Faith Factor ???

Allenjo

Allenjo

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I come from a country with cultures deeply rooted in faith and religion. Believe it or not, some even practice it on the pool table. Whenever i play, i find myself doing the sign of the cross before i break or before the start of each game. I guess this has been a pre-game ritual to me.

I'm just curious if faith does somehow play a role in a highly technical sport such as billiards...that there is an invisible hand up there giving the golden breaks?
:rolleyes:
 
Allenjo said:
I come from a country with cultures deeply rooted in faith and religion. Believe it or not, some even practice it on the pool table. Whenever i play, i find myself doing the sign of the cross before i break or before the start of each game. I guess this has been a pre-game ritual to me.

I'm just curious if faith does somehow play a role in a highly technical sport such as billiards...that there is an invisible hand up there giving the golden breaks?
:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I have a faith but do not think about it when playing pool. When I am at the table, it is all out war. Kill or be killed. :p

Laura
 
I guess most players are like that, i think.

IMHO Knowing someone up there on my side calms my nerves and gives me composure when i miss a shot. I've seen players pound their cues in disgust over a missed shot or raise hell and i'm glad to say i'm not like them...i just head back to the seat and think that the Big G willed it to teach something.

:)
 
Allenjo said:
I guess most players are like that, i think.

IMHO Knowing someone up there on my side calms my nerves and gives me composure when i miss a shot. I've seen players pound their cues in disgust over a missed shot or raise hell and i'm glad to say i'm not like them...i just head back to the seat and think that the Big G willed it to teach something.

:)
Click to expand...

Each to his own. i calm my nerves not by praying but deciding i will be relaxed and focussed. Once i start playing, since I am just playing, i rarely am nervous. As far as shots I miss, although everyone does this, i just try to learn what I need to work on and be patient and realistic with myself because I do not have the 'time on the table' that those have who have played for many year have.

Laura
 
there is no right. and there is no wrong. whatever works for you. personally, when i sit there like karen corr in my chair, i know i'm in the zone. totally intense, watching, and following the cue ball around, with my eyes. mentally "in the game" i know, i don't need god, for god is giving me the proper tools at this very moment, to complete my mission, to destroy my opponent, and to that, let me hear an AMEN. you may be seated.
 
Maybe there is a little presence from above when the balls decide to roll the way they do.... But you cannot say God(or other figure), will be on your side...

What if your opponent prays as well?? God will not choose.
 
BeeMan said:
Maybe there is a little presence from above when the balls decide to roll the way they do.... But you cannot say God(or other figure), will be on your side...

What if your opponent prays as well?? God will not choose.
Click to expand...


I agree that God does not and will not choose.

All i know is he watches and and wills it if we lose or win. If we win, it'll be because he's rewarding us for all the hard practice we've done. If we lose, it's because he's telling us to improve the skills he's gifted & teaching us to humble ourselves, respect other players skill.

Amen to that :rolleyes:
 
Allenjo said:
I agree that God does not and will not choose.

All i know is he watches and and wills it if we lose or win. If we win, it'll be because he's rewarding us for all the hard practice we've done. If we lose, it's because he's telling us to improve the skills he's gifted & teaching us to humble ourselves, respect other players skill.

Amen to that :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Personally, I think that if we are living our faith, this enables us to be a witness to others through good sportmanship and being good losers and gracious winners.

I believe that each being has the freedom of choice. If I lose, it is because the other player played better in that match and/or I made critical mistakes. If I win, it is because I played well.

I do think that there are 'God given talents', but do not think that he interferes at the table, either for or against.

As far as prayer before a game, that can result in relaxation, but I would pray (if I did this) to be calm and focussed enough to play my best game. To ask God for a win is IMO like asking Him for a Mercedes when I have not done the work to achieve the financial ability to afford one.

Laura
 
Allenjo said:
I come from a country with cultures deeply rooted in faith and religion. Believe it or not, some even practice it on the pool table. Whenever i play, i find myself doing the sign of the cross before i break or before the start of each game. I guess this has been a pre-game ritual to me.

I'm just curious if faith does somehow play a role in a highly technical sport such as billiards...that there is an invisible hand up there giving the golden breaks?
:rolleyes:
Click to expand...


Yes, why not, it that works for you keep doing it. It works for many and all sports. Having the power of the Lord with you and his calming effect in your spirit gives you the edge to win. For the warrior spirit like Bluewolf, a war like mental attack works also. It can be done, either way. Either way is correct.
 
Allenjo said:
I come from a country with cultures deeply rooted in faith and religion. Believe it or not, some even practice it on the pool table. Whenever i play, i find myself doing the sign of the cross before i break or before the start of each game. I guess this has been a pre-game ritual to me.

I'm just curious if faith does somehow play a role in a highly technical sport such as billiards...that there is an invisible hand up there giving the golden breaks?
:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Sure. Haven't you ever heard of the Pool God?
 
God and Pool

If you truly believe in God and his will, what differance does it make who wins. If you honestly mean it when you say "Thy Will Be Done", why get upset when it is done. The joy of winning should be shared by all. This "warrior" and "got to win mentality" comes from the ego. Case in point. I regularly play in a local tournament. There is an elderly gentleman , 80, who often plays. I find myself wanting him to win, even when playing me. I realize I have a lot more time in my life to win than he does. So be it. I honestly believe that when I can get together with a friend, get out and do something I love to do, I have won. I believe God is in everything done, everything that is. It took me a long time to realize this. It sure took a load off.
Don :cool:
 
TAP TAP TAP!!! Well put Don! Now if we can just be like that all the time! It's a goal!


Donald A. Purdy said:
If you truly believe in God and his will, what differance does it make who wins. If you honestly mean it when you say "Thy Will Be Done", why get upset when it is done. The joy of winning should be shared by all. This "warrior" and "got to win mentality" comes from the ego. Case in point. I regularly play in a local tournament. There is an elderly gentleman , 80, who often plays. I find myself wanting him to win, even when playing me. I realize I have a lot more time in my life to win than he does. So be it. I honestly believe that when I can get together with a friend, get out and do something I love to do, I have won. I believe God is in everything done, everything that is. It took me a long time to realize this. It sure took a load off.
Don :cool:
Click to expand...
 
The joy of winning should be shared by all? Then why compete? Why not just go to the pool hall, figure out who's the sorriest sap in the place (er, I mean the nicest guy), give him all the entry fees, shake hands, smile and go home? Sound like fun?

Competition is not all about winning. It is about competing, and competing well. If that isn't your bag, then fine. But it does get the juices flowing for alot of people.
 
If I'm not mistaken, some of the best players on the planet are very religious. Doesn't seem to prevent them from beating 99.999999999% of the players in existence. I don't want to name names, because their beliefs are their business.

"thy will be done". Sounds like an excuse for losing to me. I take responsibility for the rolls on my table, be they good or bad. I've got faith. I've got faith in the hundreds of hours of practice I've put in.
 
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Allenjo said:
I'm just curious if faith does somehow play a role in a highly technical sport such as billiards...that there is an invisible hand up there giving the golden breaks?
:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

No, of course not. It has no effect on the game. Your beliefs have an effect on YOU however. Because you choose to believe something, you are able to get into a state of mind that may allow you to perform better. You would be better off improving your mental skills or doing some self hypnosis or something to improve your concentration. It really has nothing to do with faith or religious belief.
 
jer9ball, I believe you took my reply personally. I also compete. I also win quite a bit. I am just saying that it is not the most important thing. "It's nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice". My game is not driven by my ego and the need to prove anything to anybody. A professional knows his limitations. I love to play better players, that's how we learn. I don't mind losing, I don't mind winning either.
Best Regards, Don :cool:
 
Understood Don. Appreciate your response. And I don't take it personally! :) But I think that competing IS about proving something, to yourself and everyone around you. Otherwise we wouldn't compete. We'd just go out for beers and play our friends, and be happy. Nothing wrong with that of course. Why subject ourselves to the mental anguish of competition?
 
jer9ball, do you think your Karma might have something to do with your rolls? Do you think that maybe you reap what you sow?
I honestly believe that we create our experiences thru everything we think, say, and do. If you do the best you can do today, tomorrow will take care of itself. Plant good seeds and sow good crops. This affects everything in your life. An old friend of mine once told me, " If you got one foot in yesterday and one foot in tomorrow, all you can do is piss all over today. Today is all you really got."
What do you think?
Don :rolleyes: :cool:
 
I completely believe in Karma. I'm still paying for the misdeeds of my youth!

Not sure how the foot in today/tomorrow story applies, but it is funny! LOL

I think maybe JPB said it best.
 
hondo said:
Sure. Haven't you ever heard of the Pool God?
Click to expand...

You Rang?!?!

Man I could go on and on about religion and sports but I won't. I just don't think "God" had a hand in me missing that 8ball...wasn't some master plan...but hey thats me. I just should have aimed a little more to the left. To each his own. I try not to judge.
 
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