{"id":196,"date":"2005-03-03T11:11:06","date_gmt":"2005-03-03T17:11:06","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2020-07-06T10:24:30","modified_gmt":"2020-07-06T15:24:30","slug":"the-emergence-of-sport-and-spirituality-in-popular-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/the-emergence-of-sport-and-spirituality-in-popular-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"The Emergence of \u2018Sport and Spirituality\u2019 in popular culture"},"content":{"rendered":"
Submitted by: Ian Lawrence<\/div>\n

ABSTRACT <\/strong><\/p>\n

Sports and spirituality may be an oxymoron. What could be less spiritual than \u2018big business\u2019 sports? <\/em> This paper serves to review the apparent growth in \u2018spirituality\u2019 as a concept within wider society and its relevance to the world of sport. It will examine how sport in modern society is arguably the new spirituality. <\/em><\/p>\n

Introduction <\/strong><\/p>\n

Sports are clearly more important than ever to both the individual and society in economic, cultural and financial terms. Take for example, the growth of the Olympic Movement. Increases in broadcast revenue over the past two decades have provided the Olympic Movement and sport with an unprecedented financial base. From 1984 until 2008, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has concluded broadcast agreements worth more than US$ 10 billion (IOC, July, 2004). In the United States alone, General Electric and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) paid the IOC $3.5 billion for the broadcasting rights for all winter and summer Olympics between 2000 and 2008 (Phillips, 1999). The appeal of sport as a televisual<\/em> spectacle is not in dispute (Lash and Urry, 1994). The mass appeal of sport is something that is clearly not lost upon the commercial organisations spending $2.4 million for a 30 second advertising slot on what is traditionally the highest rated programme of the year, the 2005 superbowl (Nader, 2005). Displays of what in traditional religious vernacular could be termed liturgy and ritual and mass idolatry are part of the fabric of the game and the fourteen day build-up.<\/p>\n

This article will attempt to analyse the use of sports in the 21 st Century as a vehicle for spiritual upliftment<\/em> in the place of contemporary religion.<\/p>\n

The Collapse of Orthodox Religion <\/strong><\/p>\n

The dramatic growth in the popularity of sports is in sharp contrast to the near collapse of formal or orthodox religions in many countries (Robertson, 2004). Inglehart and Baker (2000) observe that \u201cnot only has weekly church attendance plunged, but Latin American countries are now sending missionaries to \u2018save the souls\u2019 of their former colonizers\u201d (p.20)<\/p>\n

Further testimony to the decline of \u2018formal\u2019 religion is provided by the UK experience. The results of the Social Trends Survey (2002) demonstrated that approximately 24% of the UK population attended a sports event as a spectator, while half of all adults aged 18 who belonged to a religion have never attended a religious service. Religion, particularly Christianity is in numerical decline throughout the Western world. William Docherty, a professor at the University of Minnesota, notes that children\u2019s participation in religious activities has decreased by 40% from 1981 to 1997 (cited in Hofferth, 2001).<\/p>\n

Spirituality\u2019 through Sport? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Whilst dissatisfaction and alienation from traditional religious practices is increasing, there is a continuing, if not growing interest in the concept of \u201cspirituality\u201d (Lipsyte, 1973; Novak, 1993). The term \u201cspirituality\u201d is evidently an emotive and contentious one. \u201cSome people, especially baby-boomers, reject the idea of religion, but believe they are \u2018spiritual\u2019\u201d (Roberts, 2004, p.9). This perception may require networks to allow the individual to develop their own concept of spirituality. In sports spirituality is cultivated through allegiance or commitment to a team, either as a fan or as a spectator. Themes within sport may also typically include freedom and escape from normal life, discovery of meaning in life, commitment to a set of ethics and possibly a rediscovery of play in its purest sense.<\/p>\n

People statistically may not want church (if evidence of declining attendance is accepted), but they do appear to question a purely materialistic view of life. They want to believe in something more, even if they do not know-or want to know – what that something is (Hamilton, 1995). The growth in the popularity of sports may be in part explained by society\u2019s emphasis on \u201cindividualism\u201d in the 21 st Century (Blake and John, 2003). Arguably, the more individualistic the society, the more intensely people may need some means of regaining a sense of group identity.<\/p>\n

