Bodies in Motion: A Religious History of Sports in America

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.