Hmmm... this caught my eye. It is a bit of a new topic - with some overlap on previous topics, particularly in the Christianity thread.
Victor Espinoza, American Pharoah?s Jockey, Takes Spiritual Journey « CBS New York
The point that is most interesting to me is the public displays of devotion. I think its great that this guy's personal religious devotion is getting covered - I think that helps all of the devout more comfortable with publicly displaying such things. I see professional athletes sometimes give thanks to God for a good performance. Sometimes those proclamations seem... disingenuous. But, other times, the seem very sincere.
Personally, as a family, we say grace before meals in restaurants, although it is somewhat discrete. If I'm in a business lunch, I'll discretely make the Sign of the Cross before eating. I think there's a certain line to walk between being personally devout and publicly self-aggrandizing.
In that article, I also appreciate the workmanlike statement - "t's always good to turn to God."
Sometimes the most simple theologies are the most compelling.
Victor Espinoza, American Pharoah?s Jockey, Takes Spiritual Journey « CBS New York
Espinoza [jockey for American Pharoah, trying for the first triple crown in a bazillion years] visited the grave site of Grand Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Schneerson, considered one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the 20th century.
Hundreds of thousands come to the cemetery every year 24/7 to pray.
Espinoza opened a prayer book, recited psalms, wrote out his own message and added his to a mountain of prayers at the sacred site.
...
Espinoza is not Jewish, but spiritual. He said after receiving a blessing from a rabbi at the Preakness last month, he scheduled the detour from his regular race prep for the Belmont.
...
“He believes with God’s help and the rebbe interceding for him that’s he’s going to be very successful and very safe,” said Mike Weitz, Espinoza’s publicist.
Prayers for a pharaoh may be a first at the site, but worshipers welcomed Espinoza.
“Jewish, not Jewish — no matter what your faith is, it’s always good to turn to God,” one man said.
American Pharoah’s owners also answer to a higher authority. The Zayats were raised in Egypt as observant Jews. On race day, which is the Sabbath, the family will abstain from driving
The point that is most interesting to me is the public displays of devotion. I think its great that this guy's personal religious devotion is getting covered - I think that helps all of the devout more comfortable with publicly displaying such things. I see professional athletes sometimes give thanks to God for a good performance. Sometimes those proclamations seem... disingenuous. But, other times, the seem very sincere.
Personally, as a family, we say grace before meals in restaurants, although it is somewhat discrete. If I'm in a business lunch, I'll discretely make the Sign of the Cross before eating. I think there's a certain line to walk between being personally devout and publicly self-aggrandizing.
In that article, I also appreciate the workmanlike statement - "t's always good to turn to God."
Sometimes the most simple theologies are the most compelling.
