RSS Feed
The Faith of Football Fans
The Cubs lost. The Bears lost. I am still smiling, though, because two weeks ago, the Packers lost.
I love baseball, but there is something to be said about super-modern professional football as religious experience. One can understand religious rituals as celebrations of the power of the gathered, frenzied community, and not just any individual believer, or fan. F-16s flyover the opening kick and a hundred thousand fans scream in unison at every big hit and sing at every score.
We have written already at length about the inability of contemporary churches to reach many youth. Compare that to my extactic text message inbox immediately following the Bears triumph over their arch rivals:
"Bears win!"
"That was [really] awesome!!!! I have never been prouder!"
"Amen bro!"
"i just watched the game... go bears"
"Does that mean we won something?"
Bears-Packers weekend is palpable, in the air, even if not everyone understands it, and the energy of my fellow believers keeps me going, even weeks later. If only I felt that energy from religion all the time.
By
Michael Pomeranz
|
October 15, 2007; 1:18 PM ET
| Category:
Lox et Veritas
Share: Email a Friend | 
Technorati
| Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
Previous: Peace from Boston to Egypt |
Next: Where are the Cedars?
Posted by: E | October 23, 2007 11:14 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I don't want to be entirely missing the point, but I DO hope that we have the opportunity to text message admittedly inappropriate superlatives like "awesome" again.
Posted by: e | October 21, 2007 12:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Is there a Jewish equivalent to crossing yourself before kicking a field goal?
Posted by: Ida | October 17, 2007 2:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
And speaking of sports and prayer, many, many athletes oint to the sky after they have performend well. What's up with that?
Posted by: kiwi | October 17, 2007 12:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
There are lots of things to say about this observation.
1. The bears were really awesome two weeks ago, but last week not so awesome.
2. As intellectually superior as baseball is to football, the Cubs on the other hand, are just pathetic.
3. Singing at every score definitely helps. Isn't that why Black Baptist churches and Hassidic congrgeations have such devoted followers?
No, all kidding aside. You are missing the point. Sports are popular because they are nonesense and everyone knows it. They matter so little,
Religion is just the other way!
Posted by: mae | October 17, 2007 12:45 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The comments to this entry are closed.
Michael ,
I was sure you would coment on the Bears- Eagles game. 97 yards in the last 112 seconds with no time outs. A TD with 9 seconds left in the game. Now that is Devine intervention!