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16
Introduction-SportandReligion
Moody,whopromotedrevivalsinthecitiesbyadaptingbig-business
practicestoensuresuccess,andwhoadvocatedstrenuousexerciseand
diligentprayerasawayofovercomingphysicalandspiritualweakness,
willbediscussedhere.TeStuddsfamilyisanotherexample.
TefourthchaptersetsouttoexploreTeYMCA,whichbecame
aworldwidemovementfoundedontheprinciplesofMuscularChristi-
anityandcombinedphysicalandChristianspiritualdevelopment.Te
developmentoftheAmericanYMCAreliedonaMuscularChristian
agendatoreachawhite,middle-classculture.Teauthorpresentsawide
varietyofitsactivities,suchasprovidingathleticfacilitiesorhumani-
tarianwork.Itwasnotentirelyamale-centricphenomenon,butthe
emphasisofthisworkisonpromotionofmanliness;therefore,itisthe
YMCAthatisthefocusofattention,leavingthequestionofhowProt-
estantMuscularChristianityappealedtowomen-whichwasvisiblein
theactivityoftheYWCA(YoungWomen’sChristianAssociation),the
GirlsScouts,andtheCampFireGirls-foraseparatethesis,although
someaspectsofthepresenceofwomeninsportarealsodiscussed.It
shouldbenotedthattheYMCA,whichwasfoundedasasingle-sex,
all-maleorganization,istodayagender-integratedcommunityservice
organization.
TenextchapterdescribesfurtherdevelopmentofMuscularChris-
tianityonAmericansoil,andtobemoreprecise,containsananalysisof
thechangingfaceofsports-religionrelations.Tesecularizingprocess-
esinthecontextofindustrialization,urbanizationandwomenemanci-
pation,visibleintheSocialGospelandprogressivemovements,caused
MuscularChristianitytoloseitsreligiouscharacter.Tecultofstrength
proposedbyPresidentTeodoreRooseveltorevangelistBillySunday,in
away,dismantledtheconnectionbetweenfaithandsport.
InChapterSix,first,theatmosphereinMuscularChristiancir-
clesontheeveofonethecruelestconflictsinhumanhistory-World
WarI-isdescribed.Ten,theactivityoftheYMCAduringthewaris
presentedinitsdiferentdimensions.Mostly,itincludessuchaspects
asthequestionofchaplaincy,moralandmaterialsupportforsoldiers,
anditseducationalmission.TeroleoftheworkoftheYMCAamong
prisoners-of-war-whichwasundertakenonamassivescaleinthetwo
worldwars-hadbegunduringtheCivilWar,withtheYMCAminis-
teringtotheneedsofConfederatesoldiersimprisonedintheNorth
andUnionsoldiersintheSouth.Currently,manyoftheprograms