Bodies in Motion: A Religious History of Sports in America

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Arthur Remillard (Professor of Religious Studies, Professor of Religious Studies, Saint Francis University)

Bodies in Motion

A Religious History of Sports in America

Arthur Remillard (Professor of Religious Studies, Professor of Religious Studies, Saint Francis University)

$275.95

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Oxford University Press Inc
19 May 2025

History of religion; Sociology: sport & leisure; Social & cultural anthropology

Are sports the new American religion? Arthur Remillard, a seasoned scholar of religion and sports, hears this question frequently. Often, it is prompted by the contrast between the waning of traditional religious institutions and the thriving, cash-rich world of sports. Stadiums bustle with boundless enthusiasm, exuberant rituals, and potent symbols. Churches no longer seem to.

According to Remillard, however, this question reduces ""religion"" to only its institutional form, thereby overlooking the many unscripted ways that sports have assumed sacred significance throughout American history. Bodies in Motion shines a bright light on the ways that sports have allowed individuals and communities to develop, describe, and proclaim their most deeply held and strongly defended values and beliefs. From prizefighting and baseball to distance running and bowling, Remillard emphasizes that the fundamental element of sports is the human body in motion-the body that strives, struggles, and sweats on the field of play. From here, participants, observers, and organizers do the creative work of inscribing meaning onto these motions, of elevating them from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Along the way, these interpretations shape and are shaped by broader societal forces at play, including race, class, gender, ethnicity, and nationality.

Engaging and thought-provoking, Bodies in Motion shows how sacred activities have been intricately entangled in athletic activities, expanding how we think about religion and its meaning and uses. Whether you're an avid sports fan, a reader of American history, or simply curious about the intersection of religion and sports, this book promises to show you new ways of understanding this fascinating subject.

By: Arthur Remillard (Professor of Religious Studies Professor of Religious Studies Saint Francis University)
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 235mm, Width: 156mm,
Weight: 467g
ISBN: 9780197789766
ISBN 10: 0197789765
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 19 May 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Preface: The ""Something"" of Sports Chapter 1: A Whole New Ball Game Chapter 2: The Alypius Problem Chapter 3: American Heroes Chapter 4: On Humans and Horses Chapter 5: Innovation and Anxiety Chapter 6: Enduring Faith Chapter 7: ""The Lost Religion of Masculinity"" Chapter 8: ""She Is What God Originally Meant Her to Be"" Chapter 9: The Golden Age of Sports Chapter 10: The Name of the Game Chapter 11: Pioneers! O Pioneers! Chapter 12: Sacred and Profane Chapter 13: Making Icons Afterword: Why Do I Care? Endnotes

Arthur Remillard is Professor of Religious Studies at Saint Francis University. He is author of Southern Civil Religions: Imagining the Good Society in the Post-Reconstruction Era and co-editor of Gods, Games, and Globalization: New Perspectives on Religion and Sports. His work has been featured in academic publications as well as in popular outlets like the Washington Post and the Christian Century. A lifelong runner, he still enjoys racing distances from a mile to a marathon.