That is a good explanation. Anything that can be interpreted as a religious expression should over-ride. However, in this case, the officials cannot be faulted. No one knows the "Finger = God" expression, whether that's what the kid meant or not. (And which I still think is not likely. I think the officials are right: One finger pointed to the sky after winning equals "#1" being broadcast to the crowd.) Therefore, the officials must enforce a relatively dumb rule, although an NFL endzone celebration makes me puke. That is far more, though, than one finger pointed to the sky.
I have heard that a hip-swaying, shouting, gaggle of celebrants is really a liturgical dance in honor of God.
LOL!
The question is whether the gesture can “reasonably” be interpreted as a religious expression. It is very common in professional sports for athletes to point upward after a victory as an expression of thanks to God. I see it all the time and it has become routine with pitchers when they get the final out in a game.
There is no doubt that pointing to the sky has become a religious expression in sports. The rule prohibits “celebratory gestures” and is intended to limit those kinds of expressions which draw undue attention to the athlete. The rule, however, cannot prohibit any gesture intended to give honor to God.
As with all rules, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. The rule is unconstitutionally overbroad. They should have included language that exempts religious expression or indicated that it applied to gestures intended to taunt the other athletes or to draw undue attention to the person making the gesture. Apparently neither of those conditions were present here.
I’m hoping Jay Sekulow meets with this kid.