ABSTRACT
Competition is sometimes thought of as inherently selfish and damaging to all involved when it is often contrasted with the kinder, gentler act of cooperation. Understanding contemporary religions as competitors in an economic-like market is a novel way of thinking about the role religion plays in culture. Perhaps this makes sense in the American landscape where consumer culture, has taken over so many facets of one existence. Though in the Bible there is little time wasted in recounting an example of competition. Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve, took on different roles. Competition is so ingrained in sports that it does not even have to involve another competitor. The marathoner often competes against his or her best previous time or in a way, against an older version of him or herself. A boundary between the appearance of religion and sports is truly blurred, and their actual authentic practices are more easily confused, despite declarations to the contrary.
