Farid Ansari, a Rhode Island imam, says he would only reluctantly seek divine intervention tomorrow, “but then I’d ask God to forgive me afterwards.”

The Providence Journal / Bob Thayer

So, a bishop, a rabbi and a Pagan walk into a football stadium.

Wait, that sounds like a bad joke, but this is a serious subject.

As the New England Patriots face the New York Giants in tomorrow’s Super Bowl, countless fans will, no doubt, seek divine help for their teams. But will praying for touchdowns gain any yardage with the Almighty?

Not likely, according to a variety of Rhode Island spiritual leaders interviewed this week. Here are their thoughts on matters of pigskin and divine intervention:

A Roman Catholic perspective

“I don’t think there’s any harm in asking God’s assistance for the Super Bowl, though I think it’s safe to assume God has more important issues he has to deal with, like world peace, human life and poverty,” said the Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin.

Tobin is bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence.

So God is busy with other things, but who does He side with when Patriots fans and Giants fans are all praying for victory?

“I can’t begin to figure out the mind of God on that one,” Bishop Tobin said. “His wisdom is far better than ours.”

Besides, he added, “God is a Steelers’ fan. God’s house is painted in black and gold.” (Curiously, the Almighty’s allegiances match the bishop’s.)

Bishop Tobin suggested it might be more fruitful to pray that no one gets hurt, that the game will be a legitimate source of entertainment for fans and that people not be given to excesses often associated with the Super Bowl, including drinking, gambling, domestic violence, heart attacks and “manifestations of anger and abuse.”

A Jewish perspective

“It’s not right to pray for one group and cause distress to others,” said Rabbi Mordechai Eskovitz. “It just isn’t fair to have your prayers answered at others’ expense.”

Eskovitz is the rabbi of Touro Synagogue, an Orthodox congregation in Newport.

But what if devout people go ahead and pray anyway, some for the Patriots and some for the Giants? How does God sort all that out?

“Nobody can really speak for the divine mind — that’s beyond our ability — but we have a general idea based on Biblical teachings,” said Rabbi Eskovitz. “God does have to deal with the fact that He’s getting prayers that may be contradictory. God wants to accept the prayers of his children.”

How, then, is the decision made?

“Based on Biblical teachings, the side that has the most spiritual effort is the one that will win out,” Rabbi Eskovitz said. “Sometimes, the spiritual forces are stronger on one side than the other.”

So, if you do decide to pray, do it fervently. Of course, he cautions, in situations such as the outcome of a football game, “Most people are not really praying; they’re complaining.”

A Pagan perspective

“You really shouldn’t influence outcomes directly. I just do generalized positive thinking,” said Jane E. Driscoll. “The Fates have a really nasty habit of coming back at you when you put too many demands on them.”

Driscoll, of Woonsocket, is co-local coordinator of Rhode Island Pagan Pride. She said she qualifies for the title of priestess, but chooses not to use it.

The Fates are something that shouldn’t be, well, tempted, said Driscoll. “I personally think you suggest, because they’re much more powerful than we are.”

Do the Fates care who wins the Super Bowl?

“When it comes to a football game, probably not,” she said, but added that they might care about joy that one team’s winning could bring. “I think happiness always counts.”

Does that mean the Fates would side with the team whose victory would create the most happiness?

“That’s a possibility. I can’t speak for them.”

But Driscoll doesn’t expect divine intervention to be a factor in tomorrow’s game. “I believe in [New England quarterback] Tom Brady and the rest of the crew, and I don’t think they need a whole lot of help.”

A Muslim perspective

“Prayer is obviously a serious matter,” said Farid Ansari. “You don’t pray for frivolous things.”

Mr. Ansari is the imam of the Muslim American Dawah Center of Rhode Island, in Providence.

Islam would consider the outcome of the Super Bowl a frivolous thing, Mr. Ansari said, because the Quran says, “Our lives are not for mere sport and play.”

Folks around here might not want Mr. Ansari to be seeking divine intervention, anyway. “Personally, I’m a Giants fan.”

A native New Yorker, he conceded that, late in the game, if the Giants are trailing, he might not be able to stop himself from praying for them. “Maybe somewhere deep down in my heart ... but then I’d ask God to forgive me afterwards.”

A Baptist perspective

“I don’t think the outcome of a ballgame is important to God,” said the Rev. Dan Ivins.

As pastor of the First Baptist Church in America, Mr. Ivins is the 35th successor to Roger Williams, an early proponent of the concept of not mixing government and religion. “Our church stands for separation of church and state,” he said with a chuckle. “I stand for the separation of sports and religion. I don’t pray about sports. It’s not fair to the other team.”

The point of prayer should not be selfish aims, he said.

“A lot of prayers I’ve heard are nothing short of magic, asking God to make the world go our way,” said Mr. Ivins. But, he added, “Prayer’s not magic. It’s a communion or relationship with God.”

A Hindu perspective

“The prayers won’t influence the outcome,” said swami Yogatmananda.

Yogatmananda is the swami at the Vedanta Society of Providence.

“God belongs to all parties. The same God showers blessings on both,” he said. “Whoever plays better wins. Otherwise God will be partial to one team.”

Buddhist perspective

Three Buddhists monks said that football does not concern them and that they do not care to express an opinion.

An Episcopal perspective

“I tend to think that our prayers should be in praise and adoration of God,” said Bishop Geralyn Wolf. “I would rather people pray for the homeless and those in poverty. That’s more important.”

Bishop Wolf is the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island.

“I would like a divine interception on behalf of the Patriots, but, overall, I don’t think divine intervention works, usually, in situations like this. I wouldn’t count on it, anyway. Sports are just the frills in life.”

A secular perspective

One last thought, from Abraham Lincoln, who, though not a Rhode Islander, once gave a noted speech in Providence.

This account is from the August 1886 issue of Manford’s Magazine:

During the Civil War, a group of “scientific men” met with Lincoln in the White House. One of the men started to say, “We trust that during this time of trial God will be on our side and give victory.”

The president interrupted him. “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side. My great care is to be on God’s side.”

pparker@projo.com