REL 206 Religion and Sports

This course explores the profound and ubiquitous interweaving of religion and sports in Western civilization. From its roots in classical Olympian festivals to its emergence as a multi-billion dollar modern industry, the active presence of religious themes in sports, from spiritual ordeal, to the ethos of fairness, to the manifestation of moral reward in victory, will be tracked and analyzed. Particular attention will be devoted to the ways in which sport interacts with Christianity in North America, both in the quasi-amateur context of intercollegiate athletics as well as the professional ranks of league franchises. A Religious World course in the Goshen Core.