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Touchdowns for Jesus and Other Signs of Apocalypse: Lifting the Veil on Big-Time Sports
Why do sports matter so much to so many people? And why should we care? Far from being a distraction or a trivial pastime, sports tell us deep truths about ourselves. Big-time sports are a particularly potent mirror for humanity-reflecting both our promising possibilities and our demonic distortions. Theologian (and football coach's wife) Marcia Mount Shoop invites you to take a closer look at the hold that sports have on us. Touchdowns for Jesus takes you beneath the veil in some of the most challenging issues in sports fanaticism, sexism, racism, and abuse of power. And beneath the lifted veil you also encounter wisdom about how we can find our way back to what is most life-giving about sports. If you love sports, or if you just wonder why others do, Touchdowns for Jesus will give you a whole new way to view the games people play.
- GenresTheology
134 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 7, 2022
This mix of sports and theology leans (maybe surprisingly) more toward the sports side. Shoop takes a careful look at a number of key topics in sport, and she's at her best writing on NCAA eligibility and the often unnoticed power dynamics in major sports. She uses this thinking as an apocalyptic revelation -- not the end of the world, but an unveiling of truth. With new understanding, we can grow, create community, bring healing, and see God at work.
Much of the book is interesting, although it's a little slow to get going (some of her groundwork is a little introductory, although that approach is probably wise). Her wrap-up and pointing forward is intriguing, but a little shorter than I would have liked. These are mild criticisms, though, of a book that's thought-provoking and insightful.
Much of the book is interesting, although it's a little slow to get going (some of her groundwork is a little introductory, although that approach is probably wise). Her wrap-up and pointing forward is intriguing, but a little shorter than I would have liked. These are mild criticisms, though, of a book that's thought-provoking and insightful.
May 26, 2019
Compares attending football games to attending games in the roman empires because the attendees as well as participants were each ON STAGE.
Mentions title IX and women in sports, ethnic backgrounds, financial impact, bankruptcy, possibly paying athletes as scholarship funds do not exactly support a student/athlete, bias, and negative impact upon potential draft position based upon false data.
Only at the end does she examine the lunacy of playing the punishing sport of football then claiming victory for GOD!
Mentions title IX and women in sports, ethnic backgrounds, financial impact, bankruptcy, possibly paying athletes as scholarship funds do not exactly support a student/athlete, bias, and negative impact upon potential draft position based upon false data.
Only at the end does she examine the lunacy of playing the punishing sport of football then claiming victory for GOD!
February 24, 2021
Interesting look at the relationship of sports and Christianity from a feminist theologian’s perspective.
May 15, 2023
Interesting book for a school read. I thought Shoop made so,e very compelling arguments about football, but the means in which the book was written confused me a bit. I think her perspective is especially unique, given her husband’s profession, and I think she does an excellent job of helping the reader empathize with student-athletes.
February 5, 2015
A must read for everybody.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews