This Unit provides an opportunity for scholars to engage in emerging research at the intersection of religion and sport, games, and play. We are interested in examining these topics across broad geographical areas, religious traditions, and historical eras. We encourage critical reflection regarding relationships of religious institutions to sport, play, and games; theological and spiritual experiences of participants and spectators invested in these activities; and the cross-cultural applicability of the received categories.
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Religion, Sport, and Play Unit
Call for Proposals for November Meeting
The Religion, Sport, and Play Unit seeks individual paper and complete panel proposals for two sessions at the 2024 annual conference.
Religion and Sports Fandom
Sports fandom has frequently been associated with religious ways of being, even if tongue-in-cheek. A religious-like devotion is often used to describe sports fans’ relationship to certain teams and athletes, and Durkheimian “collective effervescence” is frequently drawn upon to explain enduring tribalism amongst fans. These religious descriptors of sports fandom, however, do not capture the myriad ways in which religion and sports fandom can be theorized. To this end, the Religion, Sport, and Play Unit seeks papers offering analytical, methodological, or theoretical frameworks of religion and sport fandom.
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Religion as a Type of Fandom
- Religion, Violence, and Sports Fandom (in accordance with this year’s AAR theme)
- Sports Fandom at Religious Universities
- The Positionality of the Scholar/The Positionality of the Fan
- Sport Fandom as Scholarly Motivation
- Intersectionality and Sports Fandom
- Religion and/or Spirituality of the Global East/South in relation to Sports Fandom
- Sports Fandom and the Scholar-Activist
- Technology and Sports Fan Agency
- Materiality and Sports Fandom
- Media Expressions of Sports Fandom
Paper proposals will be considered for a Fall 2024 special issue of The International Journal of Sport and Religion
For the second session, any proposals addressing the interaction of religion and sport; religion and play; or religion, sport, and play will be considered.
Statement of Purpose
Chairs
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Kimberly Diaz, University of California, Riverside1/1/2023 - 12/31/2028
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Jeffrey Scholes, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs1/1/2020 - 12/31/2025
Steering Committee Members
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Gary Green, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities1/1/2024 - 12/31/2029
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Kathleen Mroz, Emmanuel College, Boston1/1/2023 - 12/31/2028
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Terry Shoemaker, Arizona State University1/1/2021 - 12/31/2026
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Zachary Smith, University of Tennessee1/1/2023 - 12/31/2028
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Onaje Woodbine, American University1/1/2024 - 12/31/2029
Method
Review Process
Proposer names are visible to chairs but anonymous to steering committee members