The research of psychologist Abraham Maslow (1968) may help to partially explain the way in which spectator sports act as a means of fulfilling individuals\u2019 spiritual needs to belong. Maslow placed the \u201csense of belonging\u201d halfway up his hierarchy of needs, with self-actualisation at the top. The need to belong is commonly regarded as a crucial part of an individual\u2019s support of a sports team. However, only the athletes themselves reach the top and experience self-actualisation, spectators experience it vicariously. Theoretically, when people fail at discovering meaning in their lives they may use sports to fill this vacuum. Through sport individuals potentially find meaning in life.<\/p>\n

Sport and Spirituality \u2013 harmful to the spirit? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Sport is clearly one of the most successful ways of taking up time in an activity which, from a Marxist perspective, may have no \u201cutilitarian value\u201d (Jakubowski, 1990, p.86). For many it may be a total irrelevance. Take the joke concerning golf ruining a beautiful walk in the countryside. Carroll (1998) argues that this view neglects the notion of \u201canima mundi\u201d or soul. Sport for the ancient Greeks and Romans represented an avenue to find the connection to soul. The battle, whether it is on the golf course or in the boxing ring offers this opportunity to re-connect to the soul.<\/p>\n

The enthusiasm to participate in sport, either vicariously as a spectator or directly as a participant may be intrinsic. Testimony to this manifests itself in a child\u2019s playful actions (Trotsky, 1994). The desire and enthusiasm to engage in distraction and play may be intrinsic to the human psyche, but Trotsky argues that in order that \u201cspiritual requirements may flourish it is necessary that physical requirements be fully satisfied\u201d. (Trotsky,1994, p.28). As the Jesuit scholar Hugo Rahner has put it; \u201cTo play is to yield oneself to a kind of magic \u2026 to enter a world where different laws apply, to be relieved of all the weights that bear it down, to be free, kingly, unfettered and divine\u201d (cited in Prebish<\/a>,1993, p.211).<\/p>\n

The above is potentially reinforced through sport with its inherent ideals of \u201cfair play\u201d and \u201ccodes of conduct\u201d enshrined in the rules and regulations. This is disputed, however by George Orwell in his essay, \u201cThe Sporting Spirit\u201d written in 1945 where he comments upon the nature of modern sport, concluding that it has nothing to do with fair play. \u201cIt is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence; in other words war minus the shooting\u201d (Orwell,1945, pp.62-3).<\/p>\n

Does the pursuit of sport harm the spirit? The prevalence of cheating and drug abuse does seem to challenge this aspiration of a connection to a \u201chigher calling\u201d. Does spirit become severed in elite sport? This question raises the issue of \u201csportsmanship\u201d or the practice of ethical behaviour in modern sports. Sportsmanship is characterised by notions of civility and is \u201ca matter of being good (character) and doing right (action) in sports\u201d (Grough, 1997, p.21). Fair play and sportsmanship are challenged by what many regard as increased emphasis on a philosophy of \u201cwin at all costs\u201d (Pilz, 1995). The impact of the coach is crucial in mediating the importance of sportsmanship and with it the notion of a games inherent spirituality. How individuals reconcile \u201cthe shifting definitions of sportsmanship with the objective of winning\u201d (Buford May, 2001, p.387) is a complex task.<\/p>\n

Conclusion <\/strong><\/p>\n

The intrinsic appeal of sport for many people is the uncertainty of outcome. Historically, however, this has never prevented mankind from attempting to tip the balance of uncertainty through various forms of cheating; indeed, the emphasis upon victory in sport defies and corrupts the ethics of fair play. If sport does indeed offer a vehicle with which to fill the spiritual void left by the demise of traditional forms of religion, it may do well to adopt the Buddhist philosophy which states that \u201cLife is a journey\u201d. When sports and spirituality are passengers, is the destination cynicism? Every journey requires an ending.<\/p>\n

