Wesley So thanks the Lord

The current US champion Wesley So is a devout Christian.  In interviews at the St Louis Scholastic centre he has publicly thanked 'the Lord' for his victories.  As you can see below he wears religious symbols. Now this is not haphazard or a fashion icon, its a fully cognizant and conscious decision and it has real meaning for Wesley. 

Now I was wondering why Wesley thinks 'the Lord' would be interested in chess? Maybe he is, I dunno?  William Lombardy was a Catholic priest at the time he was Fischers second in Reykjavik and Ruy Lopez himself was a Bishop at the time he made a systematic study of the opening that bears his name.  I have also observed other sports personalities that harbour similar beliefs.  Soccer players are forever pointing fingers to the sky when they score goals in a seemingly devout display of giving thanks to 'the Lord'.  Maybe there is something in this?  Whatever it is, Wesley is a worthy champion, free from malice, humble and self-effacing with a great sense of humour he is undoubtedly a refreshing personality to grace the chess world with his presence.

There are a few popular religions in the world. Christianity is one of them. It mostly depends on what your parents and community believed when you were a child. The Philippines, where So is from, is largely Catholic.

Sure. I am not so interested in any particular religious perspective per se merely in the idea that those involved in sports attribute success to a deity or at very least express appreciation to said deity for their success. Why should a deity be interested in sports?

Well, professional athletes are pretty young. They've also dedicated their young life to their sport, so they're pretty inexperienced. I'm sure it's not well thought out. They feel fortunate and are just expressing it in the way they've always seen adults expressing it.

At least... that's my usual excuse. It's probably mostly wrong. I think the real answer is that deep down, at their core, people are stupid. We like to think we're smart because animals aren't too bright, but we're actually really stupid. Intensely, cripplingly, depressingly stupid.

So at least in the practical sense, life can't be about rational, thoughtful, educated decisions. Life is probably more about how you treat yourself and others. The Christian God certainly doesn't exist, and So is certainly infantile in his beliefs, but in the end, he's not far off if he's e.g. kind to others and takes care of himself. I'd say he's doing a pretty good job.

sport prep is pretty ritualistic & steeped in superstition.  so not very surprising.

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-strangest-pre-game-rituals-2011-8?IR=T&#30-nomar-garciaparra-played-with-his-batting-gloves-and-tapped-his-toes-before-every-pitch-1

The Christian deity exists for people like Wesley So though and has meaning, real meaning too.  Perhaps we are infantile and stupid, its plausible and yet there are many well educated and balanced people that have a similar perspective to Wesley So and who derive meaning from it.  Perhaps the reality is that we are human and have a spiritual aspect to us that needs to find some kind of expression.  We are not logic machines and cannot explain everything rationally?  We carry bias and harbour prejudices, believe things that cannot fully be explained etc  Perhaps Wesley is simply expressing his humanity?

Superstition is something different I think.  Its done to prevent you from losing.  I doubt that when Wesley plays chess he offers up incense and invokes his deity to help him to win and not to lose.  He might though, I dunno. 

Yeah, basically that: "he's expressing his humanity."

"There are many well educated and balanced people . . ."

Doesn't matter, you can't fix stupid. I'm saying humans are fundamentally stupid. It doesn't matter if they go to school or try to be rational.

good thing i'm not human.  not that i'm not stupid anyway ...

.. 'Wesley' {fwiw}, is being obedient, to the Bible, he believes in ! .. {there's also, a 'NT', {new testament, reference} to the same thought, as I *seem to recall}.. *ouch !

so wesley so's just being himself?  

I would be pleased if we kept specific religious beliefs at a distance.  I do not want the topic locked.  It is possible to discuss the subject conceptually without making reference to specific religious beliefs.  Please do not make me block you,  Try to frame your perspective conceptually and it will be ok.

I would hope that most people are themselves because if they are not themselves then who are they?

I just dont find the idea that brainy people are any more rational than dumb people convincing.  Look at Fischer, he had a super high IQ and yet he held some very irrational beliefs.

.. I'm Not only 'being myself'.. Me thinks, I'm also, 'quite a Load'! ..lol

{from, 1st Thesalonians, 5:18}.. see below.

Gawwd this threads done for now.  Post what you like, I dont care, that it survived to get at least a few thoughts out is a victory in itself.  Goodbye cruel world!

you were warned Cya!

I think you misunderstand me. I'm saying humans, all humans, are not rational. What does being "brainy" have to do with it?

Also Fischer's IQ is unknown. Tabolid idiot websites have lists of famous people's IQ, but they're just guessing. Most of those people have never taken an IQ test, and if they have, the score is not publicly known.

Ok perhaps I have misunderstood you.  The logic seems to be that we harbour these types of beliefs because we are stupid, therefore the converse of that should be that the brainier we get the less inclined we should be to harbour irrational beliefs.  Is it not the case?

Lombardy was a prodigy in his own right, right on par with Fischer. They had trained together at times for years. He was probably the closest friend Bobby ever had. If he had chosen chess instead of the church, there's no telling how far he would have went.