Understanding Sport as a Religious Phenomenon: An Introduction

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Readers are introduced to a range of theoretical and methodological approaches used to understand religion including sociology, philosophy, psychology, and anthropology and how they can be used to understand sport as a religious phenomenon. Topics include the formation of powerful communities among fans and the religious experience of the fan, myth, symbols and rituals and the sacrality of sport, and sport and secularization. Case studies are taken from around the world and include the Olympics (ancient and modern), football in the UK, the All Blacks and New Zealand national identity, college football in the American South, and gymnastics. Ideal for classroom use, Understanding Sport as a Religious Phenomenon illuminates the nature of religion through sports phenomena and is a much-needed contribution to the field of religion and popular culture.

Reviews

In this well-crafted and accessible book, Bain-Selbo and Sapp draw the reader into the exploration of the multi-faceted relationship between sport and religion. Peppered with thought provoking examples, this text is sure to stimulate informed and fruitful discussion both inside and outside of the classroom. * Tracy J. Trothen, Associate Professor of Religion, Queens University, Canada, and author of Winning the Race Religion, Hope, and Reshaping the Sport Enhancement Debate (2015) *
With accessible prose and comprehensive scholarship, Bain-Selbo and Sapp make a compelling argument for the rather controversial stance that sports is a religion. Agree or disagree, this book will be the prism through which any future discussions on the topic must pass. * Jeffrey Scholes, Assistant Professor, University of Colorado, USA and author of Religion and Sports in American Culture (2013) *
Accessible to students and to sports aficionados, Understanding Sport as a Religious Phenomenon engagingly introduces the breadth of the emerging interdisciplinary field of sports and religion. Drawing upon worldwide sports and global religious traditions, Bain-Selbo and Sapp score with their analyses that effectively employ multiple theoretical methods significant for religious studies. * Joseph L. Price, Genevieve S. Connick, Professor of Religious Studies and Co-Director for the Institute for Baseball Studies, Whittier College, USA *

Author Bio

Eric Bain-Selbo is Dean at School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indiana University Kokomo, USA. D. Gregory Sapp is Associate Professor of Religious Studies, at Stetson University, USA.