Almost anyone who has watched a football game on TV (Professional or College) has probably witnessed some form of acknowledgment/pointing to the sky (presumably to God), a quick prayer, or some variation on the 'Sign of the Cross' in celebration during the game, usually after a touchdown has been scored. While not overt or in-your-face, the celebrations are frequent enough that they have become somewhat iconic of touchdown celebrations and football in general.I personally don't have a problem with the gestures. If someone really wants to thank God for the touchdown or the opportunity or whatever, that's up to them. However, I am curious as to what everyone else thinks.
Since the broadcasting of professional football and other sports began, we have witnessed some incredible and inspirational moments, but do the celebrations after those moments go over the top? Do celebrations with religious overtones have a place in the gaudy, commercialized, over-hyped and over-analyzed world of professional sports? Does the intent of an athlete matter at all?
I think it was Elder Holland that said something to the effect of, "We are not the religion that scores the touchdown and throws our arms in the air and says hallelujah." Some times I think it would be fun to be obnoxious with our religion. I'd like to jump up and down and point to the sky when I score a goal. Our church is all about "quiet dignity." That is what makes it a respectable religion. It is just not fun in a traditional sense. Could you imagine Austin Collie going to the Pros and after a touchdown grabbing the mic and saying, "The LDS church is the only true and living church on the face of the whole earth,whooooo." That just wouldn't be our style. Even though it is true. But it would be fun, eh?
ReplyDeleteGod and religion have always been and will always be an influence in the lives of individuals around the world. Although that number of individuals has fluctuated, there will always be that influence there. In recent times, putting God and religion into the mix of the media has surfaced as a both negative and positive issue. Because God and religion has such a big influence in the lives of people, I think it should not be a big deal when it is implemented into the media. I believe that the gestures and the praising of God in sports that are in the spotlight of heavy media is not a big deal. Does God care? God cares about the things that we care about… to a certain extent. Don’t get me wrong, because I absolutely love watching sports, but it seems to me that the following and participation in sports has become a religion of its own and the worship thereof is in much greater supply than the worship of God. I don’t think God can praise something that is “idolized”. Do these celebrations with religious overtones go over the top? Yes and no. I think that some of the athletes truly are praising God for the talent they’ve been given. For example, at the end of every game, win or lose, the quarterback for the University of Texas, Colt McCoy praises his “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” for the opportunities he’s been given and the talents that he’s been given. Others seem to just transfer religion to the gaudy and commercialized tones of the sport. They praise God with a gesture to the sky or a prayer in the endzone- but it’s not my place to judge their motives, right??
ReplyDeleteI remember watching some sporting event with my dad when an athlete did some prayer or something and hearing my dad say, "Oh, do you really think God cares that you just scored?" I opperated under that same mind set for many year but reacently had a change of heart. I've been reading a lot of sports stories lately and I'm amazed at what some of these people go through. Especially in the NFL. That fact that they make it all the way to the pros and through trainging and manage to score a touchdown while several large men are attempting to crush them is enough for me to understand why they would want to thank God. If they never mentioned him, I bet I would think, "It's strange that no one sees God's hand in things." I personally was raised to be more private with my religion, but I don't have a problem with these athletes if they are expressing true graditude. They are in an environment where that is acceptable. I suppose if nobody thought it was weird to pray over food at restaurants, we'd see that a lot more often as well.
ReplyDeleteI think this topic is very interesting because I have seen people really believe that God has an effect on sports games. I remember a time when I was visiting my ex-boyfriend's family in St. George a few years ago. His dad was a strange man, but very religious in his own way. He showed me a video of a BYU football player many years past (I don't remember what year or who the football player was) but it was a miraculous catch into the end zone to win the game for BYU. My boyfriend's dad was convinced that angels and God had helped carry the football and helped BYU to win the game. My boyfriend happened to be on the BYU footbal team at the time, and his dad then asked me to pray that his son (my boyfriend) would have a mircaculous play like that to get his name recognized and so that he would be able to excel on the team. He sincerely asked me to pray to God that my boyfriend would have a great play in the next season. Some people get really into sports and they believe that if they pray to God, their son, for example, will become well-known on the team he is on. I believe that God can do anything, but I thought this experience was interesting.
ReplyDeleteGod cares about what we care about even if it doesn't have to do with our eternal salvation. That said, yes God cares about sports because we care about them. He wants what we want if it is righteous. What's important to us is important to him. I'm sure there have been many athletes who's performance has been increased and strengthened by God (because we are taught that the Holy Ghost can aid our performance for the benefit of others). And I'm sure those same athletes are very aware of their own weakness without that divine aid. Hence there are many who, upon achievement, wish to express such gratitude. How they do so is their personal choice. If they decide to celebrate with some elaborate, religious routine on the endzone to gain attention and praise, then such would of course not be commendable. However, if they wish to express their thanks in some small outward manner, then by all means let them. Genuinity is king.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is kind of interesting simply because there are tons of players who use Christian undertones as they perform. John Kitna (QB for the Detroit Lions)is a great example. He is a born-again Christian and he was fined by the NFL for not wearing team sanctioned gear in an interview; he was wearing a ball cap with a cross. I also seem to remember an RB for the 49ers a few years ago who was a Muslim and had to balance fasting during with Romidon while playing hard on Sundays.
ReplyDeleteOh, and yes...God does like football. That's why the NFL plays on the Sabbath ;)
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