Watching the World Cup this week, I wondered if athletes should thank god after their victory. But, thank God for what? For the fact that they won, or conversely that others lost? Thanking God that others are worse off than oneself seems a little ungodly. The view that God favors oneself over others has lead to worse losses than victories. Perhaps it is the case that God is on everyone's side. God supports each athlete equally. But then why should anyone lose at all, why doesn't everyone win?
If that were the case there would no longer be a game of competition, just God playing with his puppets. But if they are thanking him for winning what does this amount to? For including them in his game?
Isn't one of the main purposes for entering any competition the satisfaction gained from knowing the achievement one has accomplished? If so, wouldn't that satisfaction be diminished if one found out that it wasn't due to oneself that victory was gained, but some external factors. If someone fixed the score of a game it (not only would it not be a real victory) wouldn't feel like a real victory. Similarly if God is the cause of me winning, then is it really my victory?
The other alternative is that God has nothing to do with the competition, he favors no one, and he just lets them play. In which case what do they thank God for, he didn't do anything? Perhaps just, ‘thank you God for not interfering, for letting me prove myself.’ In other words; Thanks for nothing!
(Perhaps this is the best way to understand the old saying that God helps those who help themselves.)
I look forward to your comments
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