Anyway, Cam (who is a top bloke, great for a chat) also runs the interchange. So two for the price of one!

Anyway, Cam (who is a top bloke, great for a chat) also runs the interchange. So two for the price of one!

He's a ripping bloke, and he performs a very important counselling and mentoring role in a non-judgmental manner.

There's no athiests in a foxhole .

That's not an argument against atheism, it's an argument against foxholes.

Yeah, if I was in a foxhole I'd pray to Eddie McGuire if I thought there was a slim chance it would help me...

I'm also atheist, but I can't see what relevance religion has on the topic of player welfare.

Exactly my point.

And to those of you saying he doesn't preach the bible, watch here:

Cam Butler is a fantastic bloke. He was the chaplain at my wedding and was the nicest guy you could meet. He spoke briefly about his role at the club and it was more of a supporting role for players than a hardcore chaplain role. He also helps with players who were grieving with the loss of family members.

Even though he was a chaplain, he never pushed the religious barrow too hard which some chaplains can do.

Exactly my point.

And to those of you saying he doesn't preach the bible, watch here:

I'd wager that you didn't know that he was at the club before seeing this clip and that this clip was the very source for this thread.

Do you know what his role is at the club? Do you know how the players feel about it?

Exactly my point.

And to those of you saying he doesn't preach the bible, watch here:

This is a child-like view of an atheist towards religion.

If he runs the interchange and does it well and as a Chaplain is popular and a help to the club and "all" its players and staff and is not being paid exorbitantly, then in the words of the great Malcolm Blight, " I don't give a rat's tossbag."

As long as we don't see Liam Jurrah or Jack Watts crossing themselves and kissing their palms to the sky after they kick goals, I'm fine with it ...

I also know Cam Butler personally and he has done a great job at MFC especially with younger players settling in and with those who need somone to talk to with issues like the recent death of Wonna's father. He is not employed by the club. All his work at Melbourne is voluntary.

Exactly my point.

And to those of you saying he doesn't preach the bible, watch here:

Didn't exactly preach the bible, just used a particular prayer as an example as to how quickly life can pass us. Which is particularly important for AFL players to understand.

I think this thread should have been started with "does anybody know Cam Butler and what sort of things does he do for the Club", it would have ended with about two or three posts, you can tell the footy hasn't started.....

Exactly my point.

And to those of you saying he doesn't preach the bible, watch here:

Its definitely not the sarcasm meter playing up...

Everyone at some time in life needs a helping hand-whether it is from a friend, life coach,mentor or whomever--Cameron Butler can assist in virtually all aspects,not only religeon.

Exactly my point.

And to those of you saying he doesn't preach the bible, watch here:

I agree with E25 - you seem to have a 'fundamentalist' (heh) view of atheism.

I'm a atheist, but I have thought about religion in my life and studied it at uni.

Religion has a lot to offer and the Bible itself is full of more useful allegorical anecdotes of good moral behaviour than the Harry Potter series.

And the are 7 times longer and sold twice as many copies...

You don't have to be pro-religion or anti-religion to need a chaplain and you have a choice or not whether to use the service. It's called freedom.

The club clearly saw a need for it and filled the need. Players then have the choice.

Not the greatest thread.

I like to think of Jesus as, like, wearing a tuxedo shirt?

Because he wants to be formal, but he also wants to say "hey, I'm here to party."

This has single handedly redeemed this thread.

Amen.

Funnily enough, it has.

Bravo.

Hellraiser,

I can see it from your point of view but you might not understand the role of a chaplian.

I'm in the military and we use a chaplain constantly and its not a very religious thing at all. In such environment like the military and football clubs (my unit is all male) ego and weaknesses play a big part rightly or wrongly. I recently deployed overseas and the Chaplian was invaluable and all tours we take one across. The chaplians role is to be an ear to everyone where you can discuss your problems without it being reported. Our soldiers used it alot and the chaplian had the ear of the commander so if he need to say something about stuff happening he always could. When I was in Comd I found the chaplian may have a chat to me about a certain solder feeling home sick or his wife is giving him grief about the kids. It enabled us to moniter the situation and assist were possible ie ensure he gets time off to call home and appropriate times etc etc (mainly without him knowing that we know). We even had a chaplian in Aus attend a solders wife and organise for defence to get a babysitter to get her some time off, these are things the soldiers won't discuss with their peers or direct supervisors because of image etc etc.

The football club will be the same and young guys who maybe home sick, not sure where they stand in the peeking order or just struggling with the full on world or AFL have someone to talk too with out the perceived issue of seeing a counseler as the chaplian talks to everyone. Over my 12 years in the military I have talked to the chaplians on multiple occasions and don't think we have discussed religion once. I don't think the Chaplain was hired by the MFC to discuss the bible

Wolfmother

Thanks for the explanation, but I'm not sure what this has to do wit religion? Might be a good idea to have someone that "looks after" that kind of thing, but why should he be promoted as having an affiliation (this probably isn't strong enough of a word) with a specific religion?

I like to think of Jesus as, like, wearing a tuxedo shirt?

Because he wants to be formal, but he also wants to say "hey, I'm here to party."

This has single handedly redeemed this thread.

Amen.

rpfc, just read your last 2 posts

i think its time for your afternoon nap

As a long standing atheist, I do not abhor religion, I ignore it. I don't have a problem with the club having a chaplain as I am sure that the main activity of such a person would be in counselling, something that every AFL club needs.

Exactly my point.

And to those of you saying he doesn't preach the bible, watch here:

No, I don't think that is your point. Your point was because religion played a part it is relevant. I said the complete opposite.

rpfc, just read your last 2 posts

i think its time for your afternoon nap

They're gold, and you know it, DC.

They're gold, and you know it, DC.

Gold!!!

They're unadulterated poppyc0ck, and YOU know it!

I refuse though to get drawn into a debate on religion/atheism

Just rememember there is only ONE true religion and it wears red'n'blue (except in clashes of course)