Why pray for sporting victory?

Praying for sporting success makes no sense either in terms of theology or science. But people do it. Why?

If you were to judge by the newspapers there's no shortage of miracles in modern Britain, nor of messiahs. It's just that they are all on the sports pages. Praying for a sporting result is one of the oddest and most widespread religious behaviours in the world. Why do people do it? What do they suppose it says about God? What does it in fact say about God?

Nor does prayer have to be involved for rationality to go out of the window. There are all kinds of superstitions, among both players and fans, which seem inseparable from the the pursuit of success. Perhaps it actually does help athletes to do better. So should we even try to get away from that kind of thinking? And what rituals, what prayers, do you use to help your team on?

Monday's response

Mark Dowd: Praying may give athletes the edge

Thursday's response

Nick Baines: No, God hasn't abandoned me when Liverpool lose