NOVEMBER 22, 1973 RevfrADVENT REVIEW AND SABBATH HERALD + GENERAL CHURCH PAPER OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS Psalm 92:1 Editor's Viewpoint "America's New Religion" On page 7 of this REVIEW appears an article entitled avidly introduce our young to the saving knowledge of adult "Sports: A New Idol." The article is reprinted by permis- life: brutality, aggressive competition, profit-greed, male sion from Eternity magazine (September, 1973). We selected chauvinism, and the discipline of dull conformity to the it as typical of numerous articles that have appeared in re- status quo." He described football as a wedding of violence ligious journals recently, expressing concern about the place and lucre and called it brutality-for-gain. He said that the and influence of professional sports in the life of America. game reduces people to commodities by the fact that the (And this concern is not confined to the United States. Many players are bought and sold like chattel in keeping with countries of the world, on all continents, are plagued with their gladiatorial prowess, and that 'sheer brutality is the an obsessive interest in sports.) essence of football.' He declared that the purpose of big- In this editorial we shall offer a brief survey of current time football is not merely to tyrannize the opposing team opinion on sports as a religion, then add a few comments by brute force, but to inflict as much injury as possible. With from an Adventist perspective. other writers Mr. Bianchi labeled football 'the nation's civil On April 5, 1972, the Christian Century devoted an entire religion.' " issue to the sports question. The guest editorial in that issue Admittedly, these views are harsh. But they are widely selected professional football as typical of organized sports, shared. Books that express similar thoughts include: Sport: then promptly labeled it "America's New Religion." In com- a Philosophical Inquiry, by the distinguished Yale scholar, paring pro football with religion, the editorial pointed out Paul Weiss; Lombardi: Winning Is the Only Thing, by Jerry that just as religion has monasteries, so football has its se- Kramer; The Athletic Revolution, by Jack Scott; and Out cluded areas where training takes place; as religion has of Their League, by David Meggysey. novices, so football has rookies; as religion has veterans, known as ordained clergy, so football has veterans. Questions Should Be Asked Football coaches correspond to the religious hierarchy; An editorial in Christianity Today (August 11, 1972) both demand total commitment from their converts, includ- pointed out that Americans spend more than $100 billion ing abstinence from alcoholic drinks. Professional football annually on leisure. Not all of this goes for sports—either has its uniforms, as do some religions, and it has a weekly personal or professional—but a great deal of it does. Said ritual of emotional and violent confrontation with opposing the editorial: "Sports and recreation of all kinds . raise teams, which in religion corresponds to the continual war- particular questions for the Christian, who has stewardship fare against sin. obligations. Can we find Biblical guidelines to justify our And then, said the editorial, "There are hundreds of thou- vast leisure-time outlay? Why have we so long avoided the sands of devout followers who witness and participate in scrutiny the new pattern demands in view of the acute physi- these rituals by invoking traditional and hallowed chants. cal and spiritual needs in so many parts of the world? Un- It is not unusual for these pilgrims to travel hundreds of derdeveloped countries must wonder how a supposedly miles to witness a game, sometimes braving the bitter cold Christian nation can put so much money into play. Surely with the zeal and ardor of ancient martyrs.... such a staggering sum demands more open debate." "More important than the external trappings is the philos- The editorial continued: "How does sport measure up to ophy (dare I say `theology'?) of pro football. Instead of salva- God's requirements? How can it affect our relationship tion and redemption, the goal is now collective victory: for with Him? It is easy enough to make a case for sport from a Vince Lombardi has taught us all that 'winning isn't every- human perspective, but to do so in terms of divine demands thing: it's the only thing.' George Allen, coach of the Wash- is something else."