National team players Felix Nmecha and Jonathan Tah are seen praying publicly on the field during the World Cup alongside players from Germany’s group-stage opponent, Curaçao. This image has caused quite a stir among the public. FÜR Karlsruhe is observing the sometimes strident reactions with concern and is firmly committed to promoting the visibility of Christian values in our society. Personal faith is not a purely private matter that must be hidden behind closed doors. It is the foundation of our social coexistence.
City Councilman Friedemann Kalmbach comments on the heated discussion:
“It is telling—and equally alarming—how nervously and, at times, intolerantly segments of the public react when elite athletes profess their faith in God in front of millions of viewers. To claim that personal faith has no place in public life is to misunderstand the roots of our own culture and democracy. The Christian faith has always held a firm and formative place in our society. Our Basic Law is based largely on the Christian view of humanity—the inalienable dignity of the human person is no accident, but is deeply rooted in the Christian understanding. Our strong welfare state, which stands up for the needs of the most vulnerable, also draws directly from Christian charity. These are precisely the values that Germany stands for, and these values stem from the Christian faith.
For us at FÜR Karlsruhe, this is explicitly not about proselytizing or imposing religious beliefs. It is about the foundation of how we treat one another: with love, mutual acceptance, and genuine respect. If we advocate for diversity, we must also have the freedom to tolerate the active practice of faith in public spaces. Felix Nmecha and Jonathan Tah are showing courage and backbone. What we need in this debate is less shrill outrage and, instead, more composure and respect for each individual’s personal convictions.”
A society that disregards its own foundations runs the risk of losing its internal cohesion. A public commitment to the Christian faith enriches the discourse and serves as a reminder of the responsibility we have toward one another—a compass that is also indispensable for political work on the Karlsruhe City Council.
