“Have You Ever Wondered About the Relationship of Sports to the Practice of the Christian Faith?”
July 21, 2015“Have You Ever Wondered About the Relationship of Sports to the Practice of the Christian Faith?”
Next summer, August 24-28, 2016, I will be participating in what is called the Inaugural Global Congress on Sports and Christianity, to be held at York St. John University in the United Kingdom. Other speakers include Dr. Michael Novak from the American Enterprise, one of America’s foremost media commentators on the social issues that dominate the headlines of newspapers and television talk shows; Joe Ehrman, an All-American football player, writer of several books including the New York Times best seller Inside Out Coaching featured in Parade Magazine as “The Most Important Coach in America;” and Stanley Hauerwas, professor at Duke Divinity School, and considered by many as the most influential theologian in North America. These are only a few of what must be considered a star-studded list of speakers who will address this congress.
There is little doubt that sports have become such an overwhelming presence in the lives of vast numbers of people around the world that sports must be dealt with as a crucial matter for the church. Among those questions that must be answered by Christian leaders are:
- Have sports taken on idolatrous characteristics, becoming for many their “ultimate concern” (using Paul Tillich’s definition of religion)?
- What does a positive theology of sports look like?
- How has the urgency for winning altered moral principles, especially in light of the recent scandals that have plagued the Olympics, American football, soccer, and tennis?
- What are the implications of steroids and other drugs being used by athletes for young people who are being nudged to success at any cost?
- What are the positive effects that a winning team can have on a community?
- How have the inflated salaries of some athletes influenced the value orientations of young people, as well the devaluation of work within such fields as human services?
- In what ways can sports contribute to the development of Christian character?
- What does the Bible and the early Church have to say about sports?
- How have sports contributed to the social solidarity of communities and nations?
- How do economic matters alter the role of sports in society?
- What are the sexual implications of the ways sports’ celebrities behave?
- How are women treated in sports?
The subject of sports as a Christian vocation has been largely ignored, but this congress could be the beginning of a great and ongoing discussion concerning this issue. Sports are far too important to be left solely to media commentators to define for their roles in society. It is time for church leaders to join the discussion.
For information about how to register for this conference long on to:
http://www.yorksj.ac.uk/health–life-sciences/faculty-of-hls/faculty-events/igcsc/registration.aspx
Hope to see you there!
Tony
