At first impression it would normally be assumed there is little, if any, relationship between religion and sports. Sports are a competitive, dynamic, and to a great degree, group activity. Religion, on the other hand, is a non-competitive process based more on self-experience, it is hard to associate saying one's prayers in churches or temples with cheering for football teams in the World Cup.
From a far, sports and religion can seem to be on very different ends of the spectrum. But with more research it is easy to see how the two topics can be related in many similar ways!
"For me, my faith is the reason I run. I definitely feel I have this amazing gift that God has blessed me with, and it's all about using it to the best of my ability"
- Allyson Felix, American Track and Field Sprinter and 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist
"I am a Christian that loves the lord that just happens to play football, that happens to get to be on cool TV shows, that happens to get on commercials. I'm a Godly man first. I chase after God. I play football for the sole reason to give God Glory"
- Shaun Alexander, Former NFL Player for the Seattle Seahawks
"My ministry to my family is the most important ministry that I have. That is loving my wife and foremost. I want to see my sons be oaks of righteousness and I want to see them grow up and be strong men of God"
-Hunter Smith, Retired NFL Player of the Indianapolis Colts
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Half of Americans say supernatural forces influence sports, according to a January 2014 poll by the Public Religion Research Institute. Among the survey’s other findings: “Football fans are more likely than other sports fans to report praying to God (33 percent vs. 21 percent), to believe their team has been cursed (31 percent vs. 18 percent), and to perform rituals before or during games (25 percent vs. 18 percent).”
