Should fighting sports be legal? Are they moral?

[TagliatelliMonster]

Why do you not have a problem with it when violence is against the Christian way?

Please. Violence is not "against" the christian way, no matter how much you pretend that it is.

Read your bible. It has brutally violent stories in there being justified and which aren't about self-defense at all, but in fact downright aggression / oppression.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

And as i have said before many times, simply because one wants to do something, that does not mean it is justified.

Correct. And that also goes for people who "want to ban fighting sports".

 

[SalixIncendium]

I want to clear some things up:

1. Ethics is an OBJECTIVE thing. The Bible spells out ethics, it IS where ethics came from.

God is the Father of morality. It is an objective thing.

2. The Bible condemns ALL violence with the exclusion of self defense with life I believe. I don’t know. But I do know Jesus Christ said,

“If someone slaps you, turn the other cheek,”

3. Consent or simply wanting to do something does not make it ethically correct.

If I thought it was right or justifiable to kill someone, is that ethical?

In the same way, even when fighters get into the ring to hurt the other and themselves, it is still not ethically justified.

I want to clear some things up:

1. Not everyone is Christian.

2. There are those that find the Bible irrelevant to their worldview.

3. Ethics are a societal standard based on culture, personal views, and beliefs, and therefore are not OBJECTIVE.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Chuck Norris was once bitten by a king cobra.
After three agonizing days, the cobra died

Chuck Norris jokes are the best.

 

[Altfish]

I disagree. The Bible condemns all types of not self-defense violence.

And fighting for sport is not self defense

Just because people like fighting like animals does not justify it ethically.

I don't watch fighting sports, but if the participants are willing then why not?

The Bible is hardly a moral standard for death and destruction. It is a catalogue of carnage.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Why do you not have a problem with it when violence is against the Christian way?

My path teaches ahimsa (non-violence). My path is for me. As much as I would like it to be, I understand my path is not for everyone.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Slavery was abuse and cruelty against another race of man. Against ethics.

Exodus 21.


So much for "objective morality" from your "moral god".

 

[SalixIncendium]

If you try to impose your religion on me, then I'll demand a say in your religion. Are you comfortable with this?

I am.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I am comfortable standing up for what IS right. Ethics is OBJECTIVE.

Repeating the same error has no impact on its accuracy.

 

[sayak83]

I think they’re not moral under any circumstances. Boxers and martial artists unfortunately think that with rules and golden glitter, fights are justified and these fights happen for little reason other than money. It is a cruel and unusual thing with or without consent to hypocritically allow violence of any kind in our society. Violence is for the animals. We are people. Not just as sons of God, but by nature we are supposed to be above the animals, not copying them or doing worse things than those unreasonable creatures.

Definitely moral and hopefully will remain legal.
However I would say it not ok to allow pro boxing without helmets like they do in the olympics. Greater awareness of head trauma related brain injuries is important in boxing, rugby, American football and other contact sports.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

One of the few regrets I have was not getting into sport fighting when I wanted to, in my late teens/twenties. My friends and I informally fought, but it would have been thrilling(and great exercise) to take it further.

Probably too old at near 40, though.

Nope! I decided to continue my Karate journey at 40 after 25 years and it's been one of the best things I've done. The dojo I go to isn't sport-based, more traditional and self-defense oriented, but we do spar and some of us do tournaments and it's been a great way to get back into and stay physically active, meet new friends, and gain confidence and meet new goals. With the right dojo, I highly recommend.

My partner has been doing it with me and they had NO martial arts experience, only starting in their late 30s, and they're all in as well.

Never too late!

 

[sayak83]

I want to clear some things up:

1. Ethics is an OBJECTIVE thing. The Bible spells out ethics, it IS where ethics came from.

God is the Father of morality. It is an objective thing.

2. The Bible condemns ALL violence with the exclusion of self defense with life I believe. I don’t know. But I do know Jesus Christ said,

“If someone slaps you, turn the other cheek,”

3. Consent or simply wanting to do something does not make it ethically correct.

If I thought it was right or justifiable to kill someone, is that ethical?