Bibliography <\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Blake, J., John, A. (2003) The world according to Margaret Thatcher. Michael O\u2019Mara Books.<\/li>\n
  2. Buford May, R. A.(2001).The Sticky Situation of Sportsmanship: Contexts and Contradictions in Sportsmanship among High School Basketball Players. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, Vol 25, No.4, pp.372-389. Sage Publications<\/li>\n
  3. Carroll, J. (1998) Ego and Soul: the Modern West in Search of Meaning. Harper Collins<\/li>\n
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  20. Roberts, K. A. (2004) Religion in Sociological Perspective. Thomson<\/li>\n
  21. Robertson, T. (2004) Religion Losing To Youth Sports On Weekends. Boston Globe. February 16th<\/sup> 2004<\/li>\n
  22. Social Trends Survey. No.32.(2002) The Stationary Office Editors: Jil Matheson Penny Babb London: The Stationery Office (www.statistics.gov.uk). Retrieved from http:\/\/www.statistics.gov.uk\/downloads\/ theme_social<\/strong>\/Social_Trends32\/Social_Trends32.pdf \u2013<\/li>\n
  23. Trotsky, L. (1994) Problems of Everyday Life. Pathfinder Press.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
    Submitted by: Ian Lawrence<\/div>\n

    ABSTRACT<\/p>\n

    Sports and spirituality may be an oxymoron. What could be less spiritual than ‘big business’ sports? <\/em><\/p>\n

    This paper serves to review the apparent growth in ‘spirituality’ as a concept within wider society and its relevance to the world of sport. It will examine how sport in modern society is arguably the new spirituality. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[290,291,296],"tags":[8,31,63,67],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4btio-3a","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":71,"url":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/ioc-culture-and-olympic-education-forum-thesis-on-culture\/","url_meta":{"origin":196,"position":0},"title":"IOC Culture and Olympic Education Forum : Thesis on Culture and Olympism","date":"February 13, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Submitted by: Dr. Ren Hai In the human species individuals are born cultureless. Ancient Greeks successfully used sport in building up their brilliant civilizations. Impacts of culture and education on sport are undeniable. Sport is not only the exalting of physical activities. \"To place everywhere sport at the service of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports History"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":70,"url":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/ioc-culture-and-olympic-education-forum-the-ideal-policy\/","url_meta":{"origin":196,"position":1},"title":"IOC Culture and Olympic Education Forum : The ideal policy to link sport with culture and education","date":"February 13, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Submitted by: Mrs. Miriam C. Moyo Of the three components of this topic: sport, culture and education, culture is the most important and the most basic. Distinct cultures are passed on without being expressly taught. Education is the process through which cultures continue to exist. In traditional societies, sport and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports History"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":52,"url":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/lausanne-declaration-on-doping-in-sport\/","url_meta":{"origin":196,"position":2},"title":"Lausanne Declaration on Doping in Sport","date":"February 11, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"The World Conference on Doping in Sport, with the participation of representatives of governments, of inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, of the International Olympic Committee, the International Sports Federations (IFs), the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and of the athletes, declares: Education, prevention and athletes' rights The Olympic oath shall be extended\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Contemporary Sports Issues"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":75,"url":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/ioc-culture-and-olympic-education-forum-introduction\/","url_meta":{"origin":196,"position":3},"title":"IOC Culture and Olympic Education Forum : Introduction","date":"February 13, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Submitted by: Juan Antonia Samaranch Since its origins, the Olympic Movement has always wished to associate the movements of sport with the thought processes linked to cultural activity, be it sculpture, paintings, literature, music or architecture. At the start of the third millennium, this desire clearly remains as relevant as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports History"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":62,"url":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/centennial-anniversary-of-the-international-olympic-movement-and-modern-olympic-games\/","url_meta":{"origin":196,"position":4},"title":"Centennial Anniversary of the International Olympic Movement and Modern Olympic Games","date":"February 12, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Submitted by: Oleg A. Milshteyn, Ph.D. This scholarly history of the International Olympics and modern Olympic games will be an outstanding source for scholars interested in the Olympics and all its glory. Oleg A. Milshteyn is particularly qualified as a researcher through his former affiliation in the Moscow Institute of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Contemporary Sports Issues"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63,"url":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/centennial-anniversary-of-the-international-olympic-movement-and-modern-olympic-games-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":196,"position":5},"title":"Centennial Anniversary of the International Olympic Movement and Modern Olympic Games","date":"February 12, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Submitted by: Oleg A. Milshteyn, Ph.D. This scholarly history of the International Olympics and modern Olympic games will be an outstanding source for scholars interested in the Olympics and all its glory. Oleg A. Milshteyn is particularly qualified as a researcher through his former affiliation in the Moscow Institute of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Contemporary Sports Issues"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=196"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7308,"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196\/revisions\/7308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}