ABSTRACT
Sport and religion, whilst possessing disparate philosophical foundations, appear to share a similar structure. Modern athletes acknowledge their respective gods in victory, and the invocation of a higher power on the playing field signals their respect for divine intervention in athletic outcomes. Over recent decades, researchers have become interested in identifying the mechanisms whereby collective social identities are formed through sporting practices. This informed research differs considerably from the rather simplistic and often theoretically barren populist notion that argues sport's suitability for 'character-building'. If sport is an ideological practice, then it provides a lens through which one may determine the mechanisms by which citizens are socialised into their particular community. Religious communities employ a range of cultural practices that assist them in the maintenance and reproduction of their faith and identity, and physical and other recreational activities have been incorporated into this process. This chapter presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book.
