I have read with interest two articles this week which looked at the role of religion in sport, one regarding Manny Pacquiao finding God, and another concerning Bubba Watson.
Both articles made some good points, but I’d like to look at the role of religion in the life of many and seek to offer a different perspective.
I should declare my hand first though. I am a Christian, studying theology with the intent of becoming a church minister. I am also a keen sports fan on hiatus from playing cricket and (round ball) football.
The first question that comes up from the two articles this week is this: why do sportspeople feel the need to thank God? Did He do something special for them?
I would dare to say that for many it is not a thanks offered for a recovery shot on the 14th or a great pass in the third quarter. Rather, to thank God or Jesus in that moment is an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the role that their faith has in their life.
Shaun Hart is but one example of this. He thanked his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Jesus didn’t take a speccy, He didn’t collect 30 kicks and a dozen handpasses. But who Jesus is for Shaun meant he wanted to publicly name him.
I also do not think that it’s necessarily a matter of ramming religion down the throat of the masses. To thank God is not Bible bashing. Again, I would argue that it is just an acknowledgement of the important place that player’s religious beliefs hold in their life.
The second question is this: How much does God care/interact/intervene with a sporting event? If we’re talking about results, I don’t think God is that interested. If we’re talking about character and temperament, I think God does care immensely.
What I appreciate about Tim Tebow is how striking his humility is. For an athlete such as he, his feet are well and truly planted on the ground. I think he, unlike others, is willing to speak of God whether his team wins or loses.
And it must be said that I believe there are plenty of things God is concerned with on earth, and a lot of those things are more important than who wins in a sporting match. I think it’s misguided to pray for a victory, and said as much on Ben’s article.
So what should sportspeople do with their faith? I think they need to live it out faithfully, seeking to honour God in their actions. Answer questions when asked, acknowledge God when opportunities arise but don’t shove it down people’s throats. Play the game as it was meant to be played, within the rules and in the spirit.
I know this site is not a religious forum, but I’d be very interested in having a friendly discussion on how religion can be represented in sport.
nomis
Guest
Mate, I'm pretty sure not all religious people are like that. And there have been serious atrocities committed by people based on atheistic principles as well. You're right that a lot of "Christians" have done terrible things over the years, but this is not because of Jesus' teachings, but IN SPITE of what he taught.
Smackitup
Roar Rookie
It's bloody sickening how some players can't do anything without these inane useless gods muck jestures when they score or don't score. Or run on or off the field. Or virtually when anything happens to them. The blinding hypocrisy of these players is pure fodder for comedy. They openly declare themselves to belong to one jehovah jiving jesus junkie sect or another. Which means they are devotees of a so called ethically moralistic goody two shoes do no harm, tell no lies, christian, muslim buddhist or zoroastrian etc prayermongering peacenik cult. Be it a mega cult like the catholics or some obscure backyard mob etc etc. Then they go out and viciously thug their way through games an blantantly con referees as do Suarez and Drop Down Drogba. NEVER FORGET. Ever since godgobbers invented this superstitious nonsense and bible bilge they've gone about slaughtering millions, including innocent babies, right up to today over these weirdo beliefs in super sky beings, and prophecies of eternal incinerationin for non compliance. Lying,cheating,stealing and violence comes natural to prayermongers because they can easily say a devil made them do it. Even though devils are nore real than gods. All this godgobbing garbage in football and sport is nauseatingly pathetic. But eventually it will explode in mega violence.There's already been many huge clashes and major rioting on religious grounds. Organised squads of fundamentalist crackpot nutters using football to run amok against other mad godgobbering lunatic fans. All godgobbers,plyers and fans, and their dangerous godgobbing, need to be exterminated from sport. How much brainless gobbledy gook do we have to put up with. It's bad enough having to listen to New Zealands anthem about a goddy spirit of some description defending them,.,hahahaha before the get slaughtered by heaps, or the mind numbing stupidity of the British anthem and its ethereal entity looking after Madge. Crikey,.,lets just play the bloody game.
John
Guest
Every time someone claims to have found god I wonder when he was lost. "The trouble with born-again Christians is that they are an even bigger pain the second time around." (Herb Caen)
Lucan
Common courtesy is that you offer your thanks. Be it a waiter in a restaurant, someone holding open a door, a stranger who gives you directions or tells you the time, or the deity you subscribe to. Thanks isn't asked for, it is given. I think the private v public displays of faith is a fair question. But do we really jump to the conclusion that Bubba, Tebow, or Manny believe it more important to have the massive audience or do we jump to the conclusion that they are as faithful and vocal in their every day home lives as much as they are on the victory dais? Its a cynical word, and I'm a cynical person, but I see real value in trying to give people the benefit of the doubt.
Cliff
Guest
The thing I don't understand is why would any god have such a delicate ego that he/she/it requires devotees to constantly give thanks? And is saying thanks in front of a massive television audience worth more somehow than one given in private?
Lucan
If faith is part of the athletes everyday life, why shouldn't it be acknowledged? Speeches often give thanks to family, friends, supporters. For people of faith, their God is part of their family, friends, supporters.
Johnno
Guest
I think sport, politics, and religion are all linked. And no matter how hard people try to ignore it it can't ever be ignored. For example in politics 2 good ones. -Apartheid, in South africa, it is undeniable that the rebel cricket tours and rugby tours brought attention to the political plight in South Africa. In fact having those sports tours I think did more harm than good for the South African apartheid political parties , becoz those sports tours brought global media attention to south africa and all the protests about the tours going ahead. -And the continued sports isolation was hurting South africa's national pride, as sports in the 1980's went global and South Africa was being banned and isolated by many countries in the world. -Also in Germany the Olympics1936 were held there. But the sprinter Jesse Owens famous stance with his arm clenching fist to protest racism brought attention to racism and human rights abuses. -In religion Mohammed Ali was originally Cassius Clay. So religion was important to him. He converted to Islam -As did Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr who became Kareem Abdul Jabber the famous basketball player for the LA Lakers -Hazem El Masri , observed ramadan during his rugby league career. He was Islam as well -SBW, Shaq, Anthony Mundine are all muslim converted as well Micheal Jones famous All Black of Samoan heritage would never play rugby on sunday -Fiji VS Samoa last year in RUgby world cup. After match they all formed a circle and prayed together, and this is on the tv so the media had full access to show pictures of this all around the World. -I think but I am not sure but in the USA in court can place there hand on a bible and say so help me GOD. So religon, sport, politics are all linked and interwoven. And I am not even a very religious person just in my opinion based on my observations of watching sport. And you will notice many rugby players on there tape around there arms have christian messages on them. -