
Posted on May 7, 2012 at 2:07pm…at all these words and thoughts. He will continue to call people to action to love others. He even gave his only son to show us the way.
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