Pope Says Sundays are for God, not Sports
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul on Friday said Sunday should be a day for God, not for secular diversions like entertainment and sports.
On a related note, the Pope says that too many people are spending money on their favorite sporting events, hot dogs, drinks and pay per view sporting events on Sundays - - and that is money that should be placed into the collection plate!
Does it count if the athletes thank their god when they score? Does it count if the sports fan yells “Thank you, jesus!” when their favorite sports team gives the other team a good old fashioned pounding on the field? Americans will congregate to party, pray, swear, chant, eat, drink and bond. They will wear symbolic clothes, attend public rites, recall heroic deeds, consult oracles, hand down traditions and spend — or risk — millions of dollars.
Is this not religion?
4:11 am on March 28th, 2004
arghhhh youre right!
I’m glad i hate physical activity now heheh
opium for the masses in a new form huh.
10:58 am on March 28th, 2004
Opium for the masses in an old form!
I think the Pope has to say this stuff - it’s his job, whether it makes sense, or not.
4:54 pm on March 28th, 2004
I am not Catholic but it seems that leaders in religious institutions of that age tend to get either/or and “pay the price” now kind of lingo.
I don’t know the whole story of course but the “good” I see in this is that it might cause already Christian sports addicts and gamblers to reconsider their priorities.
It would surprise me if this was directed at the average Joe/Jane sports fan and people who aren’t already in the church.
Just this little ignorant protestants 2 cents
7:14 pm on March 28th, 2004
Quite possibly, Randy.
I still say sports is a religion in and of itself
9:33 pm on July 28th, 2004
:???:i wnt to know more about sport and religion.does anyone van help me?i want to do my assignment.
9:47 pm on September 23rd, 2004
Sad to see the great beacon of religious freedom that America was listen to the greatest persecutor of Christians ever - the head of the Catholic church.
1:11 pm on April 6th, 2005
I agree with the notion that athletes glorify their god or religion through sports. It was God that gave us the ability to be such great athletes, it seems to me that it would be disrespectful if we did not use these abilities.
Oh yea, as far as your writing though…there are differences in sport and religion. Jay Coakley said it best: “religion emphasizes a spirit of humility and love of others, whereas sport emphasizes a spirit of personal achievement and defeat of others.”
(Side note: Cutting and pasting other people’s work and their original thoughts in order to have this website and persuade people that you are smarter than you really are is just plain sad. i.e. Terry Mattingly’s “Religion of American Sports” in 1996…)
1:26 pm on April 6th, 2005
Thanks for the contribution, Brant . . good stuff.
And that I failed to link Terry Mattingly on this small post I did well over a year ago . . oversight on my part, I’m sure. If I can find, or if you have a link for him - I’d be more than willing to rectify.
Thanks!
7:13 am on August 3rd, 2007
i want to know more about Sport & Religion