What does this research mean for the field?

Rather than sport serving as a substitute for declining religion, both institutions are similarly imperiled by profound cultural changes driven by consumerist and materialist ideologies. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONTRADICTORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.CHALLENGES_CONSENSUS.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the relationship between religion and sport amid modern cultural shifts and evaluate whether sport functions as a viable substitute for declining religious institutions.

August 22, 2026Catholic education/Catholic education (Dayton, Ohio. Online)Open Access

Sport is the New Religion? Speculations in a Time of Profound Cultural Change

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Authors

RRRichard M. RymarzThe University of Notre Dame Australia

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Implication

Narrative analysis reveals sports cannot substitute for declining religious traditions amid rising consumerism, indicating both institutions face shared cultural threats.

Key Points

To examine the relationship between religion and sport amid modern cultural shifts and evaluate whether sport functions as a viable substitute for declining religious institutions.
Conducted a narrative conceptual analysis drawing on classical sociological theories of religion and modern cultural critiques.
Evaluated drivers of religious decline, including diminished ritual practice, secular competition, and consumerist ideologies.
Sport functions as an inadequate, transitory alternative rather than a true societal replacement for declining religious systems.
Both religion and sport face parallel threats and destabilization driven by pervasive materialist and consumerist cultural pressures.

Cite This Study

Richard M. Rymarz (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a895fd3ca7ade938187ec96 https://doi.org/10.15365/joce.2902012026

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Implication

Narrative analysis reveals sports cannot substitute for declining religious traditions amid rising consumerism, indicating both institutions face shared cultural threats.

Sport is the New Religion? Speculations in a Time of Profound Cultural Change

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Sport is the New Religion? Speculations in a Time of Profound Cultural Change

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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