In spite of what you might expect, I believe that most people come to a religious conviction later in their life, instead of continuing to identify themselves with the religion of their childhood, the faith they were raised in. Whether one sees oneself as a Protestant, a Catholic, an Evangelical, a Buddhist, a Jew seems to be as much an accident of birth and culture as anything else and for most Americans not as influential an identification in the organization of their life as their identification with a secular religion.
There also are many secular religions which have even more powerful influences than god based religions. These are the religions of materialism, of alcohol and drugs, of sex and pornography, of gambling, of work, of sports. These secular religions have many of the same influences in terms of mode of dress, use of time, activities participated in, the purpose which organizes behavior and provides incentive and motivation.
Let's take just one example of a secular religion, professional sports, and an informed observer notices such things as people's team identification complete with costume of ball cap, jacket, jersey, and knowledge of the rules and histories of major players and teams, and time spent in ritualistic ways attending games and discussion of pre-game and post-game intricacies. People look forward to games and play-offs with an enthusiasm and anticipation which far out distances any similar enthusiasm and anticipation for religious services and celebrations. Over the last 40 years one of the most holiest of holy days in America's secular religious celebrations is Super Bowl Sunday. It rivals Christmas and Easter in terms of celebrations, family get togethers, anticipation, etc.
Religion can be re-defined as that which gives meaning to life and that which influences identity, interpersonal relationships, and codes of behavior.
If we use this as a definition, the Father God of Christianity has relatively little influence considering the idolotry of the secular gods in our culture, of which sports is but one example.
There are important social consequences for sports being a secular religion. In many sports such as golf, tennis, soccer, baseball, the interest is international, tends to be racially inclusive, is a suggogate for war which does not lead to death and destruction.
Sports are performance based and fans "worship" their heroes of accomplishment who often are elevated to "sainthood" by being admitted into the Hall Of Fame. These Hall of Famers often are held up as icons of athletic virtue to be emulated by the young.
To be continued
Quote of the day
May 31, 2006
"What this is coming down to is who runs the country. It's us against them. It's the good guys versus the bad guys. It's the God-fearing people against the pagans."
Randall Terry
