Saturday, March 17, 2007

Sports, Morality, and Karma

In listening to the Sports Animal (620 AM), I've come across quite an observation: people are sinful, and yet still moral creatures. When there is an absence of a Christian moral worldview, something will come in and take its place. People just can't go live without some sense of right and wrong. This week Ian Beckles (of Ron and Ian) stated that a man publishing a book relating to OJ Simpson's malfeasance "actually got some morals, and decided not to publish it." But that raises a question. How did such 'morals' arrive to our 'door steps' or who brought them here? It would be interesting to ask these gentlemen (or the millions like them) such a question. Because most people are not amoral (without morals), would they truly be comfortable with an evolutionary model of their morality? Does this observation further affirm our being created in the Image of God?

While the origin of such morality is uncertain, the proverbial police man of this morality is not: Karma, the new sheriff in town. I used to think that the show My Name is Earl was a spoof on reality. But it is really more a crystal clear picture of American culture than a spoof. I hear something like this, weekly, on sports talk radio: "I can't wait till Karma catches up with that guy for all he's done!" And so this leaves me with another question: Is it really easier to believe in an impersonal force like Karma that governs and balances the moral order than a personal and relational God? Or does the prospect of less personal accountability make it easier to believe in Karma? Or does the fact that Karma eliminates the need for grace (which we all have trouble accepting) make it easier to believe in than a Holy and Loving God? Just some thoughts and questions stemming from Sports Talk.