God and American athletes

[Napalm]

If I see another American athlete mention God, I will absolutely, positively chuck-up my entire dinner and go insane...

If there is a God, why the f@ck would he give a rat's @ss about whether an American athlete won a race, or jupmed further or caught a fly ball. There are poor children starving, people being being killed, and other horrible things happening all around us. Evidently, God is too busy watching out for American athletes to care...

Tonight I heard it over and over "I thank God" for letting me run so fast..."God has a plan" for me... blah, blah, blah.

Why do they say this crap?

Napalm

 

[Handle]

For some athletes it might be an image thing. To give God credit makes them seem less conceited--does it lood better for your image if you say, "I'm the greatest... I won because I'm the best," or "I thank God for allowing me to win today." I would agree with you... I don't honestly know why God would favor you over another athlete who's probably worked hard too, and all the sports scandals can pretty much affirm that athletes aren't all angels who deserve the full backing of a God ready to give success to all those who lead a virtuous life.

Perhaps they draw strength and comfort from it. Many of them do come from religious backgrounds and it is quite natural for them to thank God.

To me though, it's probably an image thing. You don't need to declare it to a national audience... it probably would mean more if you thought about God and had it reflect in your actions rather than publicizing it to the entire world.

 

[Napalm]

...nicely put.

 

[goog40]

Well, its not just athletes. In every single awards ceremony people thank God for their abilities. Or in Mike Tyson's case, he praises Allah.

 

[Mday]

americans can't be the only ones that thank god, so why the hell are you bitching.

besides, like god cares who wins, because someone always loses.

anyway. blah, blah, blah.

 

[DAM]

what was that quote form saving private ryan?


if god is with us, who could be with them? or something like that?




dam()

 

[Napalm]

MDay:

Here in Canada, athletes thank their mom and dad. I find this acceptable because their parents probably give a crap. I have had this discussion with several Canadians and several Americans. All seem to agree that this is an American phenomenon. Then again, you guys do have "in God we trust" on your money...

Napalm

 

[Finality]

lol!

 

[flood]

I've done track for quite some time...
Whenever I win a race, I thank my fellow sprinters for running so slow!

 

[Double Trouble]

With the ones that are being sincere (and that's by no means all of them), they are thanking God for the blessings they have received. They realize that without His guidance in their lives, they would not have achieved their goals. The idea is not that God cares who wins a race or a game, but the sincere ones thank him for allowing them to get to that point and for the talents they received.

Of course, if you don't believe in God, then it'll all sound like insincere BS to you, and that's your prerogative.

 

[compuwiz1]

I do believe in God and find this thread offensive. That's all I will say. I respect others beliefs, where you obviously do not.

 

[UG]

I do not believe in god, and I do not find this thread offensive. It's not my ox being gored, this time around.

 

[nEoTeChMaN]

Funny, that they made it to the Olympics themselves..not God.

Another thing that annoyed me is the fact when someone sit down and pray before eat their meal..they made the meal, not God!

nEo

 

[nickdakick]

The other way round, when they do not win, do they blame God for it ?

 

[mosdef]

compuwiz1 - What in this thread could possibly offend you? If anything, I would think that you would agree with what is being said. The argument is that athletes use God's name in vain, as if God guided them to victory by making them run faster or perform better in general. This is a very selfish proposition, that they are so special that God even takes time to make sure they win races, while people worldwide are dying - why doesn't God save them?

-mosdef

 

[Capn]

Uhh you guys ever heard of being thankful for something?

 

[yata]

Thankful for your parents providing you love, food, and shelter.

 

[BigKev]

A good example is Deion Sanders..he wears a bandana under his helmet with the letters J E S U S across the forehead. For a lot of them it is just an act, trying to look good..for a select few..they actually believe in what they preach.

 

[Athanasius]

<< Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:16-17, NIV) >>



Like many here, I wonder sometimes about what an athlete means when he is thanking God. But I think tagej said it quite well.

