Is running a religion? Is it an addiction? What do you think it is?
Argument for running as religion
We congregate on Saturdays and/or Sundays for long runs and/or races. During this time we join each other in the fellowship of running. We talk running, racing, & training. What sports gel to eat, what sports drink to...well, to drink?
Some of us get together on other days for shorter services...er, ah, workouts.
We talk incessantly about the trials and tribulations of running related aches, pains, injuries. The treatments, the cures, the comraderie of runners with similar ailments.
Then there are the training programs. Do such and such workout on this day and blah blah on another day. And if someone should dare to ask why, the answer is, because in the book of Daniels (aka Running Formula by Jack Daniels), it says to do blah, blah, blah. Or, in the book of Lydiard, it says...blah blah blah. You just have to have faith in these programs.
_________________________________________________
Argument for running as addiction
We run all the time. We say that if we were hurt we'd stop but we don't. We sneak in early morning runs before the family knows we're gone. Some runners feel they need to run every day...I mean every day.
We enter race after race after race...for what? Many of us have no idea why. However, races give you a runner's high plus post race parties satisfy your munchies.
Some of us run for charities..."I'm running for those that can't," Would someone tell me what that's supposed to mean? Or how about, "I'm running to help raise money for, 'fill in the blank' disease." Are you kidding me? Just give the folks $20 and they won't have to buy t-shirts.
No, running for charity is just an excuse to run because we can't stop...because we're hooked.
_________________________________________________
I know there are more arguments for either position...
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
20 comments:
Hello Jay! I meant to ask you yesterday how Boston training was going. Must be good since you were smiling!
As we were running Saturday, we spent the first part of the run to talk about religion. Which runner from our club has a child that is getting married at what church, how to get kids to behave in church (there really is no such way...), why we run on Saturday because church starts early on Sunday....
I run for the M&M's. That's why - because I'm addicted to M&M's and there'a always the promise of M&M's at the rest stations if you pick the right race.
I'm also addicted to weather like we're having today. Running on days like today....no comparison.
I think the defining variable is pain. If your running causes pain (and you keep doing it), it's an addiction. If your running relieves pain, it's religion. My guess is that for most folks, it's a little bit of both.
Religion: the service or worship of god or the supernatural; addiction: devotion to something habitually or obsessively.
Running is not a religion because there is nothing supernatural about it. It is, for me, an addiction. I am devoted to it habitually (and my wife contends obsessively).
There are church-like qualities to the fellowship of runners meeting every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. But running is a hell of lot more enjoyable: the people are nicer, more tolerant; the scenery's better; even the beer's better. Can hardly wait.
S
Spyder makes a good point re: running is not a religion because there is nothing supernatural about it.
However, one definition of supernatural is, "...not existing in nature or subject to explanation according to natural laws; not physical or material."
So...as one trys to explain the, "runners high" to someone, it gets bogged down shortly after the the release of beta endorphins. Kinda like the explaination of gravity gets bogged down after you talk about what it does...
So I ponder...some folks seem addicted to religion and some folks turn to religion after being addicted. Questions, questions....
Wednesday! Another a church day. I get to run by some churches. Another reason running is an addiction not a religion is that you get to experience heaven and hell without being dead.
S
Amen, Brother Spyder...
Chip,
Addicted to religion? Yikes. What a scary concept. Devoted to habitually and compulsively serving or worshiping of god or the supernatural. Hmmmmmmmm. How does one serve the supernatural? Me thinks you may reside too close to the vampires at the resurrection club.
S
If running is not religion, then why do runners congregate to celebrate running? If it was an addiction, would they not congregate to try to quit? Are you saying that getting together for a long run at the park is similar to going to a crack house?
And what about the great runners and teachers of runners we admire? Steve Prefontaine, Bill Rogers, Frank Shorter, Arthur Lydiard, Jack Daniels, Jeff Galloway.... Are there other addictions where folks admire the addicted? Okay, except for Timothy Leary....
Then there's the practical matter of calling running a religion. Think of the tax breaks one gets if your running club is a church, your shoes are part of the rituals?
And what about the running literature? Are these not bibles?
btw, thanks for the Runners World ;)
Chip
Admittedly Running and Religion have a lot in common, they both start with an "R". But otherwise I think you attribute too much to the inherent nature of religion. Runners can have thier prophets, sacred texts, and tax breaks (501(c)(3) without being a religion. People can congregate without religion, e.g. Da Bears. Maybe The Texans is a better eg. Running is clearly more addiction than religion.
S
Debating with one trained in debate is not easy...possibly futile but I shall persist!
A definition of religion from answers.com - A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.
Is not running an activity pursued with zeal?
Granted, Scrabble could be considered a religion using this definition but we're talking running here....
FOUL! You found a dictionary that defines religion the same as addiction. How can one distinguish between a zebra and black and white stripes and a zebra with white and black stripes? I suggest it is impossible.
S
Why foul?
Answers.com had four (4) definitions of religion, including the definition you used earlier. I merely picked another one of the four ;)
In fact, the definition you used for addiction was, "devotion to something habitually or obsessively." Hmmmm, "devoted to something habitually" sounds akin to religion to me...like going to church/mosque/temple/whatever every "fill-in-the-blank" time period.
Further, the definition for religion that you used, included the worship of god or the supernatural. But you can't possibly believe this, can you? If so, how could you call the "Church of Free Thought" a religion?
Does religion = addiction? Is religion a form of addiction? Is addiction a form of religion?
This debate is making me so confused. I think I'll go for a soul-searching run ;)
I prefer sole searching runs.
S
I think you guys are both thinking too much about the confines of organized religion and the culture of going to church. Does the definition of religion have to come from a source outside ourselves...like a website or a dictionary? We could define religion as a method or a journey for seeking peace. I guess that works as a definition for addiction, too--and so it goes.
Another Blogger? A world without definitions? A world in living color without any black and white? Hmmmm.
"religion (and addiction) as a method or a journey for seeking peace".
I like the journey part, that fits in with running. I am not sure about the "peace" part; [Running is a journey for peace]. Too 60's, too hippy. Although I am not militant I do enjoy a little consternation.
Running is a journey with no defined destination. Probably not original. Running is a journey for ............
S
Woah...who you callin' "too hippy" :)
All I'm saying is the definition of religion or addiction can vary and the belief that running is an addiction or a religion depends on the definition.
Don't like peace? How about running for M&M's...
Chipper: "the definition for religion that you used, included the worship of god or the supernatural. But you can't possibly believe this, can you?"
S: True, can't possibly believe in the supernatural. I tend to believe in things I can see, feel, and taste- like M&Ms.
Maybe, running is a journey with no well-defined destination?
That allows inner peace and M&Ms to co-exist.
Religion & addiction are journeys with no well-defined destinations too.
Maybe running~religion~addiction.
AB: "Woah...who you callin' "too hippy" :)"
S: "It was not intended literally. More in the 60's social context."
I still think it's neither. More of a compulsion.
My mother calls me "selectively compulsive". But then again, she's mean.
Post a Comment