Vol. 1 No. 1, February 2022

Sports and Religion

Akingbohungbe Williams Ojo, PhD

Abstract

Few churches in Nigeria have or emphasized a theology for sporting activities as a complement to spiritual fitness; yet there are many symbolisms of sports or athletes used in the Bible to convey spiritual discipline and competition. There is therefore a need to emphasise the importance of sporting exercise and physical fitness for Christians. Sporting activities that could keep Christians fit are hardly practiced by churches. Obviously, there is need for the imbalance between physical fitness and spiritual development to be addressed. It is in this light that this work evaluates and highlights the activities and commitment of the church towards bridging the gap between physical fitness and spiritual development.

Keywords



Full Text

Download

References

1 R. Holt, Sport and the British, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989), 39.
2 Mirc John, Instructions for Parish Priests, 1403, E. Peacock ed. in Birley Derek, Sport and the Making of Britain,
(Manchester: University Press, 1993), 43.
3 Hoffman, “Sport and Religion,” The Smart Journal, (Champaign: Human Kinetics Publishers, 1992), 22.
4 D.S. Eitzen & G.H. Sage, Sport and Religion in C. Prebish ed. Religion and Sport: The Meeting of Sacred and Profane,
(Westport, CN: Greenwood Press, 1992), 79 – 118.
5 Lincoln Diocese Documents, 1450 – 1544 EETS, Original Serial No. 149, in Marples Morris, A History of Football,
(London: Secker and Warburg 1954), 54.
6 R. Holt, Sport and the British, 46.
7 J. Robert Higgs, Sports – A Reference Guide, (London: Greenwood Press, 1982), 209.
8 T. Mason, Association Football and English Society, 1863 – 1915, (Brighton: Harvester Press, 1981), 26.
9Lupson Peter, Thank God for Football, (London: SPCK Press, 2006), 12.
10 Clifford Putney, Muscular Christianity: Manhood and Sports in Protestant America, 1880 – 1920, (London: Harvard
University Press, 2001), 22.
11 Ladd Mathisen, Putney and Williams, Cricket and England, 1919 – 1939, (Chicago: Ontario Press, 1960), 155.
12 Williams Cricket and England 127 says it did not. Buff, 18 Nov, 1922, in Cricket and Christianity, 150.
13 C. Prebish, ed. Religion and Sport: The Meeting of Sacred and Profane, (Westport, CN: Greenwood Press. 1992), 52.
14 T. Ladd, & J.A. Mathisen, Muscular Christianity: Evangelical Protestants and the Development of American Sport,
(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 1999), 39
15 M.R. Ermand, “Religion and Leisure: A Case Study of the Role of the Church as a Provider of Recreation in Small
Ontario Communities,” unpublished Masters Thesis, (Canada, Ontario: University of Waterloo, 1990), 17.
16 M.W. Ogden, “Attitudes of Southern Baptist Leaders towards Leisure and the Place of Recreation in the Church
Program,” doctoral diss. (Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University, 1978), 29.
17 R.J. Dunn, An Exploratory Study of the Participants in a Christian Hockey League: Integration of their Christian
Faith, (Michigan: Ann Arbor, 1998); D.M. Cowling, “Attitudes and/or Conduct Problems in Church Sports,” PhD
Dissertation, (Georgia: University of Georgia, 1985) and R. Dunn and L. Christopher Stevenson, “The Paradox of the
Church Hockey League,” International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 33, 1998, 131–142.
18 David Smith and Gareth Williams, Fields of Praise: The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union, 1881 – 1981, (Cardiff:
University of Wales Press, 1980), 101.
19 David Smith and Gareth Williams, Fields of Praise: The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union, 1881 – 1981, 127.
20 Patrick Scott, “Cricket and the Religious World of the Victorian Period,” The Church Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 134 – 144,
1970.
21 Letter to Derby Mercury, 16 Feb, 1845, in Anthony Delves, Popular Recreation and Social Conflict in Derby, 1800 – 1850,
in E. Yeo, and S Yeo ed. Popular Culture and Class Conflict, 1590 – 1914, (London: Harvester Press, 1981), 109.
22 Garner John, For an Excellent Apologetic for Church Sports Ministry can use Sport as a Tool (or Hook) to Share the
Gospel, Recreation and Sports Ministry, (Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 2003), 123.
23 Chad Owen Brand, in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Tennessee: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1530 – 1531.
24 Chad Owen Brand, in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 2003, 1530 – 1531.
25 Chad Owen Brand, in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1531.
26 Wayne Blank, Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies, 1(1), 2010, 9 – 17.
27 Wayne Blank, Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies, 1(1), 9 – 11.
28 Wayne Blank, Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies, 1(1), 12.
29 Wayne Blank, Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies, 1(1), 14
30 Wayne Blank, Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies, 1(1), 14 – 15
31 Wayne Blank, Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies, 1(1), 17.
32 Wayne Blank, Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies, 1(1), 16 – 17.
international journal of christianity & sports | vol. 1 no. 1, february 2022

< 122 >

33 T.N.O. Quarcoopome; History and Religion of Israel, from THE Creation through the Monarchy to the Exile (586.B.C.),
(Ibadan: African Universities Press, Pilgrim Books Limited, 1988), 22 – 24.
34 Wayne Blank, Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology and Leisure Studies, 1(1), 16 – 17.
35 T.N.O. Quarcoopome; History and Religion of Israel, from THE Creation through the Monarchy to the Exile (586.B.C.),
(Ibadan: African Universities Press, Pilgrim Books Limited, 1988), 22 – 24.
36 Microsoft ® Encarta Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. ® 2009, © 1993 – 2008, n.p.
37 Advanced Learners Macmillan English Dictionary, 2nd Edition, 296.
38 Microsoft ® Encarta Microsoft Corporation, n.p.
39 Advanced Learners Macmillan English Dictionary, 2nd Edition, 299.
40 Harper Douglas, “Sport (N),” Online Etymological Dictionary, Accessed 20th April, 2008.
41 R.K. Harrison, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, Tennessee: Holman Bible Publishers. 2003), 13 –
42 Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners, New Edition, (Oxford: Macmillan Publisher Limited, 2007),
1550.
43 Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville: Tennessee Holman Publisher, 2003), 1581.
44. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia, (Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2006), http://encyclopedia2.the.
freedictionary.com, Accessed 15/07/2013.
45 The New Webster Encyclopedia Dictionary of English Language, (New York: Publisher by Black & Dog Leventhal Inc.
1993), 65.
46 The Official Magazine of the International Council for Health Physical Education Recreation, Sports and Dance;
African Region, (Ibadan: University of Ibadan, 2003), 56.
47 The Official Magazine of the International Council for Health Physical Education Recreation, Sports and Dance;
African Region, 56.
48 K. Mbaye, “Sports and Human Rights,” Olympic Review XXVI, 1999, 24.
49 Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners, New Edition, 1442.