CHRTC 220 Final

Dimension of a Christian Anthropology

1. Humans are created in God’s image and likeness

2. Humans are relational and creative

3. Humans are restless and filled with yearning

4. Humans are embodied and corporeal realties

5. humans are limited, dependent, and endowed with innate dignity

6. Humans are created male and female

7. Humans exist to recive and respond to God

8. humans are created good but susceptible to the allure of sin.

Why does theological anthropology matter in sport?

It recognizes that there is a creator and ultimate reality recognized in God. Instead of participating in sport to honour God, it becomes the idol of worship itself. Sport, like humans can be innately good, yet susceptible to sin and corruption.

Paschal Mystery

The central concept in Christianity which involves Christ’s passion, death, resurrection, and ascension. Signifies the ultimate saving work of Jesus. When countered with God’s transcendent love, suffering can perpetuate the experience of new, transformed life.

5 Components of Jesus’s Paschal cycle

1. Good Friday: death on the cross

2. easter Sunday: reception of new life

3. Forty days: a time for adjustment to the new and the grieving of the old

4. Ascension: refusal to cling to the old

5. Pentecost: new spirit for the new life one has recovered.

The Virtuous Life

Arete has the general meaning of excellence. It refers to the striving for excellence in sport and can be translated as virtue. Virtues incline people to act in one way or another, in ways that are excellent or praiseworthy. Sport can affect participants for both good and ill.

Sport as a stage for moral activity

Historically, some assume the best about sport and modern ideals of character development support this notion of sport cultivating moral character; however, some research suggests sport can actually undermine character and moral development.

Virtue-Ethics

An approach that focuses on dispositions that benefit individuals, freeing them from destructive or disordered habits. Every choice is seen as a free act independent of the last choice made (the ability to choose between different possibilities).

Cardinal virtues

justice, temperance, fortitude, and prudence. (others are faith, hope, and love). They should shape how we participate in sport. striving for excellence through respect for opponents and sportsmanship in the true spirit of competition.

Sport examples of faith

Cinderella teams reflect the belief of underdog teams overcoming doubt in their chances for victory. Also confidence is literaly a translation of faith or full trust.

Sin ans sport

Sport can reveal the human bent toward violence, even sadism, and urges that control them. We see selfishness and how sport can bring out the worst in people. Ergogenic aids and cheating can also spawn from the sinful side of sport.