2 of 2

Naturally, if this is a telling argument, we would need to ban all professional sports (and probably modern capitalism itself). Every professional athlete who has been summarily traded or cut will tell you that he very much feels like a "moneymaking machine" for corporate interests.

Finally, The magazine said it was raising the issue of the immorality of boxing because "the human conscience cannot fail to rebel and cannot remain silent in the face of aberrations that are so contrary to human and Christian morality and gravely damaging to man, his life, and his dignity."

And yet the success of the recent PBS and Hollywood offerings on boxing—each of which showed the sport ennobling the humanity of the participants—suggests that boxing is more complex than our Jesuit friends suggest.

I'm not defending boxing, as such—which at the professional level is corrupt, pointlessly dangerous, and in desperate need of reform. But I am arguing that the knee-jerk ethics we apply to boxing would, if applied consistently, eradicate many sports that bring us joy and meaning. Surely, we must think more deeply about these matters.

In the next few columns, I will explore the unique nature of boxing precisely because I believe it reveals a great deal about all sports, which combine play, tragedy, art, and spirituality in a combustible and glorious mix.

Mark Galli is managing editor of Christianity Today. Play Ball, a column on the intersection of sports and faith, appears every other week, but has been on hiatus during an editorial "off season."

Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Other Play Ball columns include:

Something Noble and Good | Professional sports is often boring, but real sports is not. (May 13, 2005)

The Lovely Paradox of NFL Draft Day | It's an event of biblical proportions—and wisdom. (April 29, 2005)

Negotiating Sunday Sports | This culture war was lost long ago. Now what? (April 15, 2005)

The Prodigal Sports Fan | There is hope for the idolater. (April 08, 2005)

The Thirst of the 24/7 Fan | Understanding the idolatry in sports. (March 01, 2005)

March Madnesses | The layers of insanity know no end—thank God. (March. 18, 2005)

Spectating as a Spiritual Discipline | For those who have eyes to watch, let them watch something more than highlight films. (March 11, 2005)

The Grace of Sports | If Christ can't be found in sports, he can't be found the modern world. (March 4, 2005)

Baseball Isn't Entertainment | The sooner we stop thinking sports are about the spectators, the more enjoyable the games will be. (Feb. 25, 2005)

Rooting for T.O. | Why Terrell Owens irritates most of us most of the time. (Feb. 11, 2005)

Freedom Between the Goal Posts | Sports is much more important than our culture lets on (Feb. 4, 2005)

Salt and Light in the Arena | It's going to take more than a few good Christians to clean up sports. (Feb. 18, 2005)

Rooting for T.O. | Why Terrell Owens irritates most of us most of the time. (Feb.. 11, 2005)

first page |  2 of 2

share this page

October (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49