Sport and Spirituality

<p>Sport science can quantify many aspects of human performance but the spiritual dimensions of sports experience cannot be fully understood through measurement. However, the spiritual experience of sport – be it described as ‘flow’, ‘transcendence’ or the discovery of meaning and value – is central both to our basic motivation to take part in sports, and to achieving success.</p><p><em>Sport and Spirituality: An Introduction</em> explores these human aspects of sports experience through the perspectives of sport psychology, philosophy, ethics, theology and religious studies. It includes discussions of:</p><ul> <li>Spirituality in the postmodern era</li> <li>Spirituality, health and well-being</li> <li>Theistic and atheistic perspectives on sport and the spiritual</li> <li>Nature and transcendence – the mystical and sublime in outdoor sport</li> <li>Applied sport psychology and the existential</li> <li>Spiritual perspectives on pain, suffering and destiny</li> <li>Sport, the virtues, ethical development and the spirit of the game</li> <li>The Olympic Games and de Coubertin’s ideas of the ‘religio athletae’.</li> </ul><p>This groundbreaking text will be a valuable resource for students of sport and exercise studies, sports coaching, physical education and sport and health psychology. This book should be read by all those interested in the preparation, performance and well-being of athletes.</p> <p><strong>Section 1: Spirituality and Sport</strong> 1. A Short History of Spirituality 2. Defining Spirituality 3. Spirituality, Wellbeing and Sport <strong>Section 2 : Sport, God and Ethics</strong> 4. The Religious and the Spiritual in Sport. A Comparative Analysis of Meaning for Theistic and Atheist Participants 5. Theology and the Ethics of Competition in the Twenty -First Century 6. Nature and Transcendence. the Mystical and Sublime in Outdoor Sports <strong>Section 3: The Existential and Sport </strong>7. The Existential and the Spiritual 8. Persons and Players 9. Suffering and Destiny <strong>Section 4: Olympism and Sport</strong> 10. Sport and the Virtues 11. Peace and the Religious Athlete 12. Ethos, Ethics and Education Conclusion</p>