(Originally posted November 03, 2011)
In Slave Sermons (episode 34) "Jocks for Jesus" I highlight the delusional and demonstrative religious displays of professional athletes. It's absurd to think of an athlete giving thanks to "Jesus/God" for making a great play or scoring a touchdown. Teams often pray for victory before each game and faithful fans pray to bring about championships. If we serve a god who grants our wishes regarding the trivialities of a game, then we serve a god who is suffering from myopia; especially considering that the world is filled with starvation, war (of which 30,000 children are participating), pain and suffering, disease, pollution etc.

Believing that a god is responsible for the outcome of a particular play or game, only proves that an omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent singular, deity exists only in our imaginations. John Kitna, professional NFL quarterback and one of the most outspoken religious zealots in all of professional sports was asked why a god would care about something as trivial as a game. Kitna answered with the fallacy known as special pleading by asserting that "people just don't understand who god is."  Kitna, however, never offered a logical explanation. 

Countless of athletes suffer permanent or life-threatening injuries. Head and neck injuries occur often in football but many athletes willingly assume those risks which are merely considered occupational hazards. Being a collision sport such as football, athletes are potentially one play away from injury, becoming paralyzed or even death. When these unfortunate things happen, it's usually chalked up to "god's will." This monotheistic invisible being sure has a lot on his plate. I just hope he finds time to smile favorably upon the Cincinnati Bengals this year.

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