In Theory: Should public displays of faith be taken out of sports?

All across sports, athletes are known to express their religious faith, from pointing to the heavens after a score to thanking their respective higher power in post-game interviews.

According to a blog post on the Economist website, FIFA, the governing body of international soccer, is generally accepting of certain displays of faith — like kneeling after a goal or allowing women to wear headscarves — but does not allow equipment to have any “political, religious or personal statements.”

In America, former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow was famous for falling to one knee — an act that came to be known as “Tebowing” — as a sign of his Christian faith. Tebow’s display was generally accepted by players, fans and the media.

In a bit of controversy this season, Kansas City Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah, a devout Muslim, was penalized in a game this year after dropping to both knees and bowing his head — part of a religious prayer known as Sajdah — after scoring a touchdown. The NFL responded promptly, saying Abdullah should not have been flagged, but whereas Tebow was never penalized for his gesture, some saw Abdullah’s penalty as a double standard.

Q: What is your opinion of athletes displaying their faith during and after contests? Should religious displays, including paraphernalia, be curbed or taken out of sports?

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This issue is almost a freedom of speech issue. Part of me wants for you to be able to express anything you want , but frankly, I’m getting a little tired of athletes making a big deal of their faith.

In one of the gospels, Jesus says, in a way, to keep your faith to yourself. Check out Matthew 6: 16-18. This passage is part of the great Sermon on the Mount, which starts at Matthew 5. What Jesus says in the passage I mentioned is to wash your face if you fast.

In other words, don’t make a big deal of your religiosity. Be kind, love your neighbor as yourself, keep the commandments, etc. But don’t tell the world what a good Christian, Jew, Hindu, Muslim, Baha’i or Buddhist you are.

Now as far as banning such “PDRs” — that’s “Public Displays of Religiosity” — I don’t think the NFL, MLB or whatever league should try to restrict them, because more religiosity would almost surely happen in backlash.

So I think we’re kind of stuck with whatever these professional yo-yos want to do, but we don’t have to like it.

I know — the next time a player publicly displays how religious he is, let’s have a huge, orchestrated “boo” come from the stands. That ought to discourage those who like to wear their faith on their sleeves.

The Rev. Skip Lindeman
La Cañada Congregational Church
La Cañada Flintridge

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If you’ve played baseball or softball, maybe you’ve had this feeling: You’re up to bat, a couple of pitches go by, and then it happens. You see your pitch coming at you, the one you know you’re going to hit, and hit far. While that ball is still in the air, your bones already know it’s yours — the perfect rightness of it, the mighty hitting of it, is just in you, before the ball ever crosses the plate.

Maybe that’s what those athletes feel. Maybe on that particular play or score, they felt completely “in the zone” — their body just knowing, deep down, what to do, moving almost of its own accord exactly where it needed to go, second by second. I could see where, if the athlete were religious, that magical fleetness would feel like a holy thing, a God-infused power for which they’d spontaneously express awe and gratitude.

It’s said that King David “danced before the Lord with all his might” (2 Samuel 6:14). He felt so full of God, so full of holy power, that he couldn’t help himself; dancing was the only thing he could do. So I ask you, what really is the difference between someone taking a knee or bowing, in faith-filled joy and gratitude, and the victory dances of many other players, who feel similarly infused with power and blessed with skill?

I’ve never liked the implication, in sports, that “God is on our side” or “God helped our team win.” God has better things to do, folks. But if someone feels full of holy power, and expresses thanks for it, why should anyone else tell them not to do it?

The Rev. Amy Pringle
St. George’s Episcopal Church
La Cañada Flintridge

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I much prefer athletes showing a humble devotion to God after a touchdown or a goal than a taunting display of arrogance, such as a dance, a leap into the air or a movement of one’s posterior that supposedly shows an athlete’s or team’s superiority. The bowing of one’s head or a genuflection or the sign of the cross befitting a leap of faith for an athlete is better. The idea that the athlete or his or her team is not number one, but that God is, is much more to my liking.

As far as religious insignia on uniforms, if we banned those in sports, to be consistent, we would have to ban those in the military as well. Given the historical relationship of God and country, I don’t see those insignia being removed at any time soon. But, remember, as in the case of Mr. Abdullah, one must be even handed. If you allow any open display of religiosity, you must allow everyone’s way of showing love for God.

When I was in elementary school, before they banned prayer in school, we would have a moment of silent prayer immediately after the pledge of allegiance. Each person was to pray in his/her own way. When I think of this moment, I am reminded that in America, all can find God and that He is number one because He is the only one open to all who approach Him.

Rabbi Mark Sobel
Temple Beth Emet
Burbank

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It already seemed a little silly to me that the Roman Catholic basketball players crossed themselves before taking a free-throw during our high school games. It set them apart from the Protestant kids, who were probably believers too, and I guess that was the point.

