Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Note:  This is not a criticism of the essence of Christianity or sports, 
but rather a reflection of their current expressions as organizations.

Exclusivity

Competition

Pride


...just my opinion.

Jeff

    Well, team sports, when properly coached, tend to promote the members
    of the team helping one an other. Just as Christianity does.
    
    		Alfred

Along the same lines I can see how both Christianity and team sports promote an
"us against them" attitude.  If you're not part of "us" then you must be part
of "them" and "them" is always a bad thing to be.  I believe that it's more 
effective to embrace someone into a group than to tackle them and force them.

Nanci  

    Anyone ever read the book "Play Fair" by Charles Malik  ? I haven't
    read it, but the book is a  study on competitive sports and the negative
    attitudes it produces in children.

    Definitely on my reading list.


    Peace
    Jim

Wasn't there a song titled something like, "Dropkick Me, Jesus, Over the
Goalpost of Life"?

Richard

I think sports perpetuate and reinforce society's myth that if you work
hard enough, if you're smart enough, if you're tough enough, if you're
persistent enough, if you're committed enough, and if you're willing to
pay the price that you can and will achieve "success."

I use the term "myth" here not to mean something false, but rather a
vehicle for solidifying common notions about the way things are or
ought to be.

The church has had a tough time in recent years contending against
professional sports.   I know locally, church service times have been
skewed to fit the schedule of the Super Bowl and other games.

I guess we know where our priorities are.

Richard

    	Personally, I think this string is rather amusing and reflects the 
    attitudes that permeate this entire conference (ie. one of you can
    attach the 'name' christian to anything and discuss it).  Sports are
    neither inherently christian or non-christian in their simplest form.
    No more then movies, hiking, bird-watching.  Sports are a diversion
    a form of recreation in it's purest form and a form of entertainment
    in other aspects.  It is the attitudes of the participants and
    spectators that bring out true human nature.  Just like anything else,
    it's when 'we' get our hands in it, it gets screwed up.


    	Hey why don't we open a note string on Christianity and donuts?

    	_ed-

    On the other hand sports have origins in ancient pagan practices. The
    Olympic games were originally done for  the sake of the gods, for
    example.
    	One writer I know of asserts that large public gatherings such as
    sports events are encouraged by certain beings because they invoke the
    presence of the being.
    
    So....who's to say maybe there is more of a connection than you care to
    admit between religion and sports
    
    john

Note 314.7

>    	Hey why don't we open a note string on Christianity and donuts?

_ed-

"Athletes in Action" is the Colorado Springs-based sports outreach of
Campus Crusade for Christ.  Based on your suggestion I suppose they might
augment their ministry by also forming "Donuts in Discipleship."

8-}

Peace,
Richard

Paul used imagery based on athletics; racing and boxing.  Doubtlessly
he was familiar with the popularity of the games played in the stadium
at the notorious port town of Corinth.

Richard

    	I was not inferring that the Bible or Christianity has nothing to 
    do with sports, just that they neither support or endorse sports. 
    There are examples of sports mentioned in the Bible but neither
    Christianity or the Bible is to be blamed or credited for the current
    state of athletics in the world.

    	_ed-

    
    Actually, Ed, the best donuts I've ever had were made by ladies from
    various churches.  You know, the ones with no holes dipped in pounds of
    sugar...
    
    Cindy

This topic was a bit of a stretch for me.  Personally, I dislike spectator
sports!  I figured Mike Valenza would take off with it, knowing of his
enthusiasm for professional football.

I have enjoyed many donuts, however.

Richard

    Ah, I hear my name!  :-)  Richard, living in Colorado as you do, you
    are well aware of the religious nature of Broncomania.  I think that
    becomes obvious whenever Denver plays in the Super Bowl and the malls
    close before kickoff on game day, like the event is a kind of religious
    holiday.  Given the way Denver plays in Super Bowls, I think a day of
    mourning is a better name for it though.  :-)
    
    -- Mike

    Speaking of sports ... a recent issue of Awake! magazine (pub. by
    Jehovah's Witnesses) has a set of feature articles on sports and the
    issues involved with balancing Christian ethics/morality with various
    levels of participation in sports.  Send me mail if you'd like a copy.
    
    -mark.

From: clarinews@clarinet.com (NANCY KERCHEVAL)
Subject: Jackson pickets All-Star Game

	BALTIMORE (UPI) -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson, still decrying the shortage
of minorities in professional baseball's front offices, made a return
visit Tuesday to protest as fans crowded into Oriole Park at Camden
Yards for the All-Star Game.
	Jackson and about 150 members of the Rainbow Coalition's Commission
for Fairness in Athletics carried placards calling for increased
minority hiring and informing the public about the small numbers of
minorities in team management.
	But this time, Major League Baseball was ready for Jackson's
accusations. In a paper distributed by the baseball organization, it was
noted that since 1987, minority employment in the front offices has
increased from 2 percent to 17 percent. On-field coaching and managing
positions are filled by 20 percent minorities.
	``Jobs in Major League Baseball are generally difficult to obtain
because employee turnover is very small and job openings occur only
sporadically,'' the paper said. ``However, 14 of the clubs as well as
the MLB central offices either already actively recruit minority
candidates for job openings or are initiating equal opportunity
programs.''
	Jackson, however, said he made a return trip to Oriole Park because
he has seen little progress made since his campaign began. Jackson was
in Baltimore on opening day when President Clinton threw out the first
pitch. Vice President Al Gore was expected to arrive for the All-Star
Game.
	Marching in 90-plus degree heat, Jackson said, ``There has been no
substantial change in the arrogancy of the baseball owners with regard
to affirmative action plans and making data public on their employment
and hiring practices.
	``The baseball owners will not agree to goals, targets and
timetables, which is the law,'' he said. ``The Baltimore Orioles wanted
to agree, but the rest of the owners said it would undercut them.
	``These privately-owned, heavily- subsidized teams cannot live
outside the law. Affirmative action is the law of the land.''
	Major League Baseball, in challenging Jackson's assertions, said much
has been accomplished in the past six years. Yet, the baseball
organization acknowledged that the job is far from complete.
	In an effort to deal with minority hiring and community involvement
in the future, Major League Baseball established the Equal Opportunity
Committee, including team owners from the Chicago White Sox, Atlanta,
Oakland, Detroit, Houston, San Francisco and the Major League Baseball
director of market development.
	The committee recommended that each team include minority candidates
in all areas of employment; seek minority-owned businesses for vendors;
increase marketing efforts to attract minority fans; attempt to attract
minority investors when there is a turnover in ownership interests;
emphasize minority youth in community service activities; and enroll
their employees in an equal opportunity training program.
	``In lieu of an industry-wide standard, the committee is authorized
to monitor each club's progress to ensure that the proposed initiatives
and goals are reached,'' the paper stated.
	``By adopting tougher minority hiring standards, committing to the
utilization of minority-owned businesses, working to convert more
minority group members into baseball fans, increasing an already
impressive record of community service, and educating our employees
about the importance of these initiatives, Major League Baseball has
laid the groundwork for a program that will serve as an example for
other businesses to follow,'' the paper concluded.