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Article
In defense of religion-sport separation in coaching
Journal of the Philosophy of Sport (JPS)
  • Lou Matz, University of the Pacific
Document Type
Article
Department
Philosophy
DOI
10.1080/00948705.2023.2176860
Publication Date
2-15-2023
Abstract

Can a coach rightfully integrate a religious orientation in their coaching in a public institution? In its recent Kennedy v Bremerton School District (2022) decision, the U.S. Supreme Court defended the educational value of players’ exposure to diverse expressive activities as a part of learning how to live in a pluralistic society. I contend that religion-sport separation is the most philosophically defensible position, based primarily on the problems with supernatural theism in religions like Christianity. Nonetheless, there is a form of religion-sport integration that is theoretically possible within my critique of theism which could strengthen the inner morality of sport. I describe the two necessary conditions of this potential religion-sport integration but conclude that the problems with defining the ‘religious’ might ultimately strengthen my defense of religion-sport separation.

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Published version of the article can be viewed on the journal website here: https://doi.org/10.1080/00948705.2023.2176860

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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
Citation Information
Lou Matz. "In defense of religion-sport separation in coaching" Journal of the Philosophy of Sport (JPS) Vol. 50 Iss. 1 (2023) p. 100 - 115 ISSN: 0094-8705
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/lou-matz/36/