Separation of Church and Links?

Several writers have written about or noted Zach Johnson's faith in trying to find something interesting to say about the Masters Champion. Craig Dolch did it here and of course Dan Jenkins of all people celebrated it in his Golf Digest letter from Augusta.

Well Tom Witosky in the Des Moines Register files a thoughtful piece that starts out sounding like an extended version of the Zach-loves-Jesus theme, but then takes an intriguing turn by pointing out that there is only so much preaching some can take before it could backfire.

Johnson's mention of his Christian faith after winning the Masters on Easter Sunday has stirred discomfort among some believing the separation between church and sport should be as strong as between church and state.

"Religion and sport today has become a mutual exploitation society," said Ray Higgs, professor emeritus of English at East Tennessee State University.

At the same time, Johnson's profession sparked the imagination of those who believe sport and religion can be a positive, powerful combination.

And those who know Johnson, 31, say his faith is as much a part of him as is the ability to hit a five-iron within 10 feet of the cup.

"There is no pretense, no hidden agenda, no proselytizing" with Johnson, said Kay Bloom, his former theology teacher at Cedar Rapids Regis High School. "Ultimately, he is owning his faith and he simply shared it with everyone."

And...

"It is really a fine line and you have to be careful from a marketing point of view," said Rick Horrow, a nationally known expert on sports marketing and professional athletics.

"Zach Johnson genuinely has to be himself, and that includes his strong faith," Horrow said. "But he has to watch out that people don't think he is preaching to them."

Chapman Clark, a professor at the Fuller Theological Seminary in California, said Johnson and those surrounding him will have to adjust to that reality quickly.

"My suggestion is that he get himself some sharp people to help him develop his message so that it doesn't come across as exploitative," Clark said.

Paging the LPGA's brand coach!

Higgs, the East Tennessee State professor emeritus, has written several books and articles on religion and sport, including "God in the Stadium: Sports and Religion in America."

He believes the potential tension involved in tying religion to sport has grown as American culture fixated on sports success - as opposed to sports excellence. The emphasis on winning, he said, has turned people away from the value of athletics to focus on victory and money.

"The truth of the matter is there is no correlation between victory and virtue," Higgs said.

Comments

[John M]

"Religion and sport today has become a mutual exploitation society," said Ray Higgs, professor emeritus of English at East Tennessee State University."

How about education and sport? Big business and sport? Entertainment (movies) and sport?

While I don't share Johnson's religious beliefs, this seems like a lot of hot air over a trivial issue. The English prof might do better sticking to English. (If they quoted him correctly, he made a basic grammatical mistake.)

[Matt]

I didn't mind the faith stuff Zach said but listing your sponsors in the Butler Cabin was very tacky. They probably told him to plug them.

[JakaB]

Wasn't it Jesus that said "Cheaters never win." There is a correlation between winning and virtue.

[Steven T.]

I don't care for athletes,from whatever sport, "sharing their faith" with me or anyone else,for that matter. This is a growing concern in the US. Europeans don't understand it.

[Peter]

"In his own lifetime Jesus made no impact on history. This is something that I cannot but regard as a special dispensation on God's part, and, I like to think, yet another example of the ironical humour which informs so many of his purposes. To me, it seems highly appropriate that the most important figure in all history should thus escape the notice of memoirists, diarists, commentators, all the tribe of chroniclers who even then existed."

Malcolm Muggeridge, British journalist (1903-90)

[JakaB]

It may not help if you love Jesus but it sure don't hurt if your Momma do.

JakaB, (1960-)

[Kerry]

I find the Christians a funny bunch. If they lose, was Jesus "not" with them?
Was it not God's will for them to win?
With all the troubles in the world. Is Jesus really worried about who wins the Masters?
Most years Jesus gets no credit because Phil and Tiger don't seem to need him to win. Does that bother Jesus?
I just want to hear one guy give Jesus credit for missing the cut. Something like, "I played well today but with Jesus at my side I could only shot 81."
I must admit I am religiously non-religious so I find this stuff kind of silly. But I do have a personal relationship with the Tooth Fairy!