In today’s elite stratosphere of professional sports, where the performers have spent a lifetime basically doing almost nothing but honing their skills, it seems even more ridiculous to credit the supernatural with their achievements. Better that they thank their loved ones for the sacrifices that have helped to get them there.

I do not question the players’ rights to express themselves. And a professional football player who is Muslim penalized for a prayer posture when “Tebowing” is fine? Just how many ways can the NFL show themselves to be unenlightened?

I rejoice seeing professional athletes show their support for the rights and lives of black Americans, while it is my fondest hope that the MLB will rethink the now-obligatory singing of “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch.

Maybe the difference is making a personal statement versus an official, institutionalized expression forced on an entire stadium.

Roberta Medford
Atheist
Montrose

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Athletes are professionals who are paid to represent their teams in an honorable manner and to perform specific tasks to the best of their ability with focus and determination. They are hired for a purpose and particular conduct is expected of them. They are fundamentally similar to any employee who is required to come to work, wear specific work-appropriate attire and do the job he is paid to do.

The athlete who is a person of faith should approach each game with professionalism and respect for everyone around him — his teammates, the fans in attendance and the opposing players. I believe that approach is the best guide for the athlete who wishes to acknowledge his faith in a public manner in the context of games. Public expressions of faith following this approach should not be restricted. We should speak out specifically about our faith before others, but sometimes the best way to do that is to be excellent for God in the task at hand. Paul wrote: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23). The athlete of faith is taken seriously when he takes his profession seriously.

Jesus Christ taught His disciples: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). They key expression related to this question is “in such a way.” Our entire lives, on and off the “field” of our occupations, should glorify God and point others to him. Being sensitive to the actual impact of the public expressions of our faith helps us to act “in such a way” that we are indeed obedient and responsible before God and yet also helpful to others.

Pastor Jon Barta
Burbank

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Expressions of faith, such as kneeling in prayer, ought to be acceptable as long as they are not done in a way that creates divisions or turmoil among players or fans. The actions by Tebow and Abdullah have been relatively brief, modest displays of gratitude. Neither appears to have caused a problem for their teammates or opponents.

Regarding U.S. athletes, this question is similar to last week’s In Theory topic in that it deals with the First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. However, this week, that right is juxtaposed against the right of an employer to govern workplace behavior.

In some settings, let’s say the checkout line in a grocery store, it would be inappropriate for a clerk to stop work to demonstrate his or her religious devotion, especially if customers are waiting for service. An employer would be justified in prohibiting the behavior. A football or soccer stadium is a very different setting. Touchdowns and goals are celebrated by fans and players. For a few minutes, the stadium is filled with noise, chaos and exuberant demonstrations of joy or angst. In that milieu, an athlete’s prayer inconveniences no one.

Personally, I have never felt a need for outward displays of my faith in the workplace. There is a time and place for public prayer, but I don’t believe it is at my desk. However, I’ve spent most of my professional life in newsrooms where skepticism, debate and second-guessing are, well, second nature. So a public, kneeling prayer would likely be disruptive. If I feel a need to pray during the workday, I can always step away to a private place.

As for athletes, I’m skeptical that God is interested in who scores in — or which team wins — athletic contests. I do know that he cares deeply about individuals and touches people in all walks of life, including professional sports. That some of those he has touched choose to briefly express their gratitude on the field shouldn’t be cause for great concern.

Michael White
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
La Crescenta

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If the rules of play dictate behaviors, and behaviors violate the rules, then the players are justifiably penalized.

Frankly, I always found the funny touchdown antics of football players rather amusing and feel that they shouldn’t be forbidden. And if it’s OK to dance around in elation, it should also be okay to kneel in thanksgiving. But if one of these gestures is considered time-consuming or somehow detrimental to play, then they should probably all cease.

Players can always emote or make their gratitude to God known during interviews and elsewhere after the game. Their job is to play the sport for which they are paid, not to draw attention to themselves or evangelize captive audiences of fans. I’m all for doing that if they are allowed, but if they are not allowed, I would hardly think it oppressive or somehow persecutory. Neither do I think it harms anyone’s faith to limit uniform accoutrements to necessities and team logos, while forbidding religious or activist symbols and trappings.

However, since a lot of what makes fans the supporters they are has to do with the personalities of the players beyond mere athletic performance. It might behoove the leagues to just let it alone and permit these minuscule flourishes of individuality. Did anyone see “Jerry Maguire”? I’d say allow the players some leeway. If they want to wear a small symbol or take five seconds to gesture, does it really hurt anything? If anything, such displays reveal a deeper significance to players’ lives than just throwing a ball around like a bunch of overgrown children.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 9:25, “Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever.” How much more the Christian athlete? Why not allow displays of depth?

Rev. Bryan Griem
Montrose Community Church
Montrose