Is there a relationship between sports and religion?

People gather at appointed times. They wear particular colors. They sing together, repeat rituals, remember legendary figures, travel long distances to important places, and feel themselves joined to people they may never have met.

That describes quite a few religious practices. It also sounds suspiciously like sports.

Are these similarities mostly on the surface, or do sports and religion satisfy some of the same human needs? What happens when a team becomes part of someone’s identity? Is devotion to a sport fundamentally different from other forms of devotion?

This project is funded in part by Oregon Humanities with support from Meyer Memorial Trust.

A note about Saturday Scoundrels: Saturday gatherings are alcohol-free. Coffee, tea, and light brunch bites are available. Shout out to Cambium Gallery for providing the caffeination!