Half of American Fans See Supernatural Forces at Play in Sports

[mukkrakker]

More than One-in-Five Fans have a Ritual Before or During Sports Games

 

Taking an average distribution amongst two sets of fans, god will be honoring only the prayers for one team.

 

Discuss.

[TaraMaiden]

famine, war, pestilence, natural disasters... God givesaphukk about a friggin' football game.

 

End of.

[Philosoraptor]

I'm not overly religious but I think it would be quite silly for any sort of deity to have concern over who wins any particular sporting event.

 

Trying to cause a ruckus?

[M30USA]

On one hand it's true that God is aware of even a single leaf falling from a tree, but on the other hand it's stupid to think he takes sides over a RECREATION event. Sports are supposed to be RECREATION. Or FUN. The nature of fun is that, while you do compete, the outcome is unimportant.

 

The question that really gets me is, if you have 2 opposing sides of an issue (like who should get custody of children) and BOTH sides claim to follow God, then who does God side with? DOES he side with anyone? Or is it more about Gods will being accomplished? This could allow for an explanation as to why those who are most obedient to God can suffer such bad luck and misfortune (just look at Christ.) Also look at the nation Israel in Old Testament. Were they succesful because of their own worth? No, they succeeded merely because it was in gods good pleasure to glorify his name through them. It wasn't about them. It was about God. On the flipside, it THEN became gods good pleasure to abandon Israel and work through the Church during this current age. Does this mean he FAVORS the church? No we aren't better than anyone. God is just choosing the church now but can just as easily drop us and would still be holy and justified if he did.

Edited January 29, 2014 by M30USA

[Philosoraptor]

On one hand it's true that God is aware of even a single leaf falling from a tree, but on the other hand it's stupid to think he takes sides over a RECREATION event. Sports are supposed to be RECREATION. Or FUN. The nature of fun is that, while you do compete, the outcome is unimportant.

 

The question that really gets me is, if you have 2 opposing sides of an issue (like who should get custody of children) and BOTH sides claim to follow God, then who does God side with? DOES he side with anyone? Or is it more about Gods will being accomplished? This could allow for an explanation as to why those who are most obedient to God can suffer such bad luck and misfortune (just look at Christ.) Also look at the nation Israel in Old Testament. Were they succesful because of their own worth? No, they succeeded merely because it was in gods good pleasure to glorify his name through them. It wasn't about them. It was about God. On the flipside, it THEN became gods good pleasure to abandon Israel and work through the Church during this current age. Does this mean he FAVORS the church? No we aren't better than anyone. God is just choosing the church now but can just as easily drop us and would still be holy and justified if he did.

 

Being aware and taking action are two different things. Once God starts taking action it takes free will away from the world. Any action from an outside force would simply unbalance everything and change the path of history, sort of like how going back in time and making a simple change would affect everything. At that point could God hold humans accountable for their actions? Because if back on xxx day God wouldn't have interfered history would have taken a different path.

[GorillaTheater]

Trying to cause a ruckus?

 

The OP could really start a ruckus by pointing out that, according to that report, non-whites appear two-and-a-half times more likely to believe that God picks winners and losers in sports than non-hispanic whites.

 

I mean, if you're going to troll, go for the gusto.

[TheFinalWord]

On one hand it's true that God is aware of even a single leaf falling from a tree, but on the other hand it's stupid to think he takes sides over a RECREATION event. Sports are supposed to be RECREATION. Or FUN. The nature of fun is that, while you do compete, the outcome is unimportant.

 

The question that really gets me is, if you have 2 opposing sides of an issue (like who should get custody of children) and BOTH sides claim to follow God, then who does God side with? DOES he side with anyone? Or is it more about Gods will being accomplished? This could allow for an explanation as to why those who are most obedient to God can suffer such bad luck and misfortune (just look at Christ.) Also look at the nation Israel in Old Testament. Were they succesful because of their own worth? No, they succeeded merely because it was in gods good pleasure to glorify his name through them. It wasn't about them. It was about God. On the flipside, it THEN became gods good pleasure to abandon Israel and work through the Church during this current age. Does this mean he FAVORS the church? No we aren't better than anyone. God is just choosing the church now but can just as easily drop us and would still be holy and justified if he did.

 

I agree about your sports analysis. And the way people worship these games, is probably an issue on some level.

 

In terms of child custody, I would pray God would side with the child. That he would intervene on behalf of the child and was is best for him/her and not the parents. The child is the innocent one.

