On Tim Tebow, Cultural Imperialism and the Cult of Victimization

You may have heard of Tim Tebow. He's a jack of all trades: NFL quarterback, anti-abortion crusader, abstinence advocate, and Christian missionary. He's a high profile figure who has received as much attention for his social views as his athletic performance. Pundits have rushed to Tebow's defense amidst a media frenzy that has included some pointed criticism of the athlete. Yet in doing so, they are simply perpetuating the self-serving narrative of persecution that Tebow and members of the Christian Right so desperately seek. They yearn to be the "victims" of religious persecution, and use it as a means to assert their purported moral superiority.

Tebow has certainly been under intense scrutiny recently. Sports journalists have critiqued him because of his quarterback play. He runs an unorthodox option offense specifically tailored to his skills, due to the fact that he can run but cannot pass. Tebow has also been mocked because of his displays of faith on the field. While he no longer prints Bible verses on his eye black, he continually drops to one knee in prayer during games. This ritual has been coined “Tebowing,” and has been parodied on YouTube and other sites.

In response to the negative coverage he has been receiving, sports pundits have issued some impassioned defenses of Tebow. Many have done so in an over-the-top fashion. One ESPN commentator claimed that Tebow is a victim of reverse racism, as if there were such a thing (note: discrimination based on race is simply racism). Another claimed that people don't like him because he is setting a moral standard that is so great as to be unattainable to ordinary people. In a recent column, an ESPN contributor asked "What if Tim Tebow were Black?" Not to be outdone, a columnist from Fox Sports put forth the question, "What if Tim Tebow were Muslim?"

When asked about the criticism, Tebow says that even though it hurts, it also provides him motivation to prove his detractors wrong. This type of reaction is pretty common among Christian conservatives. They thrive on perceived victimization. Tebow is no different. He brings scorn and ridicule upon himself. He hams it up on the field with theatrical displays of his religious convictions. He advocates extreme positions on morality. Whether it be legitimate criticism of his athletic performance, opposition to his social views, or mere ribbing through internet memes, it all stems, according to Tebow's supporters, from religious intolerance. Lest they be branded as anti-Christian, pundits rush to Tebow's defense with sensationalistic articles. In Tebow's case, the transformation of the narrative is now complete. His detestable social views have been given further legitimacy. People who dare criticize him will be swarmed. It is all part of evangelical conservatives' method of exerting moral superiority over the “others.”

Tebow's sense of moral superiority, or in the following instance cultural imperialism, was evident during a trip he took to do some missionary work in the Philippines. While at his father's orphanage, Tebow, who is neither a doctor nor a surgeon, performed circumcisions on children. Said Tebow of the experience,

The first time, it was nerve-racking. Hands were shaking a little bit. I mean, I'm cutting somebody. You can't do those kinds of things in the United States. But those people really needed the surgeries. We needed to help them.

Tebow's father enjoyed observing his son perform the surgeries, saying,

I got a kick watching him. He did a great job, and he didn't look really nervous. I wouldn't let him cut on me, but he did well and helped where there was a need.

In other words, while Tebow's father wouldn't let his son operate on him, it was fine if he did so on the “others.” Thus, “Dr. Tebow” performed surgeries, without regard for the ethicality or legality of doing so. Such an act is, after all, a logical extension of most missionary work: bringing superior western values to the savage natives. The Tebows' callous disregard for the well-being of the Filipino children is rooted in cultural imperialism. It pervades Christian conservatives' world views. All of their actions are founded upon a basic dynamic of self-righteousness.

Because of his fame, Tebow has been given opportunities unavailable to most people. He and his mother starred in an anti-choice commercial, sponsored by Focus on the Family, that aired during the Super Bowl. CBS ran the commercial (which may have been based on a dubious account) after reversing its longstanding ban on advocacy ads. CBS had previously denied submissions from liberal advocacy groups, including an ad from the University Church of Christ in which it welcomed members of the LGBT community to attend their church. 

From unprecedented media access, operating an international missionary organization, to achieving the starting role as the Denver Broncos quarterback, Tebow and his family are no strangers to privilege and preferential treatment. Nonetheless, he is still cast as the victim.

Tebow's actions are intended to draw the ire of sports fans and commentators. He injects himself into debates over controversial issues. He engages in ostentatious displays of faith on the field. And when he is inevitably criticized by some, he and his supporters deploy the persecution narrative. It is through this account that he can claim the moral high ground. It is a ploy. A man who is rich, famous, and awarded special favor still wants to be the victim. He wants to continue the narrative that virtually every Christian conservative seeks to write for themselves. It is a cult of victimization.

Tim Tebow doesn't deserve any of our sympathy. He, in fact, doesn't deserve much of our attention at all. He's just another religious zealot, albeit with a higher profile, trolling for attention. He wants people to criticize him. He yearns to be "persecuted." And, so far, we're giving him exactly what he wants.