Religion: Church and Sports

The Mega churches of America are perhaps the best way to think of the church that I attended this Sunday. Big projector screens, a huge sound system, full band, choir, and a passionate minister. The Grace Bible Church is simply massive. Crowds had to stand outside, against the walls, and sit in overflow rooms.

The sermon described the importance of working cooperatively with one's generation. Given in English, this is perhaps the most political sermon I have ever listened to. Growing up in a Unitarian Universalist church, I have often associated politics with forming my ideas of creed or belief. However today the word of God was given in the context of apartheid and working hard for one's place in the world.

The church is supported by its parishioners, who may not have tons, but give lots for the sense of community and family that this place creates. Even as a visitor, I felt warmly welcomed. I originally had sit half way back through the sanctuary in a few open seats our group had found. However we were quickly found and moved up to the front.

We were just behind a group of Christians from the US who were there on mission work. I have to say that it felt weird that we would be moved to the front. I thought to myself, I'm not better than anyone else here, why should I sit up front? I'm not even religious in the church sense of the word. What I didn't realize until part way through was that they wanted us to feel welcomed as special guests.

While the religious side of the service did not appeal to me, the music was striking. Soulful and involving the crowd, we danced. We smiled. We felt to be celebrating life more than anything else-- giving thanks.

 

 

However, there is another religion of sorts here in South Africa. Sports. The Springboks Rugby Club, Bafana Bafana Soccer Club, and Proteas Cricket team are the national teams of South Africa. They provided a sense of national unity unlike any of the US national teams do for Americans.

Apartheid quite literally held the nation of South Africa apart for generations. But as apartheid came to its end and New South Africa was born, sports were a huge way in which black, white, Indian, coloured and others were able to come together to root for their teams and develop a sense of oneness.

Nelson Mandela is a hero and legend for the change that he was able to help lead this beautiful nation to. The book "Playing the Enemy" (on which the film "Invictus" was based) details the influence that the Springboks especially had on forming this unity. Many blacks did not want to support them after apartheid, but Mandela realized the importance that it would have in forming his dream of integration.

As the Africa Nations Cup begins for 2013, the streets are full of yellow jerseys. The taxi stands are full of fans braving rain and high water to get to the stadium. The bars are full, and the nation seems to be coming together behind the team. They have a tough group for the first round but if the number of prayers being said to Christian or athletics gods are heard, Bafana Bafana has a shot.

 

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