Praying for More Than a Win

The events are held a decent interval before or after games so fans who do not want to attend will not be inconvenienced.

The only hitch so far came when Focus on the Family, one of eight sponsors of the first Faith Night in Atlanta, was not invited back. The organization handed out literature, as was permitted, but also referred fans to its Web site, http://www.troubledwith.com , which suggests homosexuality is a social problem similar to alcoholism.

Some religion scholars see the value of Faith Night from a business point of view, but they don't know what to make of it from a religion standpoint.

Timothy K. Beal is a professor of religion at Case Western Reserve University and author of the 2005 book, "Roadside Religion: In Search of the Sacred, the Strange and the Substance of Faith."

"I think this as a perfect example of a dilemma that goes to the heart of evangelical Christianity: getting the Gospel message out by whatever means necessary versus protecting and preserving the sacredness of the tradition," Beal said.

"From a business perspective, it looks like a no-brainer. I mean, does it move product or not? For evangelicals, it's hopefully a more complex matter, requiring some serious reflection."

Added Joseph Kelly, chairman of the department of religious studies at John Carroll University, "I'm not sure it's good for religion, because sports commercialism can cheapen it.

"To use a parallel," Kelly said, "at a beach in North Carolina, I was appalled at people who had American flag beach towels, which meant that they were sitting and walking on the flag. No doubt the manufacturers would claim to be patriotic, but I consider such things to be desecrating the flag. . . . Religious leaders may get on board the sports link initially, but how will they feel when they see Jesus in a Browns helmet or Moses in a Cavaliers uniform?"