Praying for a sporting result is one of the oddest and most widespread religious behaviours in the world. The Welsh do it, the Irish pray to St Jude, Henry says we should do it. “Is it appropriate to pray for a win?”
In May Wellington’s Marist-St Pats survived an almighty scare and fended off relegation. The win ensured MSP did not play in the Hardham Cup for the first time in 36 years. When John Holden, a long-time supporter of MSP read in the DomPost “MSP’s prayers are answered” he began to think about the practice of praying for your favourite team.
“If you were to judge by the newspapers there’s no shortage of miracles in modern Britain, nor of messiahs,”says a writer in The Guardian. “It’s just that they are all on the sports pages. Praying for a sporting result is one of the oddest and most widespread religious behaviours in the world. Why do people do it? What do they suppose it says about God? What does it in fact say about God?”
It is a question worth pondering as the stadium of four million people prepares for its biggest sporting event, Rugby World Cup 2011. Do faith and sport mix?
They sure do! says NZ Christian Network which is involved with the Christian Sports Network, which occasionally issues useful short reflections on some sport-related topic.
Breakers’ chaplain, Grant Harris, when asked if he prays for them to win, said the trouble was, if he were to do so then the chaplain for the opposition is pulling on the same strings from his side!
- A Rugby prayer from Clifton College
- A Rugby prayer for a Warrior of God
- A Franciscan Rugby Prayer
- My Rugby World Cup Prayer
There is a website that is called Rugby House of Prayer – but, on investigation it proves to be about the town of that name, not the game.
Image