[M30USA]

Jose Canseco was interviewed years after his retirement and scandals. He was asked what he misses most about baseball. He said (paraphrased), "What I miss most is probably not what you think. It's not pro baseball. It's not the success or the money. It's actually playing baseball with my good friends growing up, just for the fun of it, while it was still a game."

[mukkrakker]

Trying to cause a ruckus?

 

Did you visit the link?

 

It's genuine - in that it really happened. Whether it's worthwhile exercise, well that's another discussion!

 

But, this has nothing to do with what a deity does or does not do, but rather that people believe praying WILL influence the outcome - how does anyone praying to the same god as the opposing fans justify their prayer? Isn't that an anathema to the central tenants of faith?

 

Obviously the outcome of a game is dependent on the skill sets of individuals, and as a team, with some luck thrown in. God doesn't care who wins - at least he shouldn't!

 

But the faithful do believe he cares enough about their prayers to have them answered… and by implication for the losers, equally dashed.

[mukkrakker]

[God] would still be holy and justified [whatever] he did.

 

Well this is faith certainly, because it's not logic.

 

I didn't get all the stuff about abandoning Israel - I'm sure they don't see it that way.

[mukkrakker]

Once God starts taking action

 

Isn't this the same dude that created the world, and then Adam and Eve, and us "in his own image" - that wasn't an action or two?

[mukkrakker]

...he would intervene on behalf of the child. The child is the innocent one.

 

The same way he does for leukemia you mean?

[TheFinalWord]

The same way he does for leukemia you mean?

 

Very different scenarios. I am humored how you quote mined and chopped up my statement in order to satisfy your confirmation bias. You seem to have a difficult time constructing valid analogies.

 

"Judas...went away and hanged himself." Matt 27

 

Jesus said "Go and do likewise" Luke 10:27

 

Well what do you know the bible promotes suicide! Wow, quote mining sure is fun! Apparently its not just for young earth creationists anymore. But, I know Lawrence Krauss does it. As they say all is fair in love and war

[TaraMaiden]

...Christians proselytising can be just as selective, so I think you're even-stevens there, guys.....

[gaius]

I don't believe god picks winners but I do think actions I take supernaturally affect who does. Does that count? I'm a non-hispanic white male too.

[Robert Z]

This all reminds me of Janice Joplin: Oh Lord, won't you buy me, a Mercedes Benz.

[TaraMaiden]

The frankly obscene amounts these players get paid, I would have thought they could have bought a direct line to satan.... what with 'the love of money being the root of all evil', an' all that....

 

Surely, with that vast an amount of salary running round the pitch, I would have thought the more sly approach would be to ask for the devil's help....

[somedude81]

More than One-in-Five Fans have a Ritual Before or During Sports Games

 

Taking an average distribution amongst two sets of fans, god will be honoring only the prayers for one team.

 

Discuss.

I think it's hilarious when somebody from the winning team gives credit to or thanks God.

 

So that just means that God liked your team more?

[mukkrakker]

Surely, with that vast an amount of salary running round the pitch, I would have thought the more sly approach would be to ask for the devil's help....

 

Surely such things are inconsequential to God, he only cares if you believe or not…

 

I think the Pope said that even Atheist can get into heaven - I'll have to look into that!

[Robert Z]

I think it's hilarious when somebody from the winning team gives credit to or thanks God.

 

So that just means that God liked your team more?

 

 

It means God had a preference on which team had access to the most steroids?

[Robert Z]

Surely such things are inconsequential to God, he only cares if you believe or not…

 

I think the Pope said that even Atheist can get into heaven - I'll have to look into that!

 

 

 

Now now, you're going to open up the whole "saved by acts" versus "saved by faith" argument!

[mukkrakker]

Now now, you're going to open up the whole "saved by acts" versus "saved by faith" argument!

 

Well being a decent person is the main thing, right, I mean what's the value (to god) of a priest that buggers children and confesses his sins???

[Robert Z]

Well being a decent person is the main thing, right,

 

 

 

It depends on whom you ask. Some will tell you that acts without faith yields no rewards.

 

I was only pointing out that there is no general agreement even among Christian churches, on the requirements for salvation.

[GorillaTheater]

I don't believe god picks winners but I do think actions I take supernaturally affect who does. Does that count? I'm a non-hispanic white male too.

 

You mean like watching the game? That always seems to doom whatever team I'm backing.

[gaius]

You mean like watching the game? That always seems to doom whatever team I'm backing.

Me too man. I didn't watch a single Patriots game near the end of the season and into the playoffs, wouldnt even flick it on for a second to check the score. Must have done something else wrong the week they played the Broncos.