In the same way, even when fighters get into the ring to hurt the other and themselves, it is still not ethically justified.

You did not post this in the same faith debate section. So here do not expect members to accept "ethics comes from Bible" statement. Do you want the mods to move your thread in the same faith section?

 

[ChristineM]

I disagree. The Bible condemns all types of not self-defense violence.

And fighting for sport is not self defense

Just because people like fighting like animals does not justify it ethically.

I assume you have not read the OT which accounts for 85% of the bible. It is one of the most willfully violent books ever written. Far from condemning violence the god character condones violence, slavery, sex slavery, rape, theft, he even partakes in murders and genocide

Let me tell you a story. I was violently raped with no way to defend myself. I decided it would not let it happen again so i took up the sport of krav maga for a few months until i had learned enough to defend myself. I do not watch such sport, they give me no enjoyment but if i am ever attacked again i truly hope my attacker(s) enjoys hospital food.

We are animals.

 

[PureX]

Competitive sports are mock battles. They provide an acceptable outlet for the unfortunate human desire for conquest. And they help train us for the real thing when it happens.

It would be unrealistic to think we could function as a society without it.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Jesus didn’t throw hands with anyone. He just wrecked the illegitimate market in the temple.

He used a whip in the narrative.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

He used a whip in the narrative.

He did??

John 2:15
So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle;

John 2:15 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple

So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle. He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

biblehub.com

Well, blow me down. Why has nobody ever depicted THAT image??

 

[ChristineM]

He did??

John 2:15
So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle;

John 2:15 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple

So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle. He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

biblehub.com

Well, blow me down. Why has nobody ever depicted THAT image??

There are quite a few works of art depicting Jesus giving it plenty of violence with a whip.

 

[Tomef]

I think they’re not moral under any circumstances. Boxers and martial artists unfortunately think that with rules and golden glitter, fights are justified and these fights happen for little reason other than money. It is a cruel and unusual thing with or without consent to hypocritically allow violence of any kind in our society. Violence is for the animals. We are people. Not just as sons of God, but by nature we are supposed to be above the animals, not copying them or doing worse things than those unreasonable creatures.

Boxing actually stopped me getting into fights, as a teenager. To get anywhere as a boxer you need to learn how to manage your anger, and you soon learn how dangerous a punch can be, so the training makes you both better able to control yourself and much more careful about how you respond to provocation.

In the ring, boxing isn’t about bloodlust and violence as you seem to be saying, it’s about competition, using skill and strategy to win. Often boxers, at least in the amateur leagues, discuss their fights amicably afterwards, swapping tips etc. It’s also the case that sports like American Football carry a much higher risk of serious, long-term injury.

 

[Tomef]

Why do you not have a problem with it when violence is against the Christian way?

The god of the bible regularly uses extreme violence.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Boxing actually stopped me getting into fights, as a teenager. To get anywhere as a boxer you need to learn how to manage your anger, and you soon learn how dangerous a punch can be, so the training makes you both better able to control yourself and much more careful about how you respond to provocation.

In the ring, boxing isn’t about bloodlust and violence as you seem to be saying, it’s about competition, using skill and strategy to win. Often boxers, at least in the amateur leagues, discuss their fights amicably afterwards, swapping tips etc. It’s also the case that sports like American Football carry a much higher risk of serious, long-term injury.

Plus it addresses ones fear.

Getting hit on a regular basis acquaints one with pain and what to expect in addition to knowing how one's injuries heal over time reducing the stress and anxiety of the unknown in addition to how one reacts to one's opponents blows.

Doing it enough times normalizes it and much more confidence is gained than it was the first time because one knows what to expect and can react with better skills and abilities with each fight.

They recuperate and go into the ring smiling away with the anticipation of a sweet victory.

Not to mention one's adoring fans if they do well.