The SkyePod - Paul Putz (June 20, 2025)

Host: Skye Jethani
Guest: Paul Emery Putz, Director of the Faith and Sports Institute at Baylor University's George W. Truitt Theological Seminary
Book Discussed: The Spirit of the American Christianity and Big Time Sports

1. Introduction

In this episode of The SkyePod, host Skye Jethani engages in a comprehensive discussion with Paul Emery Putz, a distinguished scholar from Baylor University. Putz explores the intricate relationship between American Christianity and big-time sports, a subject that challenges the common perception of their seamless coexistence. Their conversation delves into the historical evolution of this relationship, emphasizing pivotal eras and influential movements that have shaped the current landscape.

2. Paul Putz’s Background and Motivation for Writing the Book (00:00 - 02:14)

Paul Putz begins by sharing his personal journey, rooted in a conservative Christian upbringing in Nebraska. As a pastor's child, he recounts the restrictive environment his family maintained, such as not celebrating Christmas due to its pagan origins ([02:14]). Despite these constraints, sports emerged as a sanctuary where his Christian identity could flourish. Through basketball, he found community and mentorship, particularly within the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which affirmed his dual identity as an athlete and a Christian ([02:20]).

Quote:
"Sports was the one area within this sort of guarded Christian home that I could engage in the world with." ([02:07] Paul Putz)

3. The 1920s: A Pivotal Decade for Sports and American Christianity (04:59 - 08:17)

Putz identifies the 1920s as a transformative period when sports surged to national prominence, becoming a cultural obsession akin to religion. This era, often dubbed the "golden age of sports," saw figures like Babe Ruth and the rise of mass media platforms such as radio and newspapers solidify sports' place in American life ([06:35]). Concurrently, Protestantism faced a cultural crisis, grappling with modernist fundamentalism, youth culture revolutions, and societal shifts like prohibition ([07:20]). Putz emphasizes that while broader American culture was moving away from overt Christian influence, sports became a beacon for Christians to maintain their cultural and moral presence ([08:17]).

Quote:
"Sports take off as a national obsession to the point that people call it a religion." ([07:05] Paul Putz)

4. Muscular Christianity and the Integration of Sports (05:00 - 07:17)

The conversation transitions to the concept of Muscular Christianity—a movement from the late 19th and early 20th centuries that advocated for the integration of physical vigor with spiritual well-being ([05:04] Caitlin Schess). This ideology promoted a holistic view of humanity, intertwining mind, body, and soul, and positioned physical activity as a means to advance Christian virtues. The YMCA exemplifies Muscular Christianity, with figures like James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, embodying this synthesis.

Quote:
"Muscular Christianity emphasizes the importance of physical activity in sports." ([05:04] Putz)

5. Masculinity, Protestantism, and Sports Culture (10:05 - 13:45)

Putz and Jethani delve into the nexus of masculinity, Protestantism, and sports, highlighting how sports became a vessel for expressing a rugged, virtuous masculinity. Figures like Amos Alonzo Stagg exemplify this ideal—a blend of athletic prowess and moral integrity ([11:27] Caitlin Schess). This form of masculinity drew parallels with iconic American figures like Teddy Roosevelt, advocating strength coupled with ethical behavior. The movement addressed the perceived loss of Protestant influence by offering men a heroic and disciplined outlet through sports ([12:03] Paul Putz).

Quote:
"For muscular Christians, there's a sense that the Protestant church is losing its grip on the nation, and sports offer a platform to engage young men with heroic and disciplined values." ([12:15] Caitlin Schess)

6. The Rise of Football in the American South and Cultural Identity (14:29 - 25:39)

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the Southern United States and the embedding of football into its cultural identity. Putz explains how post-Civil War sentiments, amplified by media portrayals like the 1915 film Birth of a Nation, fueled a desire among white Southern Protestants to reclaim honor and regional pride through football ([21:31] Caitlin Schess). Football became a symbolic arena where the South could assert its identity, mirroring historical conflicts and reinforcing narratives tied to the Lost Cause. The sport's commercialization and association with national institutions further solidified its role as a cultural staple in the South ([25:39] Paul Putz).

Quote:
"Football becomes a way for Southern schools to assert an identity and claim a place in modern America while maintaining a sense of regional pride connected to historical narratives." ([23:19] Putz)

7. The Cold War Era and the Evolution of Christian Sports Engagement (25:39 - 29:02)

Transitioning to the mid-20th century, Putz discusses the impact of the Cold War on the intersection of Christianity and sports. The emergence of organizations like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in the 1950s is highlighted as a response to the ideological battle against communism. Sports became a platform to promote American values and counteract the perceived threat of communist influence on youth and culture ([26:33] Paul Putz). This period marked a shift from the mainline Protestant elite's involvement in sports to a more evangelical and fundamentalist engagement, aligning sports with nationalistic and anti-communist sentiments ([29:02] Caitlin Schess).

Quote:
"The Cold War brought these pieces together because we have to fight back against communism, and one way to do that is by capitalizing on sports as a platform for promoting American values." ([28:54] Paul Putz)

8. Conclusion

Paul Putz's exploration reveals the deep-seated connections between American Christianity and big-time sports, tracing their symbiotic relationship through pivotal historical moments. From the foundational Muscular Christianity to the cultural assertions of the Southern football tradition and the Cold War's ideological battles, sports have served as a powerful medium for expressing and reinforcing Christian values and American identity.

Notable Quotes:

• "Sports was the one area within this sort of guarded Christian home that I could engage in the world with." — Paul Putz ([02:07])
• "Sports take off as a national obsession to the point that people call it a religion." — Paul Putz ([07:05])
• "Football becomes a way for Southern schools to assert an identity and claim a place in modern America while maintaining a sense of regional pride connected to historical narratives." — Paul Putz ([23:19])
• "The Cold War brought these pieces together because we have to fight back against communism, and one way to do that is by capitalizing on sports as a platform for promoting American values." — Paul Putz ([28:54])

This episode offers a thorough examination of how sports and Christianity have interwoven to shape American cultural and moral landscapes. For those intrigued by the historical dynamics between faith and athletics, Paul Putz's insights provide a nuanced understanding of this enduring relationship.