Religion as the New Sport

My fellow sports fans know that, along with the joys and frustrations of cheering for our favorite teams, a shared love of sports can bring us closer to people from very different backgrounds than our own. 

I can be anywhere in this country, or in the world, and can usually break the ice by talking about sports. From the English Premier League in soccer to the Indian Premier League in cricket, a little knowledge does wonders in helping me connect with others.

But those easy conversations in a car ride or in a pub may become fraught when the subject turns from sports to faith. When I meet another “member of the tribe,” of course, there is often an immediate bond.  But for non-Jews, who knows? While I regularly feel a special connection with observers of any faith, I have on occasion found it is easier to engage with someone who has no faith than with someone who has a strong one.  

Shortly after I became President of Northwestern, I invited a dozen or so local clergy for lunch. They began by going around the room introducing themselves, and for the most part talking about the work that their congregations were doing in Evanston. When it was my turn, I told them how impressed I was with their compassion and their service, but added that I was surprised that none of them had said anything about G-d.  Perhaps, I said, we could use the remainder of our time together to chat about our religious journeys. That led to a meaningful exchange, and I felt a deep sense of community as we discussed what G-d means to each of us.

I then raised something that had long been on my mind: Does there come a point where the appreciation of another faith is at odds with the passion for one’s own?

I then raised something that had long been on my mind: Does there come a point where the appreciation of another faith is at odds with the passion for one’s own?

At first, several clergy members mentioned having a bond with all believers, regardless of the particular religion in question. I followed up, saying that it isn’t about a lack of respect for other faiths, it is about believing that your own faith is not only especially powerful, but that it is “right.” I do not believe that we should just pick a G-d, any G-d. Do they, I asked?

Silence ensued, until a Lutheran pastor spoke.  He said that he was delighted that the president of a secular university was so eager to discuss religion. However, he continued, in his heart he felt obligated to tell me that unless I accepted Jesus as my lord and savior, I was doomed to hell for all eternity.  

There was an audible gasp around the table. But I thanked him for his honesty and told him that while I respected his point of view, my faith is as unshakable as his.

So where does that leave us?  Don’t you wish we had the same safe spaces to bring up religion as we do sports? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could meet someone anywhere in the world and say honestly that Shabbat is even more important to me than my devotion to the Bulls or Patriots?  

When I close my eyes and “Imagine,” it isn’t John Lennon’s world with no religion.  Instead, it is a world where religion can be discussed as easily and as safely as anything else — that the admonition to leave faith outside of polite conversation would be gone. That religion will be the new sport.

Not long ago many prayer books changed the final verse of the Kaddish prayer, adding seven words in brackets: “May the one who creates peace on high bring peace to us and to all Israel [and to all who dwell on earth.]”  When I first read this, I thought the addition was clumsy and I ignored it. After all, some clergy and congregants include it, and some do not, leading to a certain awkwardness during the service. But now I realize that if we are ever to truly embrace people of other faiths, it’s not a bad idea to begin by including them in our prayers.

Morton Schapiro is the former president of Williams College and Northwestern University.  His most recent book (with Gary Saul Morson) is “Minds Wide Shut:  How the New Fundamentalisms Divide Us.”