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Introduction and Growth of Muscular Christianity in America

The Catholic Church always focused on spirit over body. They didn’t emphasize athletics in the beginning or more specifically on physical training. However, Puritans for example didn’t oppose sports just the actions that accompanied them, like gambling or drinking. Most catholics were more concerned about sports becoming a distraction of ones faith. But once, what catholics refer to as, “The Crisis of Masculinity”, became an ongoing theory in the Catholic Church, physical strength was strongly encouraged. Catholics felt that they needed to prove their manhood because the church was becoming “weak”. Little boys were being raised and taught by catholic women which many believed was making them too feminine. They were taught to be gentlemen so they, “could button up their collars but not roll up their sleeves”. Many wondered if there were to be a societal crisis, would these catholic men be able to protect them. This then changed what a Catholic man should be because members of the church felt that with the changing society, masculinity needed to be restored. Theodore Roosevelt believed that, “There is only a very circumscribed sphere of usefulness for the timid good man”. Followers of muscular christianity ultimately found that the only solution to this was to connect faith to the physicality of the body.

The idea of muscular christianity first started in England because of industrialization and urbanization. Catholics were worried about the decrease in manliness among their followers. Muscular Christianity then became a cultural trend. It was not started by any specific person, just supported by churches and catholic figures, which spread to other congregations. It was believed that physical training builds stamina necessary to perform service for others and that physical strength leads to moral strength and good character. Catholics felt that athletics can be a good outlet for burning off steam rather than doing a less moral outlet. Sports also helped recruit new members into the church. Churches then began forming their own sports teams and had the facilities for them in or next to the churches. This is how the YMCA (Young Mens Christian Association) began in 1844 in London but they didn’t yet have the sports facilities until 1869 in New York City’s YMCA. These associations became very popular and YMCA’s were popping up everywhere. In 1894, also in London boxing rings were being built above churches. The addition of these boxing rings drew in so many more followers, not only to box but to listen to services as well. It became a way for catholic men to get out any anger or frustration in a more acceptable way.

The spread of Muscular Christianity lead to many changes within the Catholic Church. The services were held to cater more toward men and the ministers had to be of a certain “manly” stature. Ministers who looked like this were thought to draw in more men like them. Protestant ministers in England and America still argued that men were not truly Christians unless they were Muscular Christians. But, Muscular Christianity did later decline in some Protestant churches but it never disappeared from the American landscape.