Is it sinful to enjoy violent sports?

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I am a big football fan. I also occasionaly like to watch boxing, wrestling (the real kind not WWE), and Ultimate Fighting. All of these sports have some element of violence in them, and some more so than others. I admit that, in the past at least, part of my enjoyment of these sports were the knockouts and big hits that occur on a regular basis. I don’t know what it is but there is something about watching brutal collisions and knockouts that really excites people, or men at least. But now I am starting to wonder if it is perhaps sinful to take pleasure in such brutality. I don’t think most people who enjoy these sports necessarily want to see anybody injured, but that is a definite possibility when these big hits are delivered. So my question is: when does it become sinful to take pleasure in violence? Is taking pleasure in any sort of violence sinful, or does it only become sinful when you desire that someone actually be injured?
 
Not sure when it becomes sinful, but I do not know why you would enjoy taking pleasure in someone else’s pain. By that I would mean the ultimate fighting and even boxing for that matter. WWE, well, you do not watch it, but it is fake and football, most of the time that is safe, not too painful. Notice I said “most of the time.”

I think that it is something that you will outgrow. I outgrew WWE, thanks to my wife, and only watch it on the rarest of occasions and just have to laugh at how hard they try to make it look real.
 
As long as they aren’t doing it out of actual anger…then it’s fine. It’s excercise…just like jogging.
 
Nick said:
I am a big football fan. I also occasionaly like to watch boxing, wrestling (the real kind not WWE), and Ultimate Fighting. All of these sports have some element of violence in them, and some more so than others. I admit that, in the past at least, part of my enjoyment of these sports were the knockouts and big hits that occur on a regular basis. I don’t know what it is but there is something about watching brutal collisions and knockouts that really excites people, or men at least. But now I am starting to wonder if it is perhaps sinful to take pleasure in such brutality. I don’t think most people who enjoy these sports necessarily want to see anybody injured, but that is a definite possibility when these big hits are delivered. So my question is: when does it become sinful to take pleasure in violence? Is taking pleasure in any sort of violence sinful, or does it only become sinful when you desire that someone actually be injured?
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This is an interesting topic. We rented the DeLa Hoya fight, recently. The thought crossed my mind…why are we watching this? I mean…two great athletes duking it out, basically. The sport isn’t glamorizing violence, but it takes us back to Gladiator days when men had to fight to survive. I do think that gladiator fighting was absolutely sinful…it was fight to the death. No rules. Sick twisted kings and queens laughing while watching someone get eaten by a lion.

Today…boxing has a limit…has rules. I am a torn though…because although it’s an acceptable sport, it has elements of glamourizing violence. This is a great thread!!!

Does anyone know if Pope Benedict said that he was going to declare boxing sinful? (actually becoming a boxer)??
 
What is sinful is the salaries some of these pro players are paid. But, nah, I don’t think it’s sinful watching some guys in tight shiny uniforms running around. :whistle:
Kathy
 
violent sports
Question from on 04-27-2007: Football, hockey, lacrosse, etc. are violent sports with brutal physical contact. Why is it not sinful to participate in/watch them? Or could it be? I would think there is a difference between these and, say, boxing, for instance, where the expressed objective is to injure your opponent. Thanks and God bless, Bob
Answer by Fr.Stephen F. Torraco on 04-29-2007: The physical contact in the sports to which you refer is not in principle expressive of personal hatred of another person, just as a parent’s spanking his or her child is not expressive of personal hatred of his or her child.

This was recently posted on EWTN. IT’s great. I hope I don’t get banned for cutting/pasting this…I didn’t know how to do otherwise. :o
 
Katie1723 said:
What is sinful is the salaries some of these pro players are paid. But, nah, I don’t think it’s sinful watching some guys in tight shiny uniforms running around. :whistle:
Kathy
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Katie :tsktsk: …😃
 
Katie1723 said:
What is sinful is the salaries some of these pro players are paid. But, nah, I don’t think it’s sinful watching some guys in tight shiny uniforms running around. :whistle:
Kathy
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I agree 110% While there are some that are not greedy, seeing how some of the athletes are today about their contracts, going where the money is…ugh it makes me sick. We need more Catholic athletes that will donate 10% to the Church…then the churches would not struggle.

Not to knock on those athletes that give to their churches or charities.
 
WWE is crazy not :rolleyes: they had a gay marriage once and they got girls kissing some times things have changed since i watched :rolleyes: still watch every now and then tho
 
Mirror_Mirror said:
I agree 110% While there are some that are not greedy, seeing how some of the athletes are today about their contracts, going where the money is…ugh it makes me sick. We need more Catholic athletes that will donate 10% to the Church…then the churches would not struggle.

Not to knock on those athletes that give to their churches or charities.
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With all that money and fame many of them could be better role models and “give back” a little to the struggling communities many of them came from.

Also, I think it is sad when athletes make soooo much money and artists like classical musicians and educators make so little and get no press.
 
Bruno_esqueXXII said:
With all that money and fame many of them could be better role models and “give back” a little to the struggling communities many of them came from.

Also, I think it is sad when athletes make soooo much money and artists like classical musicians and educators make so little and get no press.
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It is always nice to hear about those that give back, but it is not as publicized as it should be. I am sure there are more that give back, but you never hear about it.
 
Nick said:
I am a big football fan. I also occasionaly like to watch boxing, wrestling (the real kind not WWE), and Ultimate Fighting. All of these sports have some element of violence in them, and some more so than others. I admit that, in the past at least, part of my enjoyment of these sports were the knockouts and big hits that occur on a regular basis. I don’t know what it is but there is something about watching brutal collisions and knockouts that really excites people, or men at least. But now I am starting to wonder if it is perhaps sinful to take pleasure in such brutality. I don’t think most people who enjoy these sports necessarily want to see anybody injured, but that is a definite possibility when these big hits are delivered. So my question is: when does it become sinful to take pleasure in violence? Is taking pleasure in any sort of violence sinful, or does it only become sinful when you desire that someone actually be injured?
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I recently watched UFC Ultimate Fight Night with a couple of Fransiscan Brothers. Take it for what it’s worth. 🙂

God Bless
 
All I know is if I ever meet another man whose favorite sports are boxing and bullfighting, I’m going to run in the other direction. :eek: Hmmm… a sport where there is no teamwork, where one person beats the stuffings out of the other and there is a winner who gets lauded and a loser who is pulled out of the ring unconscious.

It’s a metaphor for other things in life I have decided. I’ll go find someone who likes to watch golf or pingpong in my next life. 😉

Or better yet, someone who has ever played on a team. Yes, teamwork would be nice too.
 
Liberanosamalo said:
All I know is if I ever meet another man whose favorite sports are boxing and bullfighting, I’m going to run in the other direction. :eek: Hmmm… a sport where there is no teamwork,
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The lack of teamwork is one of the reasons why boxing is my favorite sport. It’s one on one. Win or lose, you have no one to blame but yourself (and occationally moron judges:D ). I also believe that’s one of the reasons for the popularity of golf. If you’re good, you get paid. If you’re not, you don’t. You fail or succeed on your own.
 
Liberanosamalo said:
All I know is if I ever meet another man whose favorite sports are boxing and bullfighting, I’m going to run in the other direction. :eek: Hmmm… a sport where there is no teamwork, where one person beats the stuffings out of the other and there is a winner who gets lauded and a loser who is pulled out of the ring unconscious.

It’s a metaphor for other things in life I have decided. I’ll go find someone who likes to watch golf or pingpong in my next life. 😉

Or better yet, someone who has ever played on a team. Yes, teamwork would be nice too.
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Catholics do not believe in reincarnation.
 
Katie1723 said:
What is sinful is the salaries some of these pro players are paid. But, nah, I don’t think it’s sinful watching some guys in tight shiny uniforms running around. :whistle:
Kathy
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You should see the Australian Rules Football uniforms. Sleeveless tight guernseys; short, tight-fitting shorts, although recently, they have gone to looser fitting guernseys and longer , looser shorts.

Two weeks ago, a player had his shorts torn off completely in a tackle.

My sons played when they were in their teens. I felt that since young men are chock full of raging hormones, releasing them legitimately on the football field was a good way to deal with them. Aussie Rules is better for this than Gridiron (US football) because more players are on the field (18 per side, 4 on bench) so if you suit up - you will play, plus, they play for the full 2 hours, very little stoppages. They were usually exhausted by the final siren.

I don’t like seeing players hurt though. Gee, I sure hope it’s not sinful. I can admire a man’s physique without being filled with lust. I suppose for me, with sportsmen, I always remember walking past the locker room post game one day and the smell that emanated was enough to put me off sportsmen forever.

Sorry, I can’t show these photos here - they are for sale so you have to go to the link.
aflphotos.com.au/search/results/?q=West%20Coast%20Eagles
 
The sports these days are a lot better than the ones they used to have in the Coliseum!!! :eek:

As far as WWE goes, even if it is all an act, the wrestlers always seem to appreciate the fans far more than the pros. You never see a wrestler charge $50 for an autograph.
 
Our bodies are Temples of the Holy Spirit. At some point one needs to weigh exercise against the long-term effects of playing in any violent (or especially in suicidal, such as race-car driving) sport. Given the track record of pro footballers and their post-carrier permanent injuries, can anyone say the Holy Spirit would be most pleased?
 
If you’re talking about “sports” in which men
who barely know each other deliberately beat the living
daylights out of each other, such as “extreme fighting”
and, yes, boxing (which causes brain damage, look at poor Muhammad Ali), I sincerely believe these “sports” are extremely sinful because they are assaults on the image of God present in the combatants. The OBJECT and GOAL in such sports is to injure the other combatant.

Not only that, in such “sports,” the spirit of the ancient Roman
gladiatorial games lives on. That’s awful I sincerely believe.

Jaypeeto4
+JMJ+
 
This place is most depressing.

Now I can’t even watch football and receive Holy Communion cause I’ve sinned.

No golf; it’s played by sinners on Sunday.

No baseball; their pants are too tight and they adjust themselves.

No hockey; there’s the blood factor.

No NASCAR, no Formula One; they’re suicidal and we know that’s a sin.

I’m gonna go crawl off in a cave.
 
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