Texans running back Arian Foster has revealed something about himself that puts him far outside the mainstream in the National Football League: He doesn’t believe in God.

 

Foster has begun working with a nonprofit group called Openly Secular to spread his lack of belief, and in a lengthy interview with ESPN Magazine, Foster questions why religion and football seem so intertwined in the minds of so many players.

 

“If there is a God and he’s watching football, there are so many other things he could be doing,” Foster said. “There are hungry children and diseases and famine and so much important stuff going on in the world, and he’s really blessed your team? It’s just weird to me.”

 

Although the Pew Research Center recently reported that more than 55 million Americans classify themselves as atheist, agnostic or no particular religion, Foster said that being non-religious is so rare in the NFL that other players often ask if he worships Satan.

 

“I get the devil-worship thing a lot. They’ll ask me, ‘You worship the devil?'” Foster said. “‘No, bro, I don’t believe there’s a God, why would I believe there’s a devil?’ There’s a lot of ignorance about non-belief. I don’t mean a negative connotation of ignorance. I just mean a lack of understanding, a lack of knowledge, lack of exposure to people like me.”

 

Foster suspects that there are atheists in the NFL who don’t want to openly describe themselves as such because they worry it would affect their earning potential.

 

“You don’t want to ruin endorsements,” Foster said. “People might say, ‘I don’t want an atheist representing my team.’ Now, though, I’m established in this league, and as I’m digging deeper into myself and my truth, just being me is more important than being sexy to Pepsi or whoever. After a while, what’s an extra dollar compared to the freedom of being you? That’s the choice I made.”

 

Foster said he respects the beliefs of others and hopes others extend him the same courtesy.

 

“I have no ill will toward religion or religious people. I have no quarrels,” Foster said. “Believe what you 
want to believe.”

 

Arian Foster opens up about not believing in God | ProFootballTalk

Best part of the article:

 

“You don’t want to ruin endorsements,” Foster said. “People might say, ‘I don’t want an atheist representing my team.’ Now, though, I’m established in this league, and as I’m digging deeper into myself and my truth, just being me is more important than being sexy to Pepsi or whoever. After a while, what’s an extra dollar compared to the freedom of being you? That’s the choice I made.”

I appreciate his honesty. As a guy who has had him on my FF team in the past, I wish he would pray more...not to get hurt so much and miss games:)!

 

Too bad he and Tebow aren't on the same team...that would be an interesting locker room.

Was that interview before or after he tore his groin?

Good for him and good luck in the future :thumb:

Let me keep it real here. I don't care what his religious beliefs are. Just don't care. I do care whether he catches the swing pass and hits someone or runs out of bounds to avoid the hit. I care about how many missed pass block assignments he has weekly. I care about his ability to hold onto the ball whenever a 235 pound safety meets him in the hole.

 

To each his own. Do your job on Sunday and zip it. We don't care. You ARE NOT a role model.

Let me keep it real here. I don't care what his religious beliefs are. Just don't care. I do care whether he catches the swing pass and hits someone or runs out of bounds to avoid the hit. I care about how many missed pass block assignments he has weekly. I care about his ability to hold onto the ball whenever a 235 pound safety meets him in the hole.

 

To each his own. Do your job on Sunday and zip it. We don't care. You ARE NOT a role model.

 

I think you totally missed the point, most of the other players in the NFL apparently do care (or at least care enough to make stupid comments about devil worship) and in Foster's opinion the sponsors care too.

I'm over the 'over information' today. My point was that people are so 'over informed' today that this kind of stuff is just more garbage in. 20 years ago, if this had been said, the media never would have published it. Today, anything someone even slightly known says hits some site in search of hits.

I'm over the 'over information' today. My point was that people are so 'over informed' today that this kind of stuff is just more garbage in. 20 years ago, if this had been said, the media never would have published it. Today, anything someone even slightly known says hits some site in search of hits.

 

Disagree on this one.

 

Foster is publicly taking a very unpopular stance with the majority of his co-workers and most of the people willing to pay him a lot of money.

He's not costing himself much endorsement money. Top 100 athlete endorsement list for 2015 ends at $50,000 and he's not on it.

A lot of the Tebow bashers should be rushing out to buy his jersey I'd think.

 

Tebow rubbed some people wrong for his display of faith way more than he did with his play. He played great in college and had haters everywhere then because of his faith, if Foster gets some push back for his stance it should be no different than that.

A lot of the Tebow bashers should be rushing out to buy his jersey I'd think.

 

Tebow rubbed some people wrong for his display of faith way more than he did with his play. He played great in college and had haters everywhere then because of his faith, if Foster gets some push back for his stance it should be no different than that.

 

How do you relate this to Tebow? I'd say 95% of those who bash Tebow are themselves people of faith. The issue many have/had with Tebow was not that he was religious, it was that he came off as very "in your face" about it. I personally didn't feel that way about him, but I know quite a few did.

A lot of the Tebow bashers should be rushing out to buy his jersey I'd think.

 

Tebow rubbed some people wrong for his display of faith way more than he did with his play. He played great in college and had haters everywhere then because of his faith, if Foster gets some push back for his stance it should be no different than that.

 

Did some people bash Tebow?? Yep. But I still say the amount of "bashing" is overstated. Tebow got more grief because he was a mediocre QB. The guy had one of the top selling jerseys and was one of the most popular players in the league, despite not being very good. I'd say his popularity is based more on his beliefs than his ability to play football.

I'm more appalled by the fact that he's a vegan. Or at least I heard he was. Can't trust those kinda people lol.

How do you relate this to Tebow? I'd say 95% of those who bash Tebow are themselves people of faith. The issue many have/had with Tebow was not that he was religious, it was that he came off as very "in your face" about it. I personally didn't feel that way about him, but I know quite a few did.

 

Did some people bash Tebow?? Yep. But I still say the amount of "bashing" is overstated. Tebow got more grief because he was a mediocre QB. The guy had one of the top selling jerseys and was one of the most popular players in the league, despite not being very good. I'd say his popularity is based more on his beliefs than his ability to play football.

 

There were people bashing him for his religious displays while he was in college, way before the NFL. He was by no means a mediocre player in college, yet there were people bashing him then because of what he said and what he did. Many were rooting for him to fail in the NFL, due to his beliefs and his professing his love for God and Jesus Christ.

 

His NFL popularity did have a lot to do with with faith and image...but his profession of faith rubbed many wrong from the beginning and his play just gave them another platform beyond religion to bash him once he got to the NFL.

 

If Foster is bashed because of his beliefs then he should just pull up his big boy pants and suck it up.