By Dave Begel Contributing Writer Published Jun 25, 2013 at 4:02 PM Photography: shutterstock.com

My boss Andy Tarnoff wrote about the Discovery Channel special showing one of the innumerable Wallendas' walks on a tightrope across the Grand Canyon.

Beside calling it boring, Tarnoff also objected to the countless references from Wallenda to his deep and abiding Christian beliefs.

This is something that has been gnawing at me for a long, long time.

I believe in religion and religious freedom. I think that if your faith – whatever faith it is – is deep you are lucky. Having faith in faith, if you will, can be a source of great strength.

But here’s what I want to know. How come it is only these Christians who have this seemingly unquenchable drive to shout at me about how great their faith is and how I ought to get on board or I’m doomed?

I don’t see Jews or Muslims or even Lutherans forcing me to sit through their evangelical behavior after they win a game or score a touchdown.

People make fun of Tim Tebow and his demonstration of his faith on the sideline after he has thrown yet another interception. Some think it’s cruel to make fun of him. I think it’s both cruel and presumptuous of him to display his faith to all of us.

I recently was in the hospital and had a test performed by a nurse. During the procedure she talked about how she had been "saved" and about how if I let Christ into my life it may well help my healing process.

I really don’t have any problem with faith. But I can’t stand when people like Wallenda and Tebow and all the other athletes and rappers and actors who say "What’s up to God" after the microphone gets put into their face.

Keep your religion to yourself. Leave me alone.

Dave Begel Contributing Writer

With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.

He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.

This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.

Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.