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Thread: Is sport a religion?

  1. #1
    #LOCKE4GOD Is sport a religion? Alpha's Avatar
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    Is sport a religion?

    Disclaimer: I stole this topic from an essay I wrote in my first year of University, for a Religious Studies paper. If parts of the following text seem disjointed, overly formal, generally out of place, or just shit (my essay writing has improved from first year), then that is why. Just ignore the 'surface' of this post.

    Oh, and sorry for all the NZ references -- but the essay required them, and it's easier to leave them in, especially because a lot of my evidence refers to studies carried out within New Zealand. I don't think it's a leap to suggest that they generally apply to other Western nations.


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    It is often claimed that New Zealand’s most popular form of religion is "beer, racing and rugby" -- but is usually raised in jest. However, it does suggest a deeper link between sport and leisure with religion.

    Theologian Lloyd Geering argues that by the year 2100 we are likely to have new, more secular forms of ‘religion’ that will “probably not even be called religion.” Different ideas of what religion ‘is’ do arrive at differing conclusions, particularly when linked to sport.

    To see sport and leisure as a surrogate religion is relatively simple, as the rituals, symbology, feelings of transcendence and social values of sport arguably make it a form of ‘folk’ or ‘secular’ religion.

    For many reasons, however, sport may not be conceived of as a form of religion, mainly as it is clear that sport does not attempt to answer any ‘ultimate’ questions. In addition, sport has severed its organic roots to become almost completely commercial, and quite often contributes to the negative societalisation of people, ultimately shedding its religious connotations.

    These arguments that sport does and does not equate to religion appear mutually exclusive, but there does exist a more relevant middle ground where the two concepts relate symbiotically, with neither claiming to be the other, but instead operating complementarily. This result appears the most useful, as the alternative arguments rely on foundations that cannot coexist.

    Possibly the clearest vision of sport as religion is contained in the plethora of organisations, rituals and symbology associated with sport that establishes it as at least quasi-religious. Any religion lacking a coordinating body would also lack a high level of organisation and activity for its religious sentiment. In terms of organisations then, for example, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) can be seen to be the organising force of New Zealand rugby ‘sentiment’. If a functional definition of religion is utilised, organisational structures of sport and religion have similar purpose – to coordinate. Despite our secular culture portraying strictly religious rituals as “silly”, they are shamelessly copied by every other part of society. Sport has its ‘hallowed grounds’, onto which only the best may walk; ‘saints’ are made out of retired players, those who best embodied the dogma of the sport; and images of players are transformed into ‘icons’. This is a Durkheimian perspective of religion, where the distinction lies in a common conception of sacredness. Both traditional religions and sports involve activities, locations and events that are non-ordinary and are maintained intentionally as separate from everyday life. Anything that holds meaning for an individual, and especially an entire nation, begins to take on a vestige of sacredness, in that it becomes revered and respected.

    It is apparent, then, that sport has many aspects of a functioning religion. However, religions also hold 'positive' moral values to heart, and attempt to instil them into their adherents. As a leisure activity, what values does playing and watching sport attempt to reinforce? At first glance, individuals rarely think of sport moralistically; seemingly, it is a fun, recreational activity. However, this is too simple, and there are various moral messages that are implicit or explicit within sport. One of the more obvious is the notion that one must submit to a team. Various means are used to emphasise a team ethos, such as travelling to events as a team unit, the use of a uniform not only at games, but at practices and in transit – places where they have no purpose aside from creating this sense of camaraderie. Rules of sport teach children to submit raw individualism for the good of others. Parents, schools, and wider society commonly encourage sports participation in children as a good way to socialise children into values of hard work, determination, goal attainment, and self-discipline. Indeed, it seems unlikely that there is anything else that can provide a comparable level of recognition and celebration of success to such a diverse array of people.

    In addition to these earthly moral values, sport can often function as a source of ultimate meaning, further giving credence to its comparison with religion. There was seriously one TV opinion poll (of New Zealanders), who placed the losses of the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups alongside the Holocaust and the bombing of Hiroshima as the ten worst disasters of the 20th Century. With so much personal and national identity linked to sport, the desire for sporting victory clearly assumes a high position in many lives. The level of importance given to victorious national sportspeople is a significant source of collective meaning, fulfilment and purpose, which is not too far removed from the role of religion over the last century. It is possible to argue that with secularism, declining institutionalised religion, and an ever-present desire for sacredness, “minor forms of worship” arise, in particular, popular spectator sports.

    Another aspect of religion that is present in sport is feelings of transcendence. In recreation, ordinary life is set aside, and awareness is narrowed to be almost solely concerned with the activity. High-performance athletes often describe experiencing a feeling of ‘peak performance’, or perfection within the confines of the sport. This feeling in sport has been described as a type of ecstatic “madness” and sense of “all-encompassing” action. It is unrealistic to assume what people of certain religions experience of their faith by looking solely at their dogmas and organisations; rather, it depends on an introduction to a whole new world, a new plane of experience.

    From this Durkheimian perspective it is possible that sport can be treated as a form of surrogate religion. However, this approach can be criticised on several levels, and one of the most significant concerns the very nature of sport. Sport has a “spiritual poverty” in that it does not propose some form of supernatural salvation from this world, or indeed much in the way of non-earthly experience. Sport may have rules to govern play within 80 minutes, but it does not provide a set of ‘rules’ to govern life.

    To consider sport an adequate 'secular religion', on should consider how the different genders approach the same 'religion'. One study highlighted that (in New Zealand), 69 percent of all sports participants, 79 percent of paid Executive Officers, 80 percent of volunteer administrators, and 89 percent of elected national directors, are male. Sports are seen as more important to male school students, who, on average, participate in a far wider range of sports than female students. This (male) sporting culture is often combined with a drinking culture; two activities which are so prominent in New Zealand that they are seen as the origins of hegemonic masculinity in feminist literature. A 1988 study showed that over 1.3 million New Zealanders belonged to a sports club of some description, and that most of the clubs surveyed were licensed to sell alcohol – something the clubs saw as necessary to attract and retain members. The question raised from a feminist perspective is how much of this ‘quasi-religious’ support for sport and alcohol is actually aimed at, and supported by, men? In particular, this ‘beer, racing and rugby’ religion cannot claim to be the 'comprehensive religion’ if women do not participate to anywhere near the same extent as men. If sport is a religion, is it a male religion rather than a female one?

    ---------------------------------------

    From a functional perspective, sport takes on many societal roles that religion has and does. These include rituals, the creation of sacred space, formation of social values, and feelings of transcendence in players. In combination, and in our increasingly secular nations, sport has potentially taken on the role of surrogate religion.

    On the other hand, sport has never attempted to answer ultimate questions of human existence, and how to achieve non-worldly status. With the advent of professionalism, sport has become obsessed with its own productivity, shedding many religious connotations. The values sport inherently suggests for society can also be considered somewhat masculine, and unrepresentative of many females in society.


    ---------------------------------------

    So what are your thoughts? Can sport be considered a religion?


  2. #2
    .............. Is sport a religion? smurphy's Avatar
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    Re: Is sport a religion?

    While I am loath to admit, being a huge "sports fan" myself, the parallels between sport and religion are uncanny. If you have a team, you support them vigorously through thick and thin your whole life whilst if you have a religion and take it seriously you act as a person of that religion should regardless of how things are in life. One of the biggest differences I am finding is that the allure of sports is the promise of glory for the team you play for or support. Religions sole motivator is fear. Fear of the afterlife(hell), judgement etc.

    As a substitute for religion sport seems to be filling the void quite nicely. We as a civilisation seem to be lacking of religious zealots(of the calibre of crusaders, the spanish inquisition and the people who shot down evolution as a law(ooops,, sorry, they are still around)) apart from islamist exremists among the extremely non sporty arabs. What we have instead are hooligans and ultras who create conflict not because of the team they affiliate themselves with but because of the fact they are affiliated with a team at all, much in the same way a lot of crusaders were not very pious or anything but simply catholic, which for them was good enough to slaughter people mercilessly.

