Paul Putz

A history of muscular Christianity in the US Paul Putz traces the influence of evangelicalism on sports, from the birth of the YMCA to Colin...

Grateful to the @christiancentury.bsky.social for this essay on THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME.

In my research for the book I read every article the CC ever published about sports. Now my own book is in its pages. Super cool.

Read here: www.christiancentury.org/books/histor...

Did not realize this was out! This means I can now claim to have been in the pages of Men's Health 😆

Faith, Fitness, and the New Gospel of #Gains: Inside the Conflicted World of Christian Bodybuilders Christian bodybuilders and fitfluencers are ascending to greater heights of visibility—and facing compelling questions about lust, idolatry, and purpose.

American Christians have been blending bodybuilding and faith for more than a century. Here's a check-in with how they're faring these days, with insights from @paulputz.bsky.social. 🗃️

www.menshealth.com/fitness/a651...

The Fight of His Life: Joe Louis’s Battle for Freedom During World War II Amazon.com: The Fight of His Life: Joe Louis’s Battle for Freedom During World War II: 9781541605060: Roberts, Randy, Smith, Johnny: Books

In my view @johnnysmith135.bsky.social is one of the best sports historians in the game. If he writes something, I'm going to read it.

I just pre-ordered his latest, co-authored with Randy Roberts, and can't wait to check it out.

www.amazon.com/Fight-His-Li...

Agreed. In a democracy every person should feel empowered to share their views on political issues or social causes that matter to them.

I’d prob adjust GK’s point. It’s not the expression of opinion, it’s the way the rest of us look to that famous person as an expert or authority worth following.

"One of the most surprising idiosyncrasies of American life is that men and women who have achieved eminence in one field feel themselves fully qualified to give opinions about other unrelated ones."

—GK Chesterton

This project has been a long time in the making.

Grateful to be a small part of it, and grateful for Jon Lauck’s tireless work reviving and restoring the study of Midwestern history.

Historical/cultural analysis of sports and Christianity:

Shirl Hoffman - Good Game

Annie Blazer - Playing for God

My book - The Spirit of the Game

Randall Balmer - Passion Plays

Randall Balmer and Jeff Scholes, eds. - Religion and Sport in North America

Theology of play books:

Robert Johnston - The Christian at Play

Jurgen Moltmann - Theology of Play

Brian Edgar - The God who Plays

Johan Huizinga - Homo Ludens (technically not a theologian, but most theologians of sport/play build off this work)

Sports and theology books:

Robert Ellis - The Games People Play (love this one, but it’s dense)

Lincoln Harvey - A Brief Theology of Sport

Marcia Mount Shoop - Touchdowns for Jesus

Matt Hoven et. al - On the 8th Day (love this one too)

Erik Dailey - The Fit Shall Inherit the Earth

You should come to our conference at Baylor later this month! Several panels on theology of sports, with leading and emerging scholars in the field

truettseminary.baylor.edu/programs-cen...

I got my start as a scholar by presenting research at the American Society of Church History conference.

And I found out today that next year's conference is going to have a panel / roundtable discussion devoted to my book.

Full circle moment. Grateful for the journey.

YouTube video by Holy Post Media The SkyePod - Paul Putz

For your weekend listening.

We talked all about the deep blending of sports and Christianity in American life—where it came from, how it happened, what it means

youtu.be/JOWHamhDQ8Q?...

‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ Continues Its Steady Beat - Christianity Today Written as a hymn for Black middle schoolers, the song’s celebration of resilient faith still resonates.

This year marks the 125th anniversary of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a hymn of hope for Black Americans:

“Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us / Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us”

www.christianitytoday.com/2023/02/lift...

Thanks Johnny. Your work on John Wooden has been helpful!

The Religious Roots of Hoosier Hysteria - Christianity Today Indiana’s storied basketball tradition was built on equality and faith—but only for some.

I'm writing a book about basketball and Christianity, and one of the stories I've been trying to understand is how the sport takes hold of Indiana. How does it became a central part of the state's cultural identity?

I put together some ideas in this piece:
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/06/reli...

This is youth sports at its best!

The Religious Roots of Hoosier Hysteria - Christianity Today Indiana’s storied basketball tradition was built on equality and faith—but only for some.

In 49 states it’s just basketball.

What makes Indiana different?

I wrote about the state’s unique relationship with the sport, a history that goes back more than 100 years—and, like the origins of basketball itself, is closely intertwined with Christianity
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/06/reli...

The Religious Roots of Hoosier Hysteria - Christianity Today Indiana’s storied basketball tradition was built on equality and faith—but only for some.

In 49 states it’s just basketball.

What makes Indiana different?

I wrote about the state’s unique relationship with the sport, a history that goes back more than 100 years—and, like the origins of basketball itself, is closely intertwined with Christianity
www.christianitytoday.com/2025/06/reli...

Shoutout to all the journalists covering college sports and the athletics communications/social media people who finally got to unload their House settlement material from the drafts folder tonight

Father's Day gift idea for dads who are into sports, history, and Christianity

First batch of summer reading is in. Basketball, American history, and Ecclesiastes—doesn’t get much better than that 📚

What’s on your list? What should I be adding?

Amazing. I loved Luke's first book, and I absolutely cannot wait for this one!

Got my copy of @artremillard.bsky.social’s excellent and fascinating new book. Add this one to your summer reading lists!

My blurb: “a sweeping, must-read history of the many ways Americans have ascribed sacred meaning to sports.”

Really enjoyed that book.

I think Richard Ian Campbell is writing a bio of LaVell Edwards that will get into his (and BYU’s) influence on the modern passing game.

There’s definitely something to your idea. Going bigger and doing “heretical” football thinkers as a whole would be interesting too.

Whatever, man

This Pacers team is just relentless. So fun to watch.

Not sure how they can match OKC’s talent, but I’m all in on Indiana.

I’d read that!

New review of my book in Practical Theology.

Deeply grateful for this assessment from Nick Watson, who has been a key voice in the field shaping my own work on sports and Christianity:

I didn’t watch the Pacers much until this series. But I’m really loving Ty Haliburton’s unorthodox style and the team’s movement and depth.

Plus there’s the whole Midwest thing.

Give me a spot on the Indiana bandwagon (until next year when they play the Celtics)