Talents and abilities are good gifts. If an athlete sincerely feels that his/her raw talents are from God and that God helped them discipline themselves in a way where they were able to maximize those talents, then it is only appropriate for them to confess that thankfulness before people, especially when a victory gives them the opportunity to testify before millions. It shouldn't be about who wins or who loses, but about thanking God if one feels that God has &quot;been with them,&quot; whether in trivial victory or trivial defeat. Granted, athletics are trivial compared to world hunger and tragic injustice, but the New Testament says that &quot;not even a sparrow falls to the ground without the Father in heaven taking note of it.&quot; (A paraphrase of Matthew 10:29.)

If the athlete's testimony is just semantics and image-based and isn't spoken from the heart, then I suppose that one is guilty of taking the name of God in vain. I can't see his/her heart. If one lives in a way that consistently and severely contradicts what one says one believes about the nature of God, then one should probably say nothing rather than speak hypocritically.

 

[CyberSax]

Here in Canada, athletes thank their mom and dad. I find this acceptable because their parents probably give a crap. I have had this discussion with several Canadians and several Americans. All seem to agree that this is an American phenomenon. Then again, you guys do have &quot;in God we trust&quot; on your money...

All you Canadians do is b|tch, b|tch, b|tch, b|tch, b|tch. Why don't you get a life, instead of being perpetually jealous of life in the U.S.? Or are you just pissed because you didn't qualify for the J-1 visa quota this year?

 

[Silencer]

Anyone ever thank god for thier awesome Quake III skillZ?

 

[Netopia]

Why do athletes and others give thanks to God for their success? You've answered the question yourself!

<< There are poor children starving, people being being killed, and other horrible things happening all around us. >>

These people understand that fact that they have done nothing to deserve a good environment, good physical health and opportunities. They understand that they could have been born deformed, born into poverty or been put into any number of other situations that may have kept them back. In all probability, they have leaned on The Lord when they felt down or discouraged and He helped them to continue. For those of us that believe, we know that although we continually goof things up, God has an overall purpose or plan for us and we ENJOY being in His will and trying to please Him because we LOVE Him. If your parents helped you acheive something great, wouldn't you give them credit and want them to be able to be proud of you? It is the same with us and God our Father.


<< besides, like god cares who wins, because someone always loses >>

Well, yeah, He does! Do you have children? Do you love them? Do you care about what is important to them? Ultimatly, since God is omniscient, He would rather have a child lose than have that child become prideful, but rest assured whatever He does it is for the good of those who love Him.

<< Funny, that they made it to the Olympics themselves..not God. >>

Rather confused logic since these athletes believe that it was God who created all things, they rightly suppose that without a universe, there are no Olympics. Ultimately, it is God who have provided every good and perfect thing for us.

<< The argument is that athletes use God's name in vain, as if God guided them to victory by making them run faster or perform better in general. This is a very selfish proposition, that they are so special that God even takes time to make sure they win races, while people worldwide are dying - why doesn't God save them? >>

First, they are not taking the Lord's name in vain. The Bible is clear that we are to give thanks for all things, and they are doing so. Second, God came to Earth and died on the Cross as a payment for our sins so that people would not have to die an eternal death. The problem with your question is that it presupposes that this life is all there is. Consider, if eternal life and death are true, then the death He saves people from is MUCH more important than the death of this temporary shell called a body that we currently live in.

Joe

 

[Pennstate]

A porn star once said &quot;I thank God for giving me such a wonderful body so I can do what I do.&quot;

I do think the word God is way over-used by those who do not truly know him.

 

[mosdef]

Yeah and if there is a god why does he concern himself more with the ability of athletes than with the lives of people.

-mosdef

 

[Athanasius]

<< Yeah and if there is a god why does he concern himself more with the ability of athletes than with the lives of people. >>



An athlete thanking God says nothing about God-If-He-Exists or what He is concerened about. It says something about the athlete.



<< A porn star once said &quot;I thank God for giving me such a wonderful body so I can do what I do.&quot; >>



ROFL! That might be an example of what I was trying to say in my previous post:

<< If one lives in a way that consistently and severely contradicts what one says one believes about the nature of God, then one should probably say nothing rather than speak hypocritically. >>



Of course, maybe the porn star believes that Aphrodite is the one true goddess. Then I guess the statement would be merely pagan, not hypocritical.