Famous American quarterback player for the New England Patriots, Tom Brady has made a household name out of himself over his lengthy career in American football, but what’s his take on religion?
Despite his upbringing in a Catholic household, Brady has not officially revealed that he is religious. The early years of Brady’s career showed that he had stayed true to his faith, however as the years passed, Brady seems to have gone astray from his Catholic roots to follow another path.
While some of Brady’s actions would have you believe that he’s a devout Catholic, others would show a lack of dedication to the faith.
For instance, his Catholic wedding ceremony to supermodel Gisele Bundchen might make you think he’s a devout Catholic, but having his son Jack Moynahan out of wedlock would make you feel otherwise.
Religious vs. Non-Religious
Across the world, there are many religions, from Christianity to Buddhism. In America alone, there are roughly 51 million Catholics; this accounts for nearly one-fifth of America’s total population.
And in the state of California – Brady’s birthplace, 28% of adults are Catholics.
The findings of a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center shows that the highest percentage of Catholics in America are those aged between 30 and 49.
The survey revealed that 33% of participants aged between 30 and 49 were Catholic.
The number of non-religious individuals is on the rise, especially in North America and Europe.
In the US, ‘nones’ (people with no religious affiliation) account for a quarter of the population. Those who are religiously unaffiliated are usually younger individuals.
A controversial debate: Science or Religion?
There’s always been a passionate debate about science and religion, dating back to as early as the fourth century. Can you be both religious and believe in science?
Some argue that you can believe in science and be religious at the same time, while others strongly argue against it. Jerry A. Coyne, an American biologist, argues in his book Faith vs. Fact that you must pick between the two because the incompatibility between science and religion is too strong, meaning they could never work well together.
An insight from the man himself: Brady’s views
One’s upbringing and the religious beliefs inflicted upon one by authoritative figures, such as the beliefs of parents and guardians, inevitably are likely to influence the views of their offspring, right?
Wrong! It’s often the case that your children will develop entirely different religious identities than your own.
That appears to be true in Brady’s case.
In an interview with Deseret News, Brady admitted:
“I think we’re into everything. […] I don’t know what I believe. I think there’s a belief system; I’m just not sure what it is.”
Is Brady an omnist?
Omnism is the term used to describe a religious affiliation where the individual recognizes and respects all religions. Those who hold this belief are called omnists.
The Oxford English Dictionary attributes the earliest use of the term by English poet Philip J. Bailey in 1839, who said: “I am an Omnist, and believe in all religions.”
It turns out that Brady might be an omnist, or perhaps he’s on a spiritual journey. On the other hand, Brady might just be interested in more victories.
Sports or religion: which one is better?
Sports and religion are known to have a conflicted relationship.
At times, sports are used to convert non-believers and divert attention away from religious activities.
Sports have often been either embraced or rejected by religious authorities over the years.
A psychology professor at Murray State University has claimed that sports can bring people together better than religion. In an interview with Washington Post, he said:
“It [Sport] has the ability to integrate people from an incredibly diverse set of backgrounds […] I don’t know any pastime that does that better than fandom.”
The question I pose to you is, which is better: sports or religion?