Muscular Christianity & The YMCA

I found very interesting the role that Christianity played in the development of athletics. Christians affirmed that humans consist of three elements—mind, body & spirit. Therefore, these elements have to be maintained in balance. Consequently, exercise and fitness were ways to recruit young people. Muscular Christianity was a Christian Outreach in the 19th century. 

I think that the role of Muscular Christianity is still very important in modern times. People still try to find that balance between body and soul. They put their kids in sports so they can learn how to be a good team player. I do believe that sports can teach some values, but there are other values that sports can taint such as honesty. Therefore, it's important to know that not all good values come from sports. I think that even though athletes are more dishonest than the average people, sports can also teach people many important life lessons -- to learn that sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but you got to persevere to obtain your goals. 

"The ideals of muscular Christianity entered America, and especially American schools, during the Civil War era. At that time recreation and athletics were becoming a fixture in a public education system driven by the ideals of such evangelical reformers as Lyman Beecher and his family. At the nexus of muscular Christianity and college education stood the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA)". 

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2003/aug15.html?start=1

Drawings of the first international between England and Scotland in 1872 show some of the virtues of the burgeoning British style (photo: Wikipedia)