A Brief Theology of Sport

by Lincoln Harvey

Sport is extremely popular. This groundbreaking book explains why. It shows that sport has everything to do with our deepest identity. It is where we resonate with the most basic nature of reality. A Brief Theology of Sport sweeps across the fields of church history, philosophy, and Christian doctrine to draw readers into a creative vision of sport. The book begins by examining how the church has historically approached sport before turning to consider sport on the basis of the divine act of creation. In doing so, Harvey is able to distinguish sport from all other human activities by identifying it as a set-aside sphere in which the unnecessary-but-meaningful nature of life is celebrated. Harvey's constructive proposal sheds light on a wide range of issues, including the role of competition, professionalization, and celebrity culture in sport today. As such, A Brief Theology of Sport makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the value of sport to human life.

Genres: Theology, Christian

152 pages, Paperback

First published April 18, 2014

Reviews

[Kenny Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cerebral, thought-provoking. Interesting historical survey of the church’s relationship with sport; brilliant on the doctrine of creation; but I’m not convinced on some of his conclusions. To say sport is the only human activity that is not worship reads, ironically, as if it is a bit too worshipful of sport; and he is unhelpfully and too quickly dismissive of the value of evangelism in sport, without considering other valid practical and theological reasons for it.
But I’ll be returning to this to reflect further on his excellent chapter on the doctrine of creation.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A provocative little book that seeks a theological explanation for sport. Unlike most Christian treatments of sport which focus on how to make them Christian by means of pre-game prayers and an emphasis on character-building and spiritual formation, Harvey argues for sports goodness in and off itself as an entirely contingent, unnecessary, and yet meaningful act that echoes God's creation of the cosmos.

[Brendan Barlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought provoking. There are nuggets that make the book worth reading. Not fully on the same page as the author when he arrives to his theology of sport in the end, yet I still benefitted from his analysis.

[Bruce Hamill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't easily give five stars, but I was tempted here. This racy and accessible little book is also a book that deals with high level theological issues in interesting ways. I suspect it is intelligible to the non-specialist as well as provocative of significant discussion among theologians. Harvey addresses the history of the churches relation to sport (albeit cursorily) but also the ontological issues related to sport, it's relation to the created order, to God, to worship and to Sabbatarian life. There are plenty of unanswered questions opened up here but the basic proposal to link sport to play as a liturgical celebration of contingency will keep me thinking for some time

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting proposal. While I did not agree with everything, there was much good to chew on. Specifically, sport as an end in and of itself; the task of Christians being "unserious"; and the contrast between sport and liturgy.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little book. Very theological and it's packed full of interesting ideas.

[Trey Meadows · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting but I'd probably disagree with the final end thought of the author.