Christians in skating | Golden Skate

Christians in skating

swizzletwizzle

On the Ice
Joined
Sep 2, 2003
As a Christian, I like to write famous Christians and encourage them. Which figure skaters are known to be Christians?
 

attyfan

Custom Title
Medalist
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Depends on how you define "Christian". Michelle Kwan is extremely quiet; based on some quotes regarding her family's Christmas celebrations, I assume that she is a Christian of some type. Paul Wylie is what is usually termed an "evangelical" or "born again" Christian. Tim Goebel is Catholic; he prays before each skate. Tara is also Catholic. Don't know about any others.
 

Grgranny

Da' Spellin' Homegirl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
I am thinking Michelle is some kind of Buddhist or something like that. I know she usually wears a pendant from her grandmother that is some kind of oriental religion. I could be wrong but I'm fairly certain. You really don't hear much about their religion. Which is understandable since they are judged so much on whatever they do.
 

attyfan

Custom Title
Medalist
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
I thought that Michelle's necklace was a Chinese dragon, which is a "good luck" symbol, rather than a religious symbol.
 

Alsace

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 22, 2004
Grgranny said:
I am thinking Michelle is some kind of Buddhist or something like that. I know she usually wears a pendant from her grandmother that is some kind of oriental religion. I could be wrong but I'm fairly certain. You really don't hear much about their religion. Which is understandable since they are judged so much on whatever they do.
The pendant is from her grandmother who, I believe, still resides in China. Entirely speculative, but sometimes immigrants don't keep the native religion through the second generation (as Michelle is).
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
In one of her fluff pieces on TV, Michelle told about how thrilled she was one year to win a Christmas tree in some kind of contest at school. Her family couldn't afford one that year, because all their money went for skating lessons for her and Karen.

She has also expressed admiration for the Dalai Lama as a person of great serenity.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Bebe Liang is a devout Christian. She is an accomplished pianist and, I believe, plays and sings for her church choir.

Naomi Nari Nam and her family are very religious, I believe (Christians).

Also Ryan Jahnke. He and his wife teach Sunday school.
 

John King

Final Flight
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
I don't wish to sound nasty,but.....

In 1998,on the eve of her 'comeback',Tonya Harding said she had found God.Then came the hubcap incident........
 

Ptichka

Forum translator
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Katya Gordeeva says that Paul Wylie is very religious.

Plushenko is a religious Orthodox.
 

lisadotdash

Rinkside
Joined
Nov 26, 2004
Christian?

Christian as in faith, hope and charity and giving prayerful consideration to life? Sasha and Sarah/Emily are Jewish aren't they? After years of this lifestyle, they would probably meet the above criteria.
 

STL_Blues_fan

Final Flight
Joined
Jan 24, 2004
lisadotdash said:
Christian as in faith, hope and charity and giving prayerful consideration to life? Sasha and Sarah/Emily are Jewish aren't they? After years of this lifestyle, they would probably meet the above criteria.


No offense, but I find the thread strange. Most people in this country identify themselves as some kind of Christians. Most who are religious, are private about their faith and I doubt they need/want any "encouragement". Why bother??

As far as the quote above, what kind of lifestyle do you refer to??? Judaism is a FAITH, not a lifestyle. It can not meet the Christian criteria on faith for obvious reasons. Charity is a big part of Judaism (you have to give at lest 10% of your annual income to those in need). Jewish consideration to life differs somewhat from Christian. If mothers health is in danger, then an abortion is allowed (if you are deeply observant). Devout Christians would not allow it.

As far as the Xmas tree, just b/c you have it does not mean you are Christian. I know lots of Indian folks who are Hindu but have the tree. It's not really a religious symbol. Same goes for agnostic/atheists - they have it, it's just a tree. So I wouldn't think that Michelle is Christian just b/c she was excited about the tree (but then again, I wouldn't care). I would also disagree about 2nd or 3rd generation loosing their parents religion. They maybe less devout but they don't tend to embrace other religions. Koreans and Vietnameese folks were already practicing Christians when they moved to US, they didn't convert.

Anyways, don't mean to offend anyone, but when I see threads like that, I just scratch my head.
 

Mafke

Medalist
Joined
Mar 22, 2004
Re: Kwan's faith and religion in China

I don't know what (if any) faith Kwan adheres to (entirely her own private business and nothing to do with her skating). And, in terms of language and culture she's American, not Chinese.

But I thought it might be interesting to note that Chinese are considered (by the people that study such things) as among the least religiously inclined people on earth. Some of the 'religions' of China aren't so much religions at all (since there's no supernatural element) but rather ethical philosophies which tend toward the practical and everyday rather than spiritual or universal. Traditionally, most Chinese people didn't belong to a single religion (though obviously some did/do). But for the majority, different religions were resources (each one good for something else) that one used as needed/appropriate. It wasn't unusual in pre-communist China for local shrines to incorporate Christian imagery (without displacing the Buddhist or Hindu or whatever imagery).

Also, Buddhists in general often incorporate elements of other religions into their own practices (coexistence with Shinto in Japan). I knew a (non-Chinese) Buddhist woman who was an accomplished professional in her field and she had incorporated a lot of catholicism (esp Mary) in her own version of Buddhism. Her house had a Buddhist shrine acording to her traditions, but also a second unofficial shrine with Jesus and Mary and she often visited catholic cathedrals and occasionally mass. She found no conflict in any of this.
Just thought I'd share.
 

VIETgrlTerifa

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
attyfan said:
Depends on how you define "Christian". Michelle Kwan is extremely quiet; based on some quotes regarding her family's Christmas celebrations, I assume that she is a Christian of some type. Paul Wylie is what is usually termed an "evangelical" or "born again" Christian. Tim Goebel is Catholic; he prays before each skate. Tara is also Catholic. Don't know about any others.

Although it doesn't really prove anything, but in the latest InStyle Magazine, Kwan talks about decorating her house and the article mentions a bronzed big-bellied Buddha statue, which Kwan calls her "lucky Buddha" and there is a tall carving of Kuan Yin, goddess of compassion. Kwan said the people who lived in the house before her owned the Kuan Yin carving, so Kwan feels like the carving is the mascot of the house and said that the statue protects her.

Kwan has also said in the past that she looks up to the Dalai Lama the most out of anyone in the world.

But again, that doesn't really mean anything. You can believe in aspects or ideaology of a certain religion but don't have to actually be a member of it. For many people, spirituality doesn't always mean belonging to a specific religion.
 

Vash01

Medalist
Joined
Jul 31, 2003
I feel uncomfortable about this topic. Majority of people in this country were brought up as Christians (other religions are in the minority), so it is not unusual to see many US skaters with Christian beliefs. With the number of immigrants increasing you see some other religions in the country. Why should that be a factor for a skater? I see religious practice as something personal/private and I don't feel comfortable discussing those practices for skaters. Some eastern religions are very tolerant of other religions, and some practices are even inclusive/universal, so it does not really matter what label one chooses (or no label). Many non-Christians celebrate Christmas, and have a Christmas tree, so that alone would not be a criterion to determine one's religion (I only mentioned this because it was mentioned by someone).

Vash
 

VIETgrlTerifa

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Vash01 said:
I feel uncomfortable about this topic. Majority of people in this country were brought up as Christians (other religions are in the minority), so it is not unusual to see many US skaters with Christian beliefs. With the number of immigrants increasing you see some other religions in the country. Why should that be a factor for a skater? I see religious practice as something personal/private and I don't feel comfortable discussing those practices for skaters. Some eastern religions are very tolerant of other religions, and some practices are even inclusive/universal, so it does not really matter what label one chooses (or no label). Many non-Christians celebrate Christmas, and have a Christmas tree, so that alone would not be a criterion to determine one's religion (I only mentioned this because it was mentioned by someone).

Vash

I agree. I only replied about Kwan because she seemed pretty open about sharing those religious items in the magazine letting one sort of guess what kind of beliefs Kwan has. Again, I'm not saying she's anything specific, just that she had those things in her house.
 

Tonichelle

Idita-Rock-n-Roll
Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
what's the difference between this thread and "is Sasha a Kabaalist(sp)" thread?

to answer this question... the question is do you want your typical run of the mill American Christian answer (meaning just about anyone who isn't following some sort of other religion not based on Christianity) or do you want the "born-again and proud" only skaters?

AFAIK the ones that have come out and spoken out about their faith (and are known for it by others):
Paul Wylie (both Katia and Scott write about his faith in their books, he's also on many Christian radio programs throughout the year... I was the one who bugged a Christian sports program for weeks and they finally got him on the program after I chewed them out for being biased against skating lol I was 15 so sue me ;))
Janet Lynn (she speaks at churches once in a while IIRC as well)
Ryan Jahnke (works with the youth of his church, my dad is all for him lol)
JoJo Starbuck is as well...

then, depending on what you believe/have been taught, there are many catholics in skating as well (I put them under the Christian label, but I know there are some that don't consider them under that heading)
Timothy Goebel
Tara Lipinski was but I'm not sure if she still follows, I want to say I read an interview where she was looking at another more eastern religion... I could be completely dreaming though lol
Katia Gordeeva talked about being baptized in a Russian church but I got the impression she didn't really follow religion... it could change...


not sure what some of the others are... I know that Scott Hamilton's wife was a longstanding member of her church and so I don't know if Scott has changed his religious views or whatever... *shrugs*

I think the only ones we can really be sure of are the ones who talk about it... and there aren't that many that do...
 

Evdokia

On the Ice
Joined
Oct 24, 2003
swizzletwizzle said:
As a Christian, I like to write famous Christians and encourage them. Which figure skaters are known to be Christians?
I would rather encourage a skater because of his/her skating/personality, but not because of his/her religion. :eek:
 

fldevine

Spectator
Joined
Mar 6, 2004
Rosalyn Sumners, is, I think a Christian. Also, I recall back 5 or 6 years ago, Someone posted they had heard Michelle was baptized. Don't know is it's true or not. I believe Frank Carroll is a Christian, so he may have had some influence. She would have been fairly young if true.

grannie frances
 

Tonichelle

Idita-Rock-n-Roll
Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Evdokia said:
I would rather encourage a skater because of his/her skating/personality, but not because of his/her religion. :eek:

I think the poster meant encourage them "in their faith" not just as an athelete...

I do that many times myself... it's called uplifting a fellow believer... we're called and encouraged to do just that in the Bible... :)

another one who has made reference to a Christian belief is Michael Weiss.... he refers to a "bigger plan" and "God's plan" several times in his journal entries (especially the last couple of entries lol)
 
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