Some friends of mine organized this panel discussion at the Graduate Theological Union. I thought - in light of Opening Day and all - that the questions might provoke some interesting discussion for folks who like to think about the variety of ways that faith works in public life.

• Do pastors really need to know anything about sports?
• What can sports teams and sports fans teach Christians about community?
• How do athletics serve a liturgical purpose?
• Are sports competing with church in US society? How so? Is that a bad thing?
• What sermon will you give on Super Bowl Sunday?
• How can sports and religion cooperate to bring about justice and improve people's lives?
• What are some ethical implications of the Olympic Games?

On that last question, in light of all the unrest in Tibet lately and China's role in the Darfur genocide, do lovers of sport and human freedom, have a role to "play" here too?