Religion and Football

Football and Religion

Football, America's most popular sport is one of kind. The impact religion has on football is much greater than individuals think. Many factors are tied in before, during, and after the game. Whether it is praying or symbolizing the lord during the game, religion has had an influence on football. Overall, religion does always bring up controversy with any subject in this world, but with football it is a very sensitive topic. At the end of the day religion has impacted football immensely whether people believe it or not.

One of the most common religious symbols used in the game of football is pointing to the sky. Many players tend to point after a touchdown or a significant play. Another religious symbol used is bending on one knee and doing the sign of the cross after a special moment in the game. Both the pointing and praying are two very common symbols seen throughout football. The last symbol used in the game of football with religion, is scriptures and eye black. Players for example, will put a bible verse with significant meaning to them on an eye black strip. According to Krattenmaker he states, "these are the outward signs of a faith surge that has made big time sports one of the most outwardly religious sectors of American culture" (11a).

Tim Tebow is the main figure that comes up with religion and football. Along with wearing religion on his eye black, Tebow brings more than just football everywhere he goes. Tebow is one of the very few athletes who has had a strong religious background since he was young, which is the main reason preaching has become so natural for him. Tim started something very special by being extremely open with his religious beliefs. Tebow has never been ashamed to put religion ahead of football.

Tebow has had a much greater impact on football and religion than what people know. During the national championship game of college football, Tim Tebow decided to wear the scripture John 3:16, less than 24 hours later it became the most searched item on Google. According to Brennan he says "No matter how you feel about mixing religion and sports the notion that people were looking up a Bible verse while watching a college football game is about rare and refreshing as a true sophomore winning the Heisman Trophy" (03c). The author was just implying on his quote that Tim Tebow caused a once in a lifetime situation that will probably never happen again in the game of football.

Many people are usually for the idea of religion and football. People feel there is nothing wrong with saying a prayer or talking about god during football. On the flipside some people do not like the fact about prayer before a game. For the individuals that do not feel it is right for religion and football to mix in, they should just have respect for others that do. It is not right when people bash religion and talk bad about it and say it is all about football not god. The simple solution to a controversial situation is to just respect one another for what they believe in and no questions asked.

Christianity is the religion that in most cases here in America is what stirs up controversy with football. But, in one case for example, a high school football team moved the practice until midnight due to some of the player's religious beliefs on the team. The players on the team were Muslims, and this happened during the month of Ramadan. It turned out that the high school got approval by administrators to allow the team to practice in the late night hours of the day. This allowed the Muslim players on the team to both practice religion and football. That was a very nice decision to accommodate the players and there religions backgrounds. That was a very unique situation in which it turned out to work for everyone.

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