The Olympics as an Alternative Religion?

You probably didn't pick up on this watching beach volleyball during the Olympics, but the Olympic charter details some rather noble goals for itself.  The charter states that "Olympism is a philosophy of life," and the goal of olympism is "to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity."  In fact, "the practice of sport is a human right."

One of the things to recognize is that the Olympic philosophy is infused with religious concerns.  A couple of weeks ago, Christopher Gehz traced the history of the Olympics in more modern times, noting that the Olympics were revived in 1896 by the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin, who saw the Olympics as a replacement for the old, traditional religions like Christianity:

“Deeply suspicious of conventional theistic religions . . . they promoted Olympism as a substitute for traditional faith.” Church historian Elesha Coffmann adds that when Coubertin “announced his decision to reinstate the games, he said, ‘The first essential characteristic of the Olympics, both ancient as well as modern, is to be a religion. . . . It represents, above and outside the churches, humanity’s superior religion.’”

As president of the International Olympic Committee from 1952 to 1972, [Avery] Brundage proved himself “Coubertin’s most dedicated disciple.” He proclaimed Olympism to be a 20th-century “religion with universal appeal which incorporates all the basic values of other religions—a modern, exciting, virile, dynamic religion.” And while the Jesuit-educated Coubertin had based Olympic ceremonies on Catholic rituals, Brundage used the occasion of the 1960 Rome games to imply that “Olympism was certainly superior to medieval Catholicism and perhaps preferable to modern Christianity as well.”

We might imagine ourselves to be a more secular society today, and less religious, but the reality is we will always be religious creatures, who seek to bring meaning to life.  Secular society may be marginalizing people who practice traditional Christianity, but as creatures created in the image of God, nothing can drive the religious impulse from our lives.  We will always have a need to create meaning and seek an overarching narrative to define our lives.  The Olympic philosophy sees sport as a way towards world peace and human dignity.  The Christian faith sees the advancement of the kingdom of God as key to the world's renewal.  I know which one I'm putting my faith in.