Is it a sin for Believers to watch/compete in the Olympics (since in the modern Games the competitors wear clothes)?
The name and a lot of the symbolism are of course Pagan.
A lot of the Americans who compete thank God when they win.
Most Westerners are familiar with Greek mythology, so they must know of the Pagan origins of the Games.
No disrespect intended ... but could we not also say that democracy has pagan roots? Medicine? Two areas the Greeks had a formative role in. I think discernment in these matters requires more than identifying a past connection to a pagan culture. I would suggest that we need at some level a living or ongoing connection. For example, I do not concern myself with how those in the past celebrated December 25th, instead my focus should be on whether or not my celebrations honour Christ. On the other hand, I would not partcipate in something on that day that celebrated the return of the sun. Although I used to celebrate New Year's Eve with a giant bonfire in our back 40!
I confess I am relying on the conscience in these matters. For example our community is predominately 1st Nations. My wife and I attend feasts and funerals good, bad and indifferent but we don't attend the spirit dances that often preceed these events. With the former we cannot always anticipate the program and believe we are under grace if things go south. In the case of the latter, we know the purpose of the spirit dance so we excuse ourselves.
Padre