— Ibid. ington Redskins, has even enunciated the new religion's eschatology: 'The future is now.'" Indeed. Where, for example, is there even a hint in the Harry Edwards, writing in Intellectual Digest, expressed Bible that God approves of sports? "Evangelicals who love virtually identical views. He stated: "American sport has all sports like to appeal to the numerous allusions to athletics the trappings of formal religion—temples, saints, ritual, true in the New Testament. [But] close examination reveals that believers." "Sport manifests every characteristic of a formal, none of these bestows any kind of divine blessing upon thriving religious movement. It has its gods (superstar ath- sport. Paul very likely used references to runners and games letes), its saints (those high-status sports figures who have because they aided communication with Greeks. In his ad- passed to the great beyond—Lombardi, Rockne, Gipp, dress on Mars Hill he used the Athenians' altar to the un- Thorpe), its scribes (the hundreds of sports reporters and known god in a similar way. sportscasters whose object is to disseminate the 'word' of "Sport was not part of the Hebrew tradition. It was even- sports deeds and glories), its houses of worship (the Astro- tually introduced as part of the influence from the Greek dome and other facilities that rival anything ever con- lower classes. Roman leaders used sports to pacify people structed to house traditional worship services). And sport and keep them in line."—Ibid. has one other feature that traditional religion has long since We think there is a difference between games played for lost in American society—massive throngs of highly vocal, exercise or innocent fun, and commercialized sports. Hu- maniacal 'true believers' in the creeds and values relating man beings need to use their muscles (if their work is sed- to sport and its contribution to the maintenance of the entary), and they need to use their minds (if their work is 'American way of life.' " physical). Balance is important. Families may benefit by Writing in Christianity and Crisis, Eugene Bianchi charged playing games together. Church groups or institutional that by watching football Americans contribute to their own groups may be blessed by playing together. People cannot dehumanization and reinforce in themselves the worst always be reined up emotionally or intellectually without values of our culture. He said that through pro football "we suffering adverse effects. To page 9 2 R&H, NOVEMBER 22, 1973 understatement to say it was a long and bit- year. For a while after World War I it was ter winter. celebrated on the same day as Armistice But by March there were houses, a wide Day—it was called Remembrance Day. Review street, four small cannon in a small fort, and Finally, in 1957, the second Monday in Oc- because of death during the winter, there tober was settled on, and by annual procla- were only half of them still surviving. In mation that is Thanksgiving Day. April the Mayflower sailed away. Thanksgiving had never received the Friendly Indians helped with the planting, attention in Canada that it did in the United F and during the summer the pilgrims ten- States until about that time. Schools re- derly and anxiously watched over their mained open and business continued pretty Advent Review & Sabbath Herald crops, for well they knew that their winter much as usual. However, in recent years it 123d Year of Continuous Publication survival depended on their fall harvest. has become a national holiday. Families Editor: When October came there was a bountiful travel great distances to be home, the tradi- KENNETH H. WOOD harvest, and Governor William Bradford de- tional Thanksgiving dinner as known in U.S. Associate Editors: clared a three-day festival to which the In- homes has become an accepted part of the DON F. NEUFELD, HERBERT E. DOUGLASS dians were invited. celebration, and churchgoers are reminded Editorial and Administrative Secretary: Some consider this to be the first Thanks- to be thankful. CORINNE WILKINSON giving, and no doubt the participants were Our cover this week coincides with the offi- Editorial Secretaries: truly thankful people. However, according to ROSEMARY BRADLEY, JOCELYN FAY, cial celebration of Thanksgiving Day in the IDAMAE MELENDY one writer, "There is no record of any spe- United States. But should not the Christian's cial religious service during this week of spirit of gratitude permeate the whole of his Layout Artist, G. W. BUSCH feasting." Some would consider the thanks- life? Why should he wait for a dramatic es- Editors, Monthly Editions: giving services of 1623 to be the real fore- cape from accident, a crippling illness in RAY D. VINE, English FERNANDO CHAI), Spanish—North America runner of our present tradition involving re- some other family, or the customarily loaded GASTON CLOUZET, Spanish—South America ligious services, as well as festal dining. table on November 22? The psalmist said, C. R. TAYLOR, Spanish—Inter-America The crops of the 1621 harvest were indeed "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Consulting Editors: good, but soon another ship arrived with Lord." And it is. ROBERT H. PIERSON, W. R. BEACH, THEODORE CARCICH, W. I. HACKETT, nothing 'except passengers. And when the In our November 8 issue (p.