I always think it's annoying when athletes thank God for their success on the court, field, etc...

I guess I could understand being thankful that no one was injured, but really...

Well, I don't have a problem with it, but then again I thank God for everything good and bad in my life.

I'm agnostic and I don't really have a problem with people thanking their god for whatever victory. It's a much better application of religion then, say, being hateful towards people who don't share your beliefs.

That being said, when I played sports in school (and I was Christian then), I absolutely hated it when my coach would pray before a game. It made absolutely no sense to me, and I though it was insensitive considering one of my teammates was Hindu, and another was Muslim.

I think if religion should be kept out of sports then they probably shouldn't have Christians in sports. When someone becomes a Christian, that's part of who they are now. They shouldn't be expected to set that part of themselves on a shelf (so to speak) at certain times because acting like a Christian may offend someone.

I think it's funny. When they pray before the game then thank God for the win I always want to say "Yea, God used His time to help you win instead of curing cancer. Thanks a lot @$$hole."

I think it's funny. When they pray before the game then thank God for the win I always want to say "Yea, God used His time to help you win instead of curing cancer. Thanks a lot @$$hole."

maybe he had a bet going

I'd love to see an athlete say "I want to thank Buddah for the win. I rubbed that little fat b*stards belly, took a hit of the hookah, and ......... I forgot where I was going with this".... :smokin: :smokin:

But is an individual player choosing to thank God for whatever it is they thank Him for really "religion in sports?" No, it's the individual, if someone thanking God annoys you then that's fine, but it's freedom of speech.

Like others have said, I don't think that God choses who wins the game, He's busy with other stuff. However, in high school we always prayed for safety, and were encouraged NOT to pray for a win, but just safety and a God honoring attitude. When I watch sports I just watch the game and none of the other stuff, so I don't really know what most athletes say, but I personally do thank God for the ability to play sports, when others can't and I suppose that if I were a professional athlete I would also thank God for giving me my athletic ability. So I guess what I'm saying is if they are attributing the win to God then I don't like it but it's "freedom of speech" but if they are just thanking God for their abilities then why not? I thank God for the very air I breath!

Which then brings up having a "gift from god" debate. So god chooses who can have great ability? That others are favored over others? Wouldn't this also be true then that people who are afflicted with disease from birth are also chosen by god to have it?

Everyone has a gift. Some can sing, some can dance, some can play an instrument, some can play a sport, some can touch people's lives in ways other can't. You can't say that people afflicted with disease aren't gifted in their own way. You cannot say what purpose each human has. Our lives shouldn't be given worth based on what "gifts" we have.

So a child who is born mentally ill and needs constant 24 hour surveillance because they can't eat, use the bathroom, speak or write, nor care for themselves has some special gift to give? Working for a Wellness Center, I get to see patients of cancer, leukemia, mental illness and disability and have to believe that a "real god" who supposedly "loves" humans would let this happen. Especially to innocent children.
As for you last line, people say all the time "that person is wasting god given talent/gift", so though it shouldn't be even many a christian does.

Yes, all humans have worth and a gift. I'm not suggesting to even know what that gift is. I just believe each human's life has a purpose. I, too, know many people with disabled children, physically and mentally and some who have lost a child. They do not feel their child's life is not a gift to them, just as their other children's are. If you believe that this life is all there is, I can see being pissed. But, for those who believe, it is easier to handle the struggles and sufferings of this life.

When most people say "that person is wasting God given talent", they usually mean that person is really gifted at something that could bring some good to this world, but decided against that path.

Yes, everyone has a gift. Hitler was a great public speaker and full of charisma. My friend whose baby died 2 weeks after being born got the gift of debilitating grief that ended her marriage and made her too dang afraid to ever have kids again. Great job God. I guess of the "all knowing, powerful, and loving" qualities He supposedly possesses we can cross "loving off the list. He can't be all 3.

IMHO, I cross off "all powerful" from your list. I believe God does not interfere at all in human affairs. If he were to meddle, then we don't have free will, do we? We're just puppets playing out a predetermined show. Free will means we are on our own. Things happen, and based on our perspective, we label them as good things or bad things, and life goes along. I see God as a spectator, not as the guy running things.

But is an individual player choosing to thank God for whatever it is they thank Him for really "religion in sports?" No, it's the individual, if someone thanking God annoys you then that's fine, but it's freedom of speech.

Like others have said, I don't think that God choses who wins the game, He's busy with other stuff. However, in high school we always prayed for safety, and were encouraged NOT to pray for a win, but just safety and a God honoring attitude. When I watch sports I just watch the game and none of the other stuff, so I don't really know what most athletes say, but I personally do thank God for the ability to play sports, when others can't and I suppose that if I were a professional athlete I would also thank God for giving me my athletic ability. So I guess what I'm saying is if they are attributing the win to God then I don't like it but it's "freedom of speech" but if they are just thanking God for their abilities then why not? I thank God for the very air I breath!

Which then brings up having a "gift from god" debate. So god chooses who can have great ability? That others are favored over others? Wouldn't this also be true then that people who are afflicted with disease from birth are also chosen by god to have it?


A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

It's not that they are "favored" per-say, it's just the way they were born. But if the athlete who is thanking God for their ability is a Christian and therefore lives by what the bible says, it says "be thankful in EVERYTHING" so it is not a matter of God choosing to make one person an athlete and give someone else MS or some other disease, it is about being thankful for everything.