That was the subject line in an e-mail a friend sent this morning, and opening the e-mail revealed this link.
From what I know of running camps, this one seems to offer all the same environmental, technical and culinary niceties as "normal" versions do, along with the obligatory and incessant proselytizing. In fact, were I to open a running camp, its brochure and Web page would contain very similar descriptions of the various aspects of the experience. For example, their mission statement begins,
Physically, we aim to train collegiate distance runners to excel at all levels of competition through individual coaching, training and racing dialogue, sports physiology and psychology, and altitude acclimatization.Mine would begin,
Physically, we aim to train distance runners to excel at all levels of competition through individual coaching, training and racing dialogue, sports physiology and psychology.(I wouldn't take a bunch of sea-level athletes up to 9,000 feet for three weeks because this would create more problems than it would solve, not the least of which would be moving all of us almost two miles farther from Hell.
Their mission statement continues
Spiritually, we aim to train distance runners for Christian life and ministry on their teams, campuses, and communities through a series of seminars, workshops, Bible studies, one-on-one discipleship, and personal devotions.Mine would read
We aim to encourage distance runners to be valuable teammates, students, and citizens through example, ample reading time, ad lib socialization with people of various creeds and ethnocultural backgrounds, and practicing stand-up comedy in the shower room, to include the venerated "sprinkler" demo (males only).See? Two sides of the same coin.
I'd have to work harder to come up with a appropriate substitute for this, though. They write:
Do I have to be a Christian to come?No. Anyone who is open to learning about the Christian faith is welcome to come. We devote an equal amount of time to physical and spiritual development.
Wait, I know! How about:
Do I have to be an atheist to come?No. Anyone who is open to having their ill-founded beliefs in the supernatural challenged is welcome to come. We devote an equal amount of time to physical and rational development.
Same exact concept, but with a twist: Facts are involved! I'm sure all of the faithful folks would take this ground rule in stride.
Comments
"ministry on the their teams" which really means "badger the non-believers on your team (who didn't join the team to be told that they're going to hell) because it is your duty to convert them lest you go to hell yourself"
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I've never, EVER had an atheist or agnostic come knocking on my door uninvited to tell me the "good news" of Enlightenment ideals.
And some people wonder why I joined the Freedom From Religion Foundation ( http://www.ffrf.org )
Posted by: Jim | June 15, 2006 2:52 PM
Jesus is going to save the people from obesity.
Posted by: Neslo | June 15, 2006 4:05 PM
Jim, as an atheisist I gave up going door to door to convert the unheathen once I figured out that conversion to atheism can only be done by the convertee. No one can force your brain to turn on it's critical thinking mode except the brain itself. I have a new strategy now, I jsut stick a sign on my door saying welcome atheisits. It keeps some of the wingnuts away and has even led to a few interesting conversations with peoplethat have come to my door for other purposes. It also keeps me off the streets which my religous neighbours prefer anyway:)
Posted by: CanuckRob | June 15, 2006 5:51 PM
I worked up a brilliant, yet mildly humorous, response to Kevin's proposed Atheist Running Society. Sadly, I failed to post my e-mail address. Sadly, ScienceBlogs became a bit peeved at my failure.
So my brilliance is lost. And it contained my musings about sodomy and other sinful shenanigans.
Posted by: Amy P. | June 19, 2006 7:49 PM
I would love to go to that and talk about how the evolution of plastic hematopoeitic systems allowed for the greater production of erythrocytes in hypoxic altitudes. Just slip it in at dinner, after saying Grace.
Posted by: Meta_Analysis | June 25, 2006 6:01 AM