Influence of the Reformation
2-18 Martin Luthur
The Reformation was a religiousmovement of the 1500s that resulted in the establishment of a number of Protestant sects whose leaders broke away from Roman Catholicism5.Bearing a different character from Renaissance and Humanism，the Reformation did not stress improvements inmodern art or science，but rather improvements in politics and the Church.In part it represented the influence of the growing m idd le classes6，who allied with the nobility in the emerging nations of Europe to challenge the power of the church.Nevertheless，both Humanism and the Reformation struggled against Middle Ages scholasticism，and both appreciated the value of human beings.
The English Puritans7 waged a constantbattle to limit or condemn sport and other forms of entertainment during the period from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century.Maintaining strict observation of the Sabbath was a particular issue.Anglican