Muscular Christianity Christian ideology Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Muscular-Christianity Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Muscular-Christianity Written by Roland Martin Roland Martin is a freelance writer living in San Francisco. Roland Martin Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Aug 29, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Muscular Christianity, ideology that promotes engagement in athletics as an expression of Christian ethical values and masculinity. Muscular Christianity first developed in England during the 19th century as a method to build Christian character integrity in boys. The philosophy was first espoused by writer and clergyman Charles Kingsley and jurist and novelist Thomas Hughes. Muscular Christianity later caught on in the United States, where figures such as Theodore Roosevelt became its most outspoken proponents. Historians understand Muscular Christianity in part as a masculine reaction to Victorian-era societal changes such as the increased presence of women in public and political spaces ...(100 of 1425 words)

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