{"id":170,"date":"2006-02-24T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-02-24T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/idolchatter\/2006\/02\/bracelet-conviction-or-conveni.html"},"modified":"2006-02-24T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2006-02-24T12:00:00","slug":"bracelet-conviction-or-conveni","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2006\/02\/bracelet-conviction-or-conveni.html","title":{"rendered":"Bracelet: Conviction or Convenience"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Ellen Leventry\u2019s blog entry<\/a> regarding Sasha Cohen\u2019s Kabbalah bracelet was an interesting piece that brings up an interesting issue that should be seriously debated\u2014or at least reflected on\u2014in our culture: the difference between religion, spirituality, superstition, karma, luck, faith, and hope. I was particularly struck by Sasha Cohen’s comment on her wrist-piece, “I’m not deeply into Kabbalah.”<\/p>\n

When she puts a Kabbalah bracelet on her wrist before she skates, what is really going on there? Is it a sign of faithfulness towards a God, hoping for blessing in return? Is it an act of superstition, hoping not to jinx herself? Is it a bet, sort of like, \u201cHey, just in case there\u2019s a chance it could help, I\u2019ll do it”? Is it considered a risk-free investment, along the lines of, \u201cHey, doesn\u2019t cost me anything to wear it, and if helps, well, that\u2019s all the more wonderful\u201d? Is it a fearful act of not wanting to forego anything that may bring success? Is it a combination of all of the above?<\/p>\n

NFL Players gather each week after the game, take a knee at midfield, and pray. A growing percentage of the league\u2019s players will point to the heavens, take a knee, or cross themselves after a touchdown. Many players come to team chapel meetings before games. Does this mean they\u2019re spiritual? Or does it mean they\u2019re willing to work all of the angles, just in case?<\/p>\n

These questions are relevant because, as spiritual seekers, we should ask these questions of \u201crole models\u201d–and then, more importantly, ask them of ourselves. Do I really have a faith system that believes that a bracelet will improve my score? Am I convinced that dropping to one knee on TV will get me God\u2019s blessings? Or am I simply acting out of purity and faith, whether it gets me results or not?<\/p>\n

As it turns out, Sasha Cohen fell twice yesterday and didn\u2019t win the gold medal, even though she was wearing her bracelet. Does that mean it \u201cdidn\u2019t work\u201d? Or, given the fact that she fell twice and still won a silver medal, does it mean that she was rewarded for her \u201cfaith\u201d?<\/p>\n

Answering questions like these are important as we each consider our own spiritually driven actions, which we hope are more than acts of blind faith. And, at that point, if we\u2019re truly willing to look within, then we find ourselves living out the true privilege of spiritual seeking. Short of that, we might as well admit that we\u2019re going with the flow, going with the tide, going with the current, more out of convenience than conviction.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ellen Leventry\u2019s blog entry regarding Sasha Cohen\u2019s Kabbalah bracelet was an interesting piece that brings up an interesting issue that should be seriously debated\u2014or at least reflected on\u2014in our culture: the difference between religion, spirituality, superstition, karma, luck, faith, and hope. 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