Sport and Spirituality

Exploring the spiritual dimensions of sport, this broad-ranging study takes a provocative look at the human aspects of the sport experience. It is a must-read for students of sport studies, sports coaching, and sport and health psychology.

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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.

Sport and Spirituality: An Introduction explores these human aspects of sports experience through the perspectives of sport psychology, philosophy, ethics, theology and religious studies. It includes discussions of:



Spirituality in the postmodern era
Spirituality, health and well-being
Theistic and atheistic perspectives on sport and the spiritual
Nature and transcendence – the mystical and sublime in outdoor sport
Applied sport psychology and the existential
Spiritual perspectives on pain, suffering and destiny
Sport, the virtues, ethical development and the spirit of the game
The Olympic Games and de Coubertin’s ideas of the ‘religio athletae’.

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.