Religion and sport: “There is no football god”
Christmas is just around the corner – time to pause, even for athletes. Arnd Heling is someone who combines religion and sport. The pastor is the contact person for church and sport in the Ostholstein church district. We talked to him about “Hanseatic Hell”, parallels between competition and church service and the Christmas message for athletes.
Mr. Heling, would you preach in the chapel of the Schalke football arena?
I would preach anywhere (laughs).
So you find the idea of getting divine support right before a sporting event charming?
I wouldn’t say that. There is no soccer god. Anyway, it is a wrong approach to ask for the victory of your own team. The chance of such a band is rather to convey a certain joy that does not turn into fanaticism.
Chapel in the stadium, “Hand of God”, “Hanseatic Hell” – sport seems to have enjoyed religion …
I think hell shouldn’t be flirted with. There is no condemnation in sport or religion, so the term is wrong. But of course this is about marketing.
Tai Chi as a balance
You used to be a middle-distance runner. What is more strenuous, a middle-distance run or a church service?
You can’t compare that.
Why not?
A church service is of course not that physically demanding. You have to be focused and present, have timing and know your freestyle and duty. So I’m just discovering some parallels between a competition and a church service (smiles).
Are there athletes who consciously turn to the Church?
Not yet with me, but I’m not that well-known in Ostholstein as a representative for church and sport. Due to time constraints, I have not yet been able to develop any initiatives myself. One has to consider whether one can achieve sporting activities at the community level and partnerships with sports clubs.
background
In contrast to other federal states, there are no structural assignments in the North Elbe Church when it comes to church and sport. Rather, clergymen take on the topic on their own initiative. This leads to the fact that, for example, in Ostholstein with Dr. Arnd Heling gives a contact person for this, but not in other church districts. The Protestant, for example, has the reins more firmly in hand Church in Bavaria, which works with the State Sports Association in this regard and has set up its own Church and Sport working group.
You do sport yourself: Tai Chi, a martial art developed in China.
Yes, to learn stress resilience after burnout. Tai Chi is highly recommended as a movement meditation. Of course it is also an interesting experience for me as a pastor to approach a martial art and to practice punches, which actually come from a military context.
Christmas message for athletes
At Christmas, the fight for presents breaks out at most. How important is it for athletes to calm down over the holidays?
Infinitely important. I always indulge the footballers who play in the national leagues from the bottom of my heart. I find the constant stress of championships and league places downright inhuman.
In England football is also played on Boxing Day.
Yes, and I think the game should be closed for Christmas. The audience should also distance themselves from time to time. I find this hustle and bustle downright perverse.
What important content does the Christmas message have for athletes?
The message that God became man in a child who is defenseless and dependent on others. The competitive athletes have to deliver permanently. Then to pause and see a defenseless child who is loved for its own sake says: I don’t have to be a top talent, I am loved even if I can no longer call up performance.
Mr. Heling, thank you for the interview.
By Andreas Breitenberger
Reference-www.ln-online.de