The Games people play : theology, religion and sport /
Robert Ellis.
- 1 online resource (336 pages,) : black & white illustrations.
Includes bibliographical references.
Front cover; Half title; Title page; Copyright; Contents; Introduction: A Grandstand View at the Cotswold Olimpicks; 1. Reaching for the Heavens: A (Very) Brief History of Religion and Sport; Sacred Sport?; "Keeping Company with the Devil"?; Conversion to Sport?; Conclusion; 2. A Question of Sport: Sport in Contemporary Society; Sport and Business; Sport and the Media; Sport and Consumerism; Sport and Gender; Sport and Ethnicity; Sport and Politics; Conclusion; 3. 1851 and All That: Losing My Religion?; Sundays: "the Lord's day" or "a day at Lord's"? Religion and Sport in the UK: What the Numbers Tell UsAmerican Exceptionalism: Sport and Religion; Sport and the Functions of Religion; Conclusion; 4. Play and Sport: Initial Theological Explorations; Defining "Play" and "Sport"; Sport in the Bible? Paul's Sporting Imagery; God the Creator: Deus Ludens and the Game of Love; Playful Wisdom: Proverbs, the Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes; Sabbaths and Festivals: Playful Rest; Play, "Signal of Transcendence"; The End of Play; 5. "A Matter of Life and Death"? Playing and Winning; Why Play Sport? What the Players Say. Why Play Sport? Sociocultural FactorsWhy Play Sport? Sport and "Religious Experience"; Why Winning Matters; Deus Ludens, Deus Victor: God the Winner; 6. "To Boldly Go": Sport as Divine Encounter?; Imago Dei: Further Thoughts; Transcendence and the Transcendent; Vicarious Sport; Sin and Salvation in Sport?; Conclusion: "The Theology Behind All Cultural Expressions"; Highlights; Some Loose Ends; Concluding Observations on a Practical Theology of Sport; Bibliography; Back cover.
In 'The Games People Play', Robert Ellis constructs a theology around the global cultural phenomenon of modern sport, paying particular attention to its British and American manifestations. Using historical narrative and social analysis to enter the debate on sport as religion, Ellis shows that modern sport may be said to have taken on some of the functions previously vested in organized religion. Through biblical and theological reflection, he presents a practical theology of sport's appeal and value, with special attention to the theological concept of transcendence. Throughout, he draws on o.
071884324X 9780718843243 9781630873844 1630873845
Sports--Religious aspects. Sports--Moral and ethical aspects. Competition (Psychology) GAMES / Gambling / Sports SPORTS & RECREATION / Business Aspects SPORTS & RECREATION / Essays SPORTS & RECREATION / History SPORTS & RECREATION / Reference TRAVEL / Special Interest / Sports Competition (Psychology) Sports--Moral and ethical aspects. Sports--Religious aspects. Competition (Psychology) Sports--Moral and ethical aspects. Sports--Religious aspects.