    As in religion there are ceremonies. Showing up at your teams ground or stadium at the weekend can be seen to have parallels with attending religious service. Keeping with the kiwi theme each game the All Blacks do the "Haka" which itself is derived from an ancient maori wardance which produces zeal in those who perform it. Instead of hymns we have the songs popular among or associated with teams. For example Liverpool FC fans sing "You'll never walk alone" with more passion than you would hear at any religious service.

    As well as that those who run sport seem to take to corruption and madness as quickly as the most devious of religious leaders. Take for example FIFA and the self contradicting Sepp Blatter. The man couldnt organise a piss up in a brewery yet he is managing to make money and consolidate power through corruption.

    But I would like to stop the comparisons and ask a question. Has a sporting fixture result, or conflict between managers/coaches or even a horrible incident like Heysel ever started a war? I know religion has. Still is. It is only when politics enters sports that it loses virtue(a la Blatter).
    Last edited by smurphy; 01-16-2011 at 03:24 PM.
    "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."
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  3. #3
    (ღ˘⌣˘ღ) Is sport a religion? che's Avatar
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    Re: Is sport a religion?

    I think you can definitely compare them, but sport is not a religion. Sure, it has things in common: some sort of organization, rituals, view that supporting another team might be "evil" or what have you. However, sport doesn't have any base models for overall origin/purpose of life and the universe and nature.

    You could say that it may have morals, much like religion does (governed by the rulebook of the sport and referees) but these deal with only the sport which is one aspect of life, where as religion is usually an overall idea. But I don't like the idea that religion is the only or most important source of morals. Not only do I not like it, I have found that I hold many morals I was never taught when I was forced to be religious, before I had my own views on the matter (at a young age).


    That people said, you could say that religion is a sport.

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  4. #4
    The Mad God Is sport a religion? Heartless Angel's Avatar
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    Re: Is sport a religion?

    Though the two share a startling ammount of similarities, I believe ultimately what defines them is their purpose. The purpose of religion is to try and understand the universe, its origin, its purpose, and where we fit into it, whereas sports are simply for entertainment (though some take it way beyond that lol).

    I also think proof has a major role in showing a difference between the two. When something has enough evidence to remove the need for faith, it's no longer religion, or theory, it's science. In athletics, we know how everything works, the significance of everything, and can observe all meaningful aspects of the event. It'd be difficult for me to consider statements of obvious observable facts religious in nature.
    For Our Lord Sheogorath, without Whom all Thought would be linear and all Feeling would be fleeting. Blessed are the Madmen, for they hold the keys to secret knowledge. Blessed are the Phobic, always wary of that which would do them harm. Blessed are the Obsessed, for their courses are clear. Blessed are the Addicts, may they quench the thirst that never ebbs. Blessed are the Murderous, for they have found beauty in the grotesque. Blessed are the Firelovers, for their hearts are always warm. Blessed are the Artists, for in their hands the impossible is made real. Blessed are the Musicians, for in their ears they hear the music of the soul. Blessed are the Sleepless, as they bask in wakeful dreaming. Blessed are the Paranoid, ever-watchful for our enemies. Blessed are the Visionaries, for their eyes see what might be. Blessed are the Painlovers, for in their suffering, we grow stronger. Blessed is the Madgod, who tricks us when we are foolish, punishes us when we are wrong, tortures us when we are unmindful, and loves us in our imperfection.





  5. #5
    #LOCKE4GOD Is sport a religion? Alpha's Avatar
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    Re: Is sport a religion?

    Smurphy:

    You get the point exactly.

    However, I don't like the latter part; somewhat because I disagree with the "religion = war" thesis (extremist ideology of any kind, and money, are far more significant motivators, in my opinion).

    Moreover, I cited a TV opinion poll (of New Zealanders; in my essay), who placed the losses of the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups alongside the Holocaust and the bombing of Hiroshima as the ten worst disasters of the 20th Century. While I doubt the validity of the poll -- I would suggest most people polled were being funny -- sport is hugely important to some people.

