The Word was made flesh: The male body in sports evangelism

This dissertation explores the functions of athletic male bodies within sports evangelism. I argue that the production of the male body within sports evangelism – both physical and symbolic - plays an integral part in the mission of Christian athletes by using the body as a medium for conveying religious messages about masculinity to young men. I focus upon sports evangelism as both entertainment spectacle and as a performance of masculinity, the commercialization of evangelism in the contemporary United States, legitimated violence as religious expression, and the paradoxical relationship between bodily improvement and bodily harm within sports. I begin with a review of the sports and religion literature, identifying common themes and shortcomings, with particular regard to how Christian athletes supplement their oral ministrations with physical action. Following this, I offer a very broad survey the role of sports as socializing institutions within Western Christian history, culminating in the 20th century transition from an athletic culture driven primarily by participation to one primarily driven by consumption and spectatorship. The remaining chapters are case studies of how sports ministries and evangelical athletes have championed particular political positions from the 1980s to the present. I conclude by discussing the limits of these performances of masculinity, highlighting how masculinist fantasies of power and Christian identity in sports evangelism support conservative Christian political practices and ideologies, inscribed on the bodies of participants.

Grantor dc:publisher

Temple University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Strednak Singer, Scott Donald

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Alpert, Rebecca T. (Rebecca Trachtenberg), 1950-

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Levitt, Laura, 1960-
• Rey, Terry
• Watt, David Harrington
• Sachs, Michael L.

• Religion
• Gender studies
• American studies
• Christianity
• Evangelical
• Masculinity
• Popular culture
• Sports

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12613/3615

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/3615