There is a whole thread in my book about football as America’s religion, gameday Sunday as some people’s church, witnessing Hail Marys of another kind. Funnily enough, it centered on football culture in Ohio! This adds another dimension to that, and I appreciate this thinking so much. Christianity is threaded through so much of our sports culture, though it manifests slightly differently in different sports. Football is its own thing!
This is the reminder I needed to read your book. I've had it on my radar for a minute! Over the past few months, I've been reading a lot about football and Christianity—and it really is so fascinating!
You should come to our book club event next week! The player who is joining me is from the Columbus team and talks about trying to market women’s football against to fandom of Ohio State’s team.
as a scholar immersed in religion, this writing blesses me. I've thought similar things, but the way you voiced them leaves me very open and curious and I'm glad of it. phew.
I appreciate you reading, fam. I nearly studied religion in college but ultimately decided against it. Now, you got me curious about the some of the different works you've read that might intersect with this piece
I’m so glad you wrote on this, something about the tenor of their public praise made me feel so uncomfortable and I’ve been trying to inspect it. It feels like a huge tonal chasm to me between “all glory to god”, which I hear more often and feels more familiar, and “I’d like to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ”, which feels particularly evangelic? I also couldn’t ignore the bookending of the game with mega patriotism up front and intense Christianity at the end - who belongs here? Who doesn’t? Anyway, this is long winded, but I love that it struck a chord with you too. Great piece!
Sadie, thank you so much for voicing your thoughts and feelings. There are so many layers to it, right? Of course, our own backgrounds and experiences. But also, the broader societal and systemic underpinnings. Sports are fascinating to me in the way they reflect what the state deems acceptable, as well as how they tend to reinforce these things. For example, college and professional football organizations celebrate militarism while also normalizing the violence that the military wields. To your point, who belongs and who doesn't? It's clear there are certain groups missing from the picture.
"The invocation of Jesus’ name in American football is to be expected. And still, I question what it means in a country where the perceived betrayal of his name can be the thing Christians blame when wildfires ravage Southern California.
Or on Ohio State’s campus where three dozen people were arrested last April for organizing an encampment protest against the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza only a few months before athletes’ courtyard revival."
wow thank you for writing this. i have been thinking about this soo much the past couple years as a sports fan navigating my own spiritual journey.. would love to hear your reading reccs
Thank you for reading, and I totally feel you on that. These books have been helpful for navigating my own spiritual journey even if still holding the tension:
• “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies” by Deesha Philyaw
• “All About Love” by bell hooks
• “The Spirituality of Imperfection” by Ernest J. Kurtz
• “Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead” by Emily Austin
There is a whole thread in my book about football as America’s religion, gameday Sunday as some people’s church, witnessing Hail Marys of another kind. Funnily enough, it centered on football culture in Ohio! This adds another dimension to that, and I appreciate this thinking so much. Christianity is threaded through so much of our sports culture, though it manifests slightly differently in different sports. Football is its own thing!
This is the reminder I needed to read your book. I've had it on my radar for a minute! Over the past few months, I've been reading a lot about football and Christianity—and it really is so fascinating!
You should come to our book club event next week! The player who is joining me is from the Columbus team and talks about trying to market women’s football against to fandom of Ohio State’s team.
Added it to my calendar!
as a scholar immersed in religion, this writing blesses me. I've thought similar things, but the way you voiced them leaves me very open and curious and I'm glad of it. phew.
I appreciate you reading, fam. I nearly studied religion in college but ultimately decided against it. Now, you got me curious about the some of the different works you've read that might intersect with this piece
I’m so glad you wrote on this, something about the tenor of their public praise made me feel so uncomfortable and I’ve been trying to inspect it. It feels like a huge tonal chasm to me between “all glory to god”, which I hear more often and feels more familiar, and “I’d like to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ”, which feels particularly evangelic? I also couldn’t ignore the bookending of the game with mega patriotism up front and intense Christianity at the end - who belongs here? Who doesn’t? Anyway, this is long winded, but I love that it struck a chord with you too. Great piece!
Sadie, thank you so much for voicing your thoughts and feelings. There are so many layers to it, right? Of course, our own backgrounds and experiences. But also, the broader societal and systemic underpinnings. Sports are fascinating to me in the way they reflect what the state deems acceptable, as well as how they tend to reinforce these things. For example, college and professional football organizations celebrate militarism while also normalizing the violence that the military wields. To your point, who belongs and who doesn't? It's clear there are certain groups missing from the picture.
"The invocation of Jesus’ name in American football is to be expected. And still, I question what it means in a country where the perceived betrayal of his name can be the thing Christians blame when wildfires ravage Southern California.
Or on Ohio State’s campus where three dozen people were arrested last April for organizing an encampment protest against the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza only a few months before athletes’ courtyard revival."
Damn. This was powerful. Thank you for this piece
Thanks for reading and highlighting these lines. I appreciate you connecting with them.
wow thank you for writing this. i have been thinking about this soo much the past couple years as a sports fan navigating my own spiritual journey.. would love to hear your reading reccs
Thank you for reading, and I totally feel you on that. These books have been helpful for navigating my own spiritual journey even if still holding the tension:
• “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies” by Deesha Philyaw
• “All About Love” by bell hooks
• “The Spirituality of Imperfection” by Ernest J. Kurtz
• “Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead” by Emily Austin
Love the criticality family! I especially appreciate this as someone who is immersed in sports and living in the Bible Belt.
Thanks, bro! Yes, would love to hear more from your point of view next time we talk
Thanks for writing and sharing this. I appreciate you and the opportunity to read your voice. Hope you are doing well!