Can Denominations Learn From Sports

This afternoon I watched a pre-season game of the Women's National Basketball Association. It was played here in Iowa because its premier star, Catlin Clark, is from near where I am sitting. She played at the University of Iowa and now is a professional playing for the Indiana Fever. It happens our daughter from here was in Iowa City and attended the game.

The marketing TV advertisement for women's professional basketball was interesting to watch after a week when I watched videos of women who have left conservative Christian denominations. The women's basketball ads featured little girls practicing basketball. Over and over again it was said, "You are strong," "You can do this" and "You can do anything." That is, women can do anything. 

Other times this week I watched "Morom Stories." a site mostly about people who have left that denomination. Stories from other demanding denominations are also featured. So many of these carry the message, "Women, be grateful for what men allow you to do." One has to marvel that these two opposite views can exist in the same country at the same time.

But, of course, they can and do. In fact, many people carry opposing views in their heads and make no effort the resolve them. There may an example, or several examples, right there in women's professional basketball.

The BIG star, Catlin Clark, grew up in a Catholic family and went to a Catholic high school near here. I have never heard if she still considers herself a Catholic or if she has any objections to its rule that only Catholic men are qualified to serve as clergy. Maybe she holds these two views at the same time, a,) women can do anything and b.) women are not qualified to be priests.

My guess is if Clark disagrees with the Catholic church we will not hear about it. At 23 years old she is already worth a reported four million and headed much higher. She is probably among the millions of Catholics who roll their eyes about much in Catholicism. 

Many branches of Christianity need to take the late Ann Landers' advice, "Wake up and smell the coffee." These denominations include the Southern Baptists, Catholics, Lutheran Missouri Synod and Mormons. Professional sports knows the future is one of equal opportunity for women. If Christianity cannot figure this out it deserves a dismal future.