    No, it does not start wars. However sport and conflict do go together: you're from the UK -- tell us about football hooliganism. Important sporting losses are also associated with sharp rises in domestic abuse -- that's a form of conflict (often ignored as such, unfortunately).

    Quote Originally Posted by chad
    ...you could say that religion is a sport.
    <3 <3 This is seriously so profound.

    Heartless Angel:

    Considering the purpose of them is the surest way to find their differences. Sport does not attempt to answer 'ultimate questions' of the origins of life, and so on and so forth. Religion does. Good.

    However, that is not the sole, or even the most important 'function' of religion. Religion and sport can both, independently, provide a deep sense of purpose for individuals and communities; in their daily lives, when they're directly involved in it (in a game; in church), and outside of it (praying at home, debating theology; practising, purchasing sport equipment).

    What I want you to do is to try consider the function, not the purpose of sport and religion. To illustrate: consider a personal shrine in a religious person's home, and contrast it with a HD TV with surround surround, and the sport channel stubbornly plugged in. The shrine may be for personal salvation, and the TV/sport for entertainment -- but the uncanny resemblance of the two is what I want you to focus on. On the TV, we watch "saints" (sports stars) perform "miraculous deeds" (sporting prowess). Physically, both items are placed prominently within homes, as physical symbols of what is important to the individuals in question.

    You could the ask if sport -- a secular activity undoubtedly -- is filling some void in human nature left by the decline in religious observance.

    Of course the hardest argument to shrug off with such a perspective is the obvious possibility of being religious and sports-mad. Still, it's interesting to think about, right?


  6. #6
    The Mad God Is sport a religion? Heartless Angel's Avatar
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    Re: Is sport a religion?

    No, I see what you're getting at. And in society, they do sort of fill the same role, but the difference in purpose prevents me from being able to consider them one in the same.
    For Our Lord Sheogorath, without Whom all Thought would be linear and all Feeling would be fleeting. Blessed are the Madmen, for they hold the keys to secret knowledge. Blessed are the Phobic, always wary of that which would do them harm. Blessed are the Obsessed, for their courses are clear. Blessed are the Addicts, may they quench the thirst that never ebbs. Blessed are the Murderous, for they have found beauty in the grotesque. Blessed are the Firelovers, for their hearts are always warm. Blessed are the Artists, for in their hands the impossible is made real. Blessed are the Musicians, for in their ears they hear the music of the soul. Blessed are the Sleepless, as they bask in wakeful dreaming. Blessed are the Paranoid, ever-watchful for our enemies. Blessed are the Visionaries, for their eyes see what might be. Blessed are the Painlovers, for in their suffering, we grow stronger. Blessed is the Madgod, who tricks us when we are foolish, punishes us when we are wrong, tortures us when we are unmindful, and loves us in our imperfection.





  7. #7
    .............. Is sport a religion? smurphy's Avatar
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    Re: Is sport a religion?

    Ok assuming that religion and sport are basically interchangeable in regards to the role they play in peoples lives I think it would be interesting to examine the team as a substitute for a deity. For example as a lifelong gooner(Arsenal FC fan to the rest of the world) the team itself is infallible in my eyes, but the personnel are culpable if their actions cause detriment to the team.Yet the only change to my life is that I have to find a few hours each week to watch their matches on TV. In religion the deity is sacrosanct and is followed under the impression that whatever said deity communicated to said prophet is law. So people live their lives to how they believe their deity wants them to. I dont think sports would have such a big effect as to affect lifestyles and how people choose to live.

    And if a team is a substitute deity, what positions do personnel past and present substitute for. Do team legends substitute for prophets or messiahs whatever the hell other religions have? In this context, can Jonah Lomu be seen as the All Blacks equivalent of Jesus? I dont think most people would take sport as seriously as that but as shown with the TV opinion poll(even assuming that most are joking) there are quite a few zealots supporting major teams.
    Last edited by smurphy; 01-18-2011 at 08:26 AM.
    "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."
    Winston S.Churchill

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