Sports and Religion

Sports and Religion have a close connection since the time of history. The immediate connection between the two, as understood by the sociologists and the researchers, is that as the religion provides us with some basic teachings, similarly, sports also provides us with some basic teachings. Scholars of different perspectives and opinions have stated that the concepts and the practices of both sports and Religion are similar to some extent.

Running head: SPORTS AND RELIGION
Sports and Religion
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1Sports and Religion
Sports and Religion have a close connection since the time of history. The immediate
connection between the two, as understood by the sociologists and the researchers, is that as
the religion provides us with some basic teachings, similarly, sports also provides us with
some basic teachings. Scholars of different perspectives and opinions have stated that the
concepts and the practices of both sports and Religion are similar to some extent. Both of the
discourses have certain concepts and symbols that they practice. The scholars have perceived
religion to be the realm of the sacred and they have addressed the relationship among the
human beings supernatural, in case of sports, the modern researchers have perceived that
sports is a secular pursuit and the it is concerned with the relationship that is existing in
between the individuals (Alpert, 2015).
Therefore, as according to the researchers, sports and religion have a close connection to
each other pm many levels as according to the researchers. These are, according to Coakley
(2015),
 Historically speaking, many sports have been seen to have developed during the times
of religious festivals.
 The discourses of religion and sports, both are communicated to the world through the
mediums of many concepts and symbols.
 Both religion and symbols put emphasis upon the cultural goals and values and both
put focus on un-attachment to the non-materialistic things and achievements and the
also emphasize upon cooperation and personal sacrifices.
 Moreover, both sports and religion are perceiebved as passionate commitments
towards the sects of beliefs that drives personal desires.
Therefore, to have a better idea and conception about the relationship between the
discourses and the notions of the concepts of Sports and Religion, a review of literature will

2Sports and Religion
be presented in the following essay which will focus on the concepts of sports and religion
and will state the relationship between these two.
According to the sociologists, sports and religion share a conflicted relationship.
According to Leonard (2016), sports is often to be serving the objectives of the religious
authorities and incorporates a sense of morality that is inspired firm thee religious doctrines.
Sports is seen to provide an individual with a belief system however, sports secularity, that
stands in the opposite to the discourses of the religious doctrine. It does not provide any
importance to the godly activities, however, like the religious discourses, sports also does not
emphasize on the corporeal desires. However, the development of the great sports and games
are related to the religious ceremonies. The ancient Greek Olympic Games are the most
prominent example of that, which emerged in order to celebrate the rituals of Zeus. In other
communities also, the development of sports have been considered as the ritual to celebrate
the religious ceremonies. In case of Christianity, one of the major aspects of the religious
organizations, to make a strong and fit generation through the use of sports, as they feared
that in the touch of the emerging urbanization and industrialization, a feminization of the
youth can take place among and across the generation (Waller, 2016). Moreover, with
growing time, and through the expansion of the idea of sports across the societies, the
sociologists are of the opinion that the modern idea of sports associate the players or the
concept of the sports with certain deities. According to Watson & parker (2014), there is a
structural relationship between sports and religion, as they identify with the ruling patriarchs,
symbols of faith, scribes and shrines, high councils and the house of worship. The typology
that has been presented by him viewed the concept of sports as quasi religion and the
similarities that are presented between sports and religion, have inspired the development of
many further readings, that are both dependent upon identifying the similarities and the
dissimilarities between the two concepts.

3Sports and Religion
The modern concepts and the modern developments relating to the relationship between
the two concepts are more profused and scattered and incorporates all the social aspects or
the social factors. According to Higgs (2014), the relation between sports and religion are
sacralised. Sports is essentially governed by the concepts of secularization and the causes of
displacements between sports and religion are the same. In America, Basketball is perceived
as the national game of the pace, and it is seen that the game has included the concepts of
religion into the doctrines of sports, where sports is seen as a way of life. Previously, it was
believed that religion is a way of life, but now it is believed that sports is the way of life and
the life stories, and the conversations that one individual includes in his or her everyday life,
has a profound influence upon sports (Higgs, 2015). It is believed that it is the stories, the life
experiences and the interaction or communication system or process are the elements that
provide the significance that each game has.
Further, it is also seen that the audience feel passionate towards the games. It is seen that
the games provide the people with a belief system and the best players or the exceptional
players are often regarded as the gods of the fields and they hold equal love, faith and respect
towards them as they do towards a particular belief system or a religion (Scholes & Sassower,
2014). However, there is also another belief, that there is a coincidental relationship between
sports and religion, stating that is coincidental that there are points of similarities between
these two discourses, and these points of similarities must not provide with much importance
(Jona & Okou, 2013).
In an interview, to The Guardian, Woods argued that in America, sports can be seen as a
mean to justify the musing of the Americans with sports. Woods have further stated that
sports is not only perceived as an appeal to the god, but also as a means that would enable the
religious leaders to practice and power and position and reinforce the membership of the
religious bodies. Woods have further exemplified his points of view with the example of the

4Sports and Religion
Young Men’s Christian Association, which facilitates classic sports activities in order to
attract young children and donors for the association. He further opined that there is a
diversity and variation in the sports programs and it is often seen that many potential and
talented children cannot be a part of the sports programs because of diversification and
sensitivity of religious ideas and presence of religious diversity existing within these sports
programs. Woods have also viewed that, in commercial and acclaimed schools, the religious
practices often determine and decide the sports activities of the students and proper strategies
for investigation are also included. He also stated as the bigger religious organizations take
part and actively puts effort to make the students to engage in certain sports activities,
similarly, the local religious organizations should also practice certain activities (Rampersad,
2019).

5Sports and Religion
References:
Alpert, R. T. (2015). Religion and sports: An introduction and case studies. Columbia
University Press.
Coakley, J. (2015). Assessing the sociology of sport: On cultural sensibilities and the great
sport myth. International review for the sociology of sport, 50(4-5), 402-406.
Higgs, R. J. (2015). God in the stadium: Sports and religion in America. University Press of
Kentucky.
Jona, I. N., & Okou, F. T. (2013). Sports and religion. Asian Journal of Management
Sciences and Education, 2(1).
Leonard, D. J. (2016). Book review: Sports in Society: Issues and Controversies, The
Sociology of Sports: An Introduction, Sport in Contemporary Society: An Anthology,
Sociological Perspectives on Sport: The Games Outside the Games and Sociology of
North American Sport.
Scholes, J., & Sassower, R. (2014). Religion and sports in American culture. Routledge.
Waller, S. N. (2016). Sport and the Christian Religion: A Systematic Review of Literature.
Watson, N. J., & Parker, A. (2014). Sport and the Christian religion: a systematic review of
literature. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Rampersad, A. (2019). Religion and sport: The good and bad. Retrieved from
http://www.guardian.co.tt/article-6.2.361823.8bd00297bf