[1] Any religion worth its salt embraces all of life, not just
the recesses of the heart, the sacred hour on Sunday, or the
intimacies of family and friendship. A serious Christian, Jew, or
Muslim who participates in sport also practices that athletic
activity in the light of his or her faith. So there is no question
that sport-one of the mainstays of life, especially in affluent
societies-can be freighted with religious meaning. The more
difficult question is: how should religious conviction be expressed
in sport?
[2] One option is simply to hide it from view. This approach is
taken by many religious people in other areas of life-business,
politics, education, and entertainment. Religion for them operates
as motivation or perhaps as the ground of ethics that can be shared
with other decent people. Many people prefer religion to stay
private, for some good and many bad reasons. The problem with this
"hidden" approach is that all those areas of life can and will be
filled with other meanings and values, some of them contrary to
what religious people believe. None of these key areas in
life-including sports-is simply neutral. They convey meanings and
values. Why should religious meanings and values be refused their
part in defining the meanings and values of sport? Why should sport
be completely secular?
[3] As I argued above, it shouldn't. True religion is
comprehensive. But religion can also be abused, as it often is in
sport. One abuse occurs when the divine is manipulated for the
player's own use. Religion is turned into a magical formula in
which one tries to wheedle the majestic, omnipotent Creator of All
into doing one's bidding. Crossing oneself before a free throw or
time at bat, or praying for victory fall into that category. While
I am happy to know that that player is a Christian, I wonder
whether he has a mature notion of God. Why should God prefer his
victory over that of his competitor? More seriously, why should He
care? (One of my moments of religious clarity was refusing to pray
for victory in the pre-game huddle instituted by my college
football team's coach. Maybe I should have joined in; we usually
got beat.)
[4] Another abuse is inserting religious gestures directly into the
performance of the sport. The finger poked heavenward, the prayer
in the end zone, or crossing oneself after an athletic triumph all
seem to violate the integrity of the athlete's primary role. I am
disgusted by players acting as the audience by honoring themselves,
acting as referees or cheerleaders, or by acting as entertainers
who offer us song, dance, and ditty. I would also prefer that
players not act as evangelists during the performance of their
athletic roles. We could apply Luther's famous saying that good
cobblers make good shoes, not poor shoes with little crosses on
them. Good players play well without adorning their play with
little crosses.
[5] True, it is far better for the player to point heavenward than
to point to himself after a particularly good performance. But it
is difficult not to get the impression that the player is fusing
his triumph with God's will. If the player were consistent, he
would point skyward to mark the judgment of God after he got his
shot blocked or struck out. I haven't seen that lately.
[6] What room then is left for religious expression? First, one can
give a public religious interpretation of one's participation in
sport. When the sprinter in Chariots of Fire tells his pious sister
that when he runs "I can feel His pleasure," he is voicing a
profound joy that athletes experience when their performance is at
peak. As a fairly good tennis player, I have a sacramental (small
"s") sense of union when the mind and body are working in beautiful
harmony to propel that ball accurately over the net on a beautiful
court in the morning sunshine. One need not keep that great feeling
private.
[7] Many fine athletes have a deep sense of gratitude to God for
the talents they have been given, and it is refreshing to hear them
mention that to interviewers who want them to talk of their
accomplishments. Further, it is heartening to listen to expressions
of gratitude to others who have helped them along the way,
including their teammates. Praying before games is a common
practice that is certainly fitting if it involves supplication for
good play, sportsmanship, and protection from injury. (I must add
that it seems curious to pray for safety in a sport that is
inherently dangerous, like football or auto racing. Players
intentionally place themselves in a dangerous role and at the same
time pray to God to keep them safe. By the end of my football
career I was adding a petition of repentance to God in my private
pre-game prayer for putting myself in harm's way.)
[8] It is also altogether appropriate for teams from both sides to
gather together after a game to offer thanks for the opportunity to
play and for safe passage. Such rituals are often occasions for
reconciliation after the fierce competition is over. Serious
Christians and Jews can also witness to the fact that their faith
comes before their sport by refusing to violate their religious
practices. Sandy Koufax, the great pitcher, refused to pitch on the
Sabbath. Similarly, it is a sign of religious seriousness when
players are able publicly to acknowledge the relative unimportance
of athletic contests and their role in them before the more
profound triumphs and tragedies of life. Mature persons of faith do
not confuse the fate of the Washington Redskins with the salvation
of their souls.
[9] I certainly do not begrudge athletes the opportunity to use
their athletic celebrity to further their religious causes, as many
athletes from Bob Richards to Reggie White have done. That is far
nobler than selling Viagra. Finally, religion in sport can and
should elevate sportsmanship-fair play, respect for the opponent,
and civility toward officials. It is impressive to see players help
their fallen opponents off the floor or turf now and then, not only
their teammates.
© June 2002
Journal of Lutheran Ethics
Volume 2, Issue 2