[JakaB]

Kerry,

Why do you think so many people sell their souls to the Devil to become winners. Jesus has always been the friend of the loser..Look who prays at a birthday party compared to a funeral.

[dsl]

"You see there, when you laid up on 13? There's only one set of footsteps. That's when I was carrying you."

Jesus, to Zach

[Mark Holthoff]

I think there must be something very compelling to a professional athlete about being able to credit something outside himself for successes and failures on the playing field. That way, blowing up when in contention is a "trial" to be overcome, while winning is a "gift" for enduring faith. I can only image that having a putt to win on the 72nd hole must be somewhat less nerve-racking if one truly believes it's God's will for it to fall.

[TLC]

Wow.

I didn't hear any altar calls from Butler Cabin. the guy mentions Jesus twice (from what I saw), and suddenly he's John Calvin.

Take a deep breath, people.

[RM]

Zach- good old Iowa boy, raised Christian, simple folks, not even the best player on his high school team, plays at Drake with little promise, follows what had to seem like a ridiculous dream to pursue pro golf, leans on his faith, grateful to the syndicate that backed him, grateful to sponsors who supported a "no-name", makes it on tour against the odds, wins against the odds, makes ryder cup against the odds, walks off the 18th green on Easter, hugs his wife, kisses his 14-week old son, then waits as the greatest player in history finally fails to make history, slips on a green jacket, thanks the sponsors who believed him, thanks Jesus- on the day he rose from the dead.

You don't thank Jesus for the destination, you thank him for the journey. Without his faith, Zach's journey would have ended long ago. That's not preaching, that's called perspective.

Zach Johnson, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa...well done!

[Kerry]

Excuse me RM,
Would that be faith in himself or the faith in the higher power?
Seems to me that Zack is a good story but their are dozens of others just like him in sport.
Rich Beem comes to mind and somethings tells me that you don't neccesarily need faith in a higher power to work hard, against the odds and become a late bloomer.
I don't believe his "faith" in a higher power made one iota of difference. It was his faith in himself, determination and hard work.
That's preaching and perspective!
As for the overreation to the Jesus comments. I think Zack touched a nerve that has been irritating people for a long time. And he made varous references in other interviews.
The guy can play and I am a fan of his story. I just think the faith angle is overplayed.

[Kerry]

Excuse me RM,
Would that be faith in himself or the faith in the higher power?
Seems to me that Zack is a good story but their are dozens of others just like him in sport.
Rich Beem comes to mind and something tells me that you don't neccesarily need faith in a higher power to work hard and become a late bloomer against the odds.
I don't believe his "faith" in a higher power made one iota of difference. It was his faith in himself, determination and hard work.
That's preaching and perspective!

As for the overreation to the Jesus comments. I think Zack touched a nerve that has been irritating people for a long time. And he made varous references in other interviews.
The guy can play and I am a fan of his story. I just think the faith angle is overplayed.
I like Mark's point about the rationale behind it. It may very well be a coping mechanism.

[RM]

Rich Beem did get religous on us after the PGA. Didn't he dedicate that win to his Uncle Jesse who taught him to play Stairway To Heaven and turned him on to Nazareth? Long live Hair Of The Dog!

[CBell]

Geoff,

Do us a favor and make this a religion-free website. Criticizing a person for expressing his faith says more about the critic than the believer, and it shows an insensitivity which I think undermines the kind of golf-based fellowship you're trying to promote.

Sex? Okay. Religion and politics? Well, it's your website, but if you bring them into it, you're going to end up alienating a lot of loyal fans.

[Hawkeye]

Just one thing: Steven T., what exactly is it we Europeans don't understand?

[golfis4losrs]

what about church and head gear? anybody notice baddeley's wife and her diamond studded statement? i'm sure jesus told her it was ok.