A conversation within another class the other day got me curious of everyone else's thoughts about professional athletes expressing their religious beliefs in sports. My professor asked the class about whether or not religion should be allowed in sports. Many people agreed that religion is personal and everyone should have the right to express their beliefs however they find fit. Other half the class think that people shouldn't have to watch people celebrating and showing off their religious beliefs. This discussion within class has made me curious about what other people think on this subject.
There has been the ongoing controversy of whether or not religion should be permitted to be shown/expressed within sports. In the middle of this controversy is Denver Bronco's Quarterback Tim Tebow, who has made famous "Tebowing" which is the act of going down on one knee and make a fist and placing it to your head and praying. Tim Tebow isn't the greatest quarterback in the NFL, with average statistics for the 2011-2012 year, but he has been well liked and is bringing lots of publicity to the league surrounding religion. This publicity has been both poor and good for the NFL and even was brought up on Saturday Night Live. This has been raising the question if whether or not professional athletes should be able to express their religion/belief in their sport of choice.
Although Tim Tebow has created many speculations in regards of should religion be allowed to be expressed within sports, many other athletes of other sports have shown their beliefs in the past. Athletes like Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa have been known to express. Barry Bonds makes a simple reference to his God by pointing to thy sky and acknowledging him. While other players express their religious beliefs in other ways, like Sammy Sosa, he taps his chest to his mouth then points to the sky to thank God for allowing him to hit a home run. These are only a few key examples of professional athletes showing off their beliefs, soccer players are very religious as well and slide on their knees praying to God after scoring a goal.
My opinion is that every person should be allowed to show off their beliefs how ever they find fit, and allow the haters to hate. What is everyone else's belief on expressing religious beliefs in sports?
I agree completely, people should have every right to express themselves. Sports and those who manage them have enough problems to worry about, such as head shots and money issues. Religion is something they should stay away from as long as racism does not come into play.
ReplyDeleteI say to each his own, if it is not harming anyone then why criticize. People should be able to express their beliefs in whatever way they want as long as it is respectful. If they are not harming people or trying to push people into religion why should it be not allowed. I agree they should let the haters hate because haters are always going to hate no matter what you do. I have no problem with religion in sports.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!! I think lots of athletes and sports channels have really taken an interest in Tim Tebow, and Tebow-ing. I found this video a while back of Colton Orr of the Toronto Maple Leafs doing it. The announcers seemed to get a hoot out of it!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xQmj4uda5g
My class also discussed this the other day (perhaps the same class; diversity in the criminal justice system?) and I found it quite interesting. I don’t watch many sports but of course I know many players have their own little ritual they do when they score a touchdown, get a goal, get a homerun etc. I personally don’t see anything wrong with it, it’s not like they are forcing you to join in or trying to convert you to their religion. They’re simple expressing their religious views as is their right. Also, like I said I don’t watch very many sports but it’s not like it’s taking up a whole lot of time, is it? Another point my professor had brought up was does it depend on what religion they’re representing? He asked the whole class how they would feel if before a game a group of Muslims on the team were to pull out a prayer mat and have a quick prayer beforehand. It’s interesting to consider how, or if this is different. I personally don’t find it that much different, again as long as it’s not taking away from game play, but some people seemed to think otherwise. Either way, I believe people have the right to express themselves and their religion in any way they want as long as it does not infringe on anyone else’s beliefs.
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