By Bob Smietana
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An old gospel hymn says God’s eye is on the sparrow, but what about panthers and broncos? Not the ones from Carolina and Denver matched up for the National Football League’s Super Bowl 50, according to a new survey from LifeWay Research.
The poll found most Americans are skeptical about divine intervention on the football field. They say God doesn’t determine who wins or loses. And most believe God has bigger things to be concerned about.
“The Bible says God sets up and takes down nations and rulers,” said Scott McConnell, vice president of LifeWay Research. “Either Americans do not agree, or they think God focuses on political leaders rather than cultural sports icons.”
The phone survey of 1,000 Americans found almost 9 out of 10 (85 percent) say “no” when asked, “Does God determine winners and losers in the Super Bowl?” About 1 in 10 (11 percent) says “yes.” One in 25 (4 percent) doesn’t know.
Americans who identify as evangelicals (15 percent), as members of a non-Christian faith (18 percent), or as attending a religious service at least once a week (13 percent) are more likely to say God determines the Super Bowl winner. So are those with graduate degrees (15 percent).
In popular culture, God gets some credit for two of the most well-known plays in NFL playoff history: the 1975 “Hail Mary” pass from Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach to Drew Pearson and the “Immaculate Reception” caught by Pittsburgh Steelers’ fullback Franco Harris in 1972.
Still, most Americans don’t believe God cares about the outcome of the big game.
Nine out of 10 (88 percent) say “no” when asked, “Does God care who wins the Super Bowl?” Almost 1 in 10 (8 percent) says “yes.” One in 20 doesn’t know (5 percent).
Christians (89 percent) are more likely to say God doesn’t care about the Super Bowl winner than those of other faiths (79 percent). Those with some college (91 percent) are more skeptical than those with graduate degrees (81 percent). Americans who attend a religious service at least once a week (10 percent) are more likely to say God cares than those who attend once or twice a month (3 percent).
Those with evangelical beliefs (83 percent) are less likely to answer no when asked if God cares about the Super Bowl winner than other Americans (90 percent). They are also more likely to be unsure (7 percent) than other Americans (3 percent).
Americans remain devoted to pro football—especially the Super Bowl. Last year, a reported 114 million Americans tuned in to watch the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots.
And while faith and football sometimes go together—NFL players often form prayer circles after the game ends—few fans admit seeking divine aid for their teams. A 2014 LifeWay Research survey found only about 1 in 8 Americans (13 percent) say they have prayed for a sports team.
“Our previous research has shown most Americans think God is concerned with their day-to-day decisions,” said McConnell. “Yet this survey shows Americans do not see God as interested in their favorite sport.”
Bob Smietana is senior writer for Facts & Trends magazine.
Methodology
The phone survey of Americans was conducted Sept. 14-28, 2015. The calling utilized Random Digit Dialing. Fifty percent of completes were among landlines and 50 percent among cell phones. Maximum quotas and slight weights were used for gender, region, age, ethnicity, and education to more accurately reflect the population. The completed sample is 1,000 surveys. The sample provides 95 percent confidence that the sampling error does not exceed plus or minus 3.6 percent. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups.
