Sport and Christianity

Many people are passionate about sport, yet few give thought to its role and importance in their lives - let alone its relationship to Christian faith. This book examines the potential of sports and challenges readers to consider how it relates to their deepest passions, behaviours, and actions, while providing newcomers to the field with a framework to help consider the connection between sports participation and faith-based values. Featuring academic writers from a range of disciplinary fields, including philosophy, theology, sports studies and education, Sport and Christianity: Practices for the Twenty-First Century sheds insight into the meaning of sports for Christians as participants and as practitioners. Divided into practises for the mind, for the heart, and for moral life, the numerous topics include the value of play in sports, sports as a means for dialogue between faith traditions, sports as a place to cultivate virtue and the Christian spiritual life, and prayer and religious experiences in sports The result is a text that promotes new ways of thinking about the sports-Christianity relationship while at the same time developing a deeper understanding of the place of sports in our everyday lives.

Notes on Contrtibutors Foreword - Tony Campolo, Eastern University, USA Introduction - Matt Hoven, St. Joseph's College, University of Alberta, Canada; Andrew Parker. University of Gloucestershire, UK, and Nick J. Watson, The Archbishop of York Youth Trust, UK Part One: Sport and Christianity: Practices for the Mind 1. How Might A Theology Of Play Inform A Theology Of Sport? - Robert K. Johnston, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA 2. The Paradoxical Athlete: Chesterton on Play and Work - Scott Kretchmar, Penn State University, USA and Nick J. Watson, The Archbishop of York Youth Trust, UK 3. Creation, Salvation, Competition: Elements in a Christian Doctrine of Sport - Robert Ellis, University of Oxford, UK 4. Flow, Sport and Spiritual Traditions - Patrick Kelly, SJ, Seattle University, USA 5. Historical Relationship between Sport and Christianity - Andrew R. Meyer, Baylor University, USA Part Two: Sport and Christianity: Practices for the Heart and Soul 6. Lived Religion in Sports - Matt Hoven, St. Joseph's College, University of Alberta, Canada 7. Running as Liturgy - Doug Hochstetler, Penn State University, USA 8. Athletics as Sacrificial Offering - Lillie K. Rodgers, University of Wyoming,USA and F. Clark Power, University of Notre Dame, USA 9. Integrating Faith: Sport Psychology for Christian Athletes and Coaches - Trevor J. Egli, at Johnson University, USA and Matt Hoven, St. Joseph's College, University of Alberta, Canada Part Three: Sport and Christianity: Practices for the Moral Life 10. Servant Leadership and Sports Coaching - Don Vinson, University of Worcester, UK and Andrew Parker, University of Gloucestershire, UK11. Sport, Envy, and the Conundrum of Comparison - Brian R. Bolt, Calvin College, USA and Chad Carlson, Hope College, USA 12. Ordo Amoris: The Essence of Christian Wisdom for Sport - Mark Hamilton, Ashland University, USA 13. Sports in the Service of Self-Knowledge - Ed Hastings, Villanova University, USAConclusion - Matt Hoven, St. Joseph's College, University of Alberta, Canada; Andrew Parker. University of Gloucestershire, UK, and Nick J. Watson, The Archbishop of York Youth Trust, UK