"Man was made to worship. It's in his DNA, so to speak, to reach out
toward and even to surrender to a Higher Power. The object of his
worship will either be the one true God, or any of the myriad of false
substitutes like pornography or alcohol (or other drugs) or even human
esteem.
"One example of a substitute religion is the world of professional
sports. Don't get me wrong. I am a certified sports fan. I grew up
playing hockey in Nova Scotia competitive hockey (hating the Habs, and
loving the Blackhawks), golfing with my dad, and I still love a robust
game of racquetball. So I appreciate the prowess and hard work it takes
to become an A-list athlete (which I am most assuredly not). Sports team
membership is also an important rite of passage for many young people.
"I'm talking about the broader structure of how professional sports
are presented to the public, and how the sports business is conducted.
It bears a close resemblance to civic religion, complete with the marks
of secular liturgy."
In a recent commentary, writer Patrick Coffin
reflected on, even as Christians have good reason to love the sporting life and the
lessons it teaches (as has been illustrated by Saint Paul and a number of popes), different ways in which professional sports resembles a civic religion.
To access Mr. Coffin's complete post, please visit:
National Catholic Register: Blogs: Patrick Coffin: Pro Sports as Substitute Religion (12 DEC 17)
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