Gustavo’s Musings (#10 of 10)

(September 2006)

Soccer and Theology

Universal pessimism

Although the World Cup has long come and gone (Paraguay was defeated in the first round), one of the
lasting impressions for me (aside from the fact that I finally understood the whole soccer thing) was the
near universal pessimism among the fandom here in Paraguay. Though the national soccer team was on
everyone’s mind leading up to their first match with England, I could find no Paraguayan who was even
remotely hopeful of their team’s chances in the World Cup. Not one person! As one typical Paraguayan
stated, “I can’t get my hopes up, because I know they’re going to let me down again!”

Prior to coming to Paraguay from Boston, I never thought I would meet a sports fan that could rival the
pessimism and negativity of the Boston Red Sox fan. (The 2004 World Series changed some of that!)
And yet, here in Paraguay, soaking in the collective psyche of a nation and their soccer team, I could see
that Red Sox nation had finally met its match.

Can’t shake that bad feeling

In the two plus years that I have lived in Paraguay, something has always seemed strangely amiss to me.
Now, I am almost reluctant to say anything critical about my host country, for I do not want to appear
like the know-it-all American who lacks humility and constantly carps about things because they aren’t
done as well as they are back home. Certainly, many criticisms could be leveled against my country.

It’s just that, in general, there seems to be an awful lot of negativity and pessimism within the
population. Paraguayans would be the first to admit that things are pretty difficult within their country
and popular refrains reinforce the belief that the country is corrupt, is under a curse (given their
devastating losses in war) or that the educational system is atrocious. These are the Paraguayans’ own
words mind you. With such talk coming from the average Paraguayan, is it any wonder that people find
it tough to get behind their national team?

Negativity has a name

Recently, a seminal book was published here in Paraguay: “The Christianization and Fatalistic
Worldviews in Paraguay.” Its author is Dr. Alfred Neufeld, Director and Founder of the Evangelical
University of Paraguay and former director of the Mennonite Bible Institute in Asuncion. In his book,
Dr. Neufeld postulates that the negative impulses that surround so much of Paraguayan culture do
indeed have a name: It’s called fatalism. Paraguay is steeped in this kind of thinking because of its
history and because of its prior belief structures.

Fatalism is predestined misery. It states that things, and circumstances, and events, which are usually of
the bad variety, cannot change. Fatalism states that people cannot change. (One common Guarani
refrain is: a saint is born a saint. A poor man is born a poor man.) Fatalism, of course, is completely
antithetical to the Christian message, whose transformative power continues to work miracles in the
lives of people every day. Change is utterly and wholly possible with God.
Fatalism has a source

This fatalistic thinking, which reaches far beyond the soccer field, received its initial spark during the
Spanish conquest of Paraguay in the 16th century. No matter how many ways we try to soften up this
time in Latin America’s history, the truth remains, that in the conquest, one group subdued another,
oftentimes with violent force. Subjugation plays havoc with a nation’s or a people’s collective identity,
and leaves a painful national scar that time only tends to mask and never fully heal. Pessimism in sports
is only the least of the negative consequences.

In 1870, in the War of the Triple Alliance, Paraguay suffered a devastating defeat against Uruguay,
Brazil and Argentina. Nearly 3/4 of Paraguay’s population was decimated including nearly all of the
males. It was said that at one point, only women and children were left to fight. This tragedy, has only
served to underscore the feeling of misery and depression that pervades a Paraguayan consciousness.

Finally, adding to the mystique of fatalism is the depth of corruption in Paraguay. It permeates every
aspect of society. You see corruption in government offices and agencies, in the courts, in law
enforcement, and in the transportation and business sectors. It forces everyone, but I mean everyone to
compromise: from the saintliest pastor to even the heads of entire denominations. The common adage is
that “you gotta pay to play” and "a little grease is better than having your merchandise stuck somewhere
in customs". We’re supposed to think of it as an expediting fee. (Note: To date, we have not paid any
bribes, to anyone. Yet as I speak, my visa application is still stuck in immigration two years after we
submitted all of our documents.)

Fatalism has a cure

There is, of course, one sure fire remedy for fatalistic thinking and fatalism in general. Transformation!
A genuine relationship with Jesus Christ has the power to transform mind, body, soul, heart and spirit as
well as governmental, societal and economic structures through the people that it touches. But that is, of
course, where the challenge remains. Of the 20 Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, there are
only three countries where real Christian faith has failed to take root. Paraguay is one. (The other two
are Cuba and Uruguay.) By real faith, I speak of the transformative, life changing kind, not the one that
passes for lifeless ritual and culture in the lives of so many Latin Americans.

But we don’t lose hope. Like those ever-elusive goals and victories in the World Cup, change is
genuinely possible faith has taken root and is allowed to grow. Thus, we continue to cheer for the lives
of so many Paraguayans despite the odds, because we know that fatalism is no match for the gospel of
Jesus Christ.

“He shoots! He scores! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLL!!!!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gustavo Karakey was born in Durango, Mexico and grew up in Southern California. Currently, he lives
in Boston with his wife and three children.

From 2004-2008, he served as a missionary to Paraguay, South America teaching at the Methodist Bible
Institute just outside of Asunción.
In 2011, Gustavo and his family will be moving to Medellín, Colombia, where Gustavo will serve as a
professor of New Testament at the Biblical Seminary of Colombia (www.fusbc.edu.co).

Gustavo’s passion is to help develop pastors and leaders for the church in Colombia and Latin America
as well as to prepare missionaries from Colombia for the unfinished task of global missions.

*****

To learn more about this exciting ministry in Colombia visit: http://www.karakey.com

To sample or purchase a copy of Gustavo’s book “Making Sense of the Bible” which provides a step-
by-step method to better understand the Scriptures visit:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/22475

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