I’m a big NBA fan (especially during the playoffs), and Orlando Magic superstar Dwight Howard just gave a post-game interview giving God the credit for his team beating the Boston Celtics in game 7 of their playoff series.
I’m certain on only a few things. Here’s one of them. If there is a God, he doesn’t give a crap who wins an NBA game. And he’s disappointed at his believers who got his message so wrong that they believe that.
The Latest on Faith and Doubt
7 responses so far ↓
1 Tim Stroud // May 19, 2009 at 1:58 am
Careful there Mr. William. I think ascribing disappointment to either a god who doesn’t exist or even to a god that doesn’t care crosses the line into a personal god.
Religious people commonly give credit for “good” things to god. Kind of like praying to thank god before a meal, eventhough god didn’t do the shopping, the baking, the boiling or the bar-b-queing.
And you can be pretty sure god won’t be doing the dishes.
2 Wandrin // May 19, 2009 at 9:40 am
Why does Howard give god all the credit. No doubt there are members of Magic that think they had a factor in the outcome. Perhaps a poll of the rest of the team might be in order.
For Tim… regarding meal prayers….
There are many recorded examples of primitive cultures thanking the animals for giving their life so that tribe may be able to live. From there it is only a small stretch promoted by a shaman to thank some mythological being for that animal’s life.
3 Ori // May 20, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Examples like this remind us how the peculiar feeling of elation and election, of cosmic forces aligning on our behalf, has all-too-human origins.
4 ronmorrison // May 21, 2009 at 12:17 am
Sad isn’t it!
First let me be clear… there is no god.
Now that that’s out of the way – ever wonder how many young men (many of them christian) playing 3-on-3 pickup ball at a park after school declare and give “thanks to god” for helping them win!?
I wonder if Dwight did so. Betting not. Never heard it … ever. Except once one has the spotlight (success/money) to further their pretense.
One wonders what he’d have said if weeks before EVERYONE he knows – family, friends, co-players, the entire NBA, his church, all churches… EVERYONE told him that they have absolute conviction and proof that there is no God.
Care to offer a wager on whether or not he’d stand out on a sole un-socially supported limb?
How about this… find a clip of Dwight or any major NBA player declaring their thankfulness and giving credit to god for ensuring the other guys won.
Lennon said it best… Imagine!
5 azalea5 // May 22, 2009 at 1:58 am
If there is no God, then how do you explain the miracle of life and love?
6 ronmorrison // May 22, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Azalea5 Hi!
Life defined as a “miracle” is a personal and emotional preference, a subjective description. To be sure live and love are wonderful “things” and yet in all of their wonder they can easily be explained.
First life is and its creation have not only long been understood by science – but creation of it by man is heavily studied, discussed and even legislated today. (See biology studies and stem cell research articles).
Love (I’m assuming your talking about agape love) also has long been understood and studied in the halls of psychotherapy along with the relative effects that mutual appreciation, desire, and familiarity have on our psychologies and interpersonal relationships.
Not knowing something definitively is not a reason to create a “false and unproven” explanation for it. It is however a reason to declare that further exploration and study is required. That honesty… to say I don’t know for certain but I will go learn about it… that is beautiful.
I love my wife, my children, my family, and many friends. I’m fortunate too to be loved by many. No miracle there – fortune. No “blessings there”… however its great personal love from others love and affection that they choose freely to give. If that isn’t sufficient then one should really learn to love themselves.
I’d recommend a book called the God Delusion form Richard Dawkins. There’s also another GREAT book called “Why Evolution is True” by Jerry Coyne.
Thanks azalea5. Have a SPECTACULAR FRIDAY!
7 bimini // Jun 8, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Lots of players will say that. But to me I don’t really think they are saying “God caused us to win”.
They might be but I just don’t think so. I could be dead wrong, but more times than not I think it’s just a way of saying their personal faith gave them the strength, discipline and inspiration to go out and compete at a level that allowed them the victory.
I think alot will use the phrase similar to the blunt statement “God caused us to win” to make it sound different or trivialize it.
You must log in to post a comment.