Sports and Religions Together: In Poetry

By Gerald Middents

This poetry book connects active Sports and Religions as important involvements in many cultures. Participants engage their bodies, minds and spirits in meaningful activities. Audiences are inspired by their own identification with Sports and Religions as both involve participants to make commitments for their own growth plus their own communities. Olympics engage world-wide competition supported by their constituencies. Media covers many Sports and Religions so that global audiences can identify with participants.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9781663211170

Gerald Middents

Gerald “Jerry” Middents’ has wide experiences in teaching at Universities and Colleges. He is interdisciplinary as a Presbyterian Minister who earned a Ph.D. He served as a Professor of Psychology at Austin College for 33 years. Invitations came to teach at Universities in India, China, Poland and Slovenia. He taught at Mahatma Gandhi U. Then he filled the Endowed UNESCO Peace Chair at Manipal University. Lecture invitations came from University of Texas at Dallas, Ljubljana U., Mangalore U., St. Paul’s College, five medical schools, six seminaries and several community colleges. He published over a dozen other books, journal articles, sermons and lectures. Creativity, Policy-Making, Writing Poetry, Peace and Justice are his specialties.

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 Gerald Middents.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

iUniverse

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.iuniverse.com

844-349-9409

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6632-1116-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-1117-0 (e)

iUniverse rev. date:  11/10/2020

Contents

 Preface

 I. Competition and Collaboration

 II. Onward into Sports and Religions!

 III. Sports in Hebrew Literature

 IV. New Testament Leagues

 V. Jesusing!

 VI. Sports in Islamic Cultures

 VII. Emergence of Modern Era

 VIII. Wisdom of Successful Coaches

 IX. Economic Inequalities

 X. Gender Inequities to Equalities

 XI. Objectvity, Subjectivity, Relativity

 XII. Play Your Favorite Sport

 XIII. Efforts toward Integration

 XIV. Games for Living

 XV. Teamwork

 XVI. Conditioning

 XVII. Encounters in 3rd Millennia

 XVIII. Experiment in America; Asian Indians, Nigerians, Mexicans

 XIX. Sports in Times of Crises

 XX. Both

 XXI. By The End of 3rd Millenia

 Global Anthem II

 Bibliography

 Author of Creative Beyondering

 Appendices

PREFACE

The coronavirus has now affected;

Sports and religion are impaired!

These are important activities,

Hindering both these practices!

Human beings are being confined;

To protect healthy from being crowded!

Experts search for possible solutions;

Now hoping to discover vaccinations!

Both activities possess long histories;

Both also do practice ceremonies.

Advocates cannot now gather;

Participants continue healthier.

Both engage in collaboration;

They also recognize competition!

Many ages do become involved,

Confronting issues to be resolved.

This book invites your participation;

Hoping to contribute to education.

Readers: Decide for yourself!

Study before placing on a shelf!

Then establish your perspective,

Both subjective and also objective.

We can engage in further dialogue

While we all pray and also jog!

I.  COMPETITION AND

COLLABORATION

Humanity recognizes globalization;

We also move to collaboration!

These are both positive movements,

Both are constructive developments!

Human beings need to work together;

Jointly, we can help the world be better!

Our loyalties now need to expand;

Globally activities can be planned!

Sports are very positive involvements;

Many are private; some by governments!

Religion is also both local plus global;

World-wide engagements can thrill!

Competition and cooperation jointly;

Stimulate our human roles forcefully!

We can do: Collaborative<>Competition;

While we also cultivate cooperation!

Sports and Religion are very fulfilling;

These also become very thrilling!

We benefit from participation;

As we pursue globalization!

During millions, humans have evolved;

Many challenges are being solved.

This Earth has been our home;

Part of the Universe we roam!

We learn to resolve differences;

Not able to have our preferences.

Human need global understanding;

Part of diversity for comprehending.

Science, sports and religion

Ask for our appreciation.

These exist for human service;

Now we just need to rehearse!

Humans are natural explorers!

The unknown begs discoverers.

We invent how to get further

Walk, hunt, boat and flyers!

We want to know what and why?

All these are facets of curiosity!

Some features are visible,

Other still are invisible!

First, attention to deep roots;

As human beings, we are shoots.

We are confined by languages

Plus ancient stone images!

Then we search human branches,

With symbols and recorded words.

We hope translations are accurate;

At their best, they do communicate!

Then libraries are good sources;

Fortunately, they also have branches.

Printed resources are very helpful;

Challenging us to be resourceful!

Modern technology digs deeply!

Finding our roots in pre-history.

Readers will search intensively

By building on our curiosity!

First, attention to deep roots,

As human beings, we are shoots.

We are confined by our languages,

Plus ancient stone historic images.

Then we search human branches,

With symbols and recorded words.

We hope translations are accurate

At best, they also do communicate.

Ancient human sports are very revealing!

Researchers discovered ancient bowling!

Evidence in Egypt is now surprising;

Bowling in 3200 B.C. was existing! ¹

Human beings love to be engaged;

Pursuing games have long been played!

This evidence uncovers ancient activities;

No doubt, other sports had participants.

Then Libraries are good sources.

Fortunately, they have branches.

Printed resources are very helpful

Challenging us to be resourceful!

Modern technology does dig deeply!

Finding our human roots in history.

Readers will also search intensively,

By building on your own curiosity!

II.  ONWARD INTO SPORTS

AND RELIGIONS!

CULTURAL RELIGIONS

First, attention to deep roots,

As human beings, we are shoots.

We are confined by our languages

Plus the ancients stone images!

Then we search human branches,

With symbols and recorded words.

We hope translations are accurate,

At best, they also communicate.

Then libraries are good sources.

Fortunately, they have branches.

Printed resources are very helpful

Challenging us to be resourceful!

Modern technologies do dig deeply!

Finding our roots in pre-history.

Readers will search intensively,

By building on your curiosity!

Religion is culturally-conditioned with artifacts,

Both faith and religion encourages serious practices.

Faith appreciate these overt and visible elements,

Faith goes outside these boxes, does and buildings.

Love is difficulty to box, to market, to buy or lose;

It is compelling, motivating, hoping and trusting!

Faith does not stay in localities or containers,

Faith is elusive, energizing and empowering.

Faith typically is not threatening but engaging;

Love expresses faith, hope and empowering!

People know faith as enticingly wholesome,

Reassuring and uplifting, for the whole person!

Faith is not a career but a vocational calling;

Faith is not a product but service as engaging!

Faith is personal beyond mere cultural rituals,

Religion may foster faith, but not contain all.

Do not ask faith to score, but rather to empower;

Faith is market-less; but produces confidence!

Religion can produce careers and investments;

But faith does not have indices or algorithms.

Many sports have arisen recently;

Reaching communities in the 20th century.

Researchers found another ancient discovery²

Over 5000 long years of old world history!

Evidence in Egypt is astounding!

New discoveries about bowling!

Ancient Egypt prior to pyramids

This sport may have been played!

Yes, Egyptians were very active;

They were also naturally creative!

Their civilization did pre-date

Hebrews, Greeks and Romans.

Why should we now be surprised?

Why could not sports be played?

People exercise their capacities;

Human beings enjoy activities!

In India, a key religion is Hinduism;

One of their key gods is Ganesh.

This elephant figure is sitting

Worshipers around praising.

Ganesh does have many arms!

This is fascinating to us with charms.

Naturally, this figure is also very large

Creating this world with a splurge!

Another India religion is Buddhism;

The current Buddha is in now in Nepal.

Current adherents search for a successor;

Likely a young boy will find their favor.

From Confucius" teachings came Taoism;

This is also considered to be Daoism.

These teachings from the 5th BCE,

Encourages people’s harmony.

Daoism is recognized in China

Where it is known as The Way!

Adherents are to be joyful and happy

Plus be yielding to avoid controversy.

Confucius did advocate morality:³

He also promoted sincerity.

Chinese study for justice;

As expressions of kindness.

ARCHITECTUAL MOMUMENTS

Both fields impacted architecture;

These are now historic structures.

Religions constructed big Temples

To draw together their people.

Ancient Greeks built the Parthenon;

Many stone pillars on Acropolis!

Jains in India built a Temple;

1000 pillars at Moodiviari!

Roman Catholics have St. Peters

A Cathedral that draw peoples.

Muslims have the Hagia Sophia;

A large Mosque in Constantinople!

Near Rome is Maximus Circus;

A huge stadium with a track.

Chariot racing was a sport;

With 150,000 spectators!

Paris rebuilds Notre Dame;

Americas have large Churches.

Jasna Gora in Czestachawa;

Temple of the Black Madonna!

In Russia is Saint Petersburg

Has unique Orthodox Churches.

Moscow has large monuments

To encourage Russian athletes.

A Buddhist Temple in Japan

Called: Redeoin Sanjosangendo.

China has many sites for Confucius.

These are designed to be memorable.

Now Japan was to host 2020 Olympics;

Unfortunately, cancellation of games.

Very major facilities were planned

But these games are cancelled.

Many athletes were being prepared;

Audiences and athletes disappointed!

But athletes’ health is now protected.

Better to delay as sickness spreads.

Olympics are about competition;

But also needed is collaboration.

Religions also face similar issues;

Hopefully both discover avenues!

SOURCES of FAITH

Who produces formulae for faithfulness?

Who makes faith, hope and hopefulness?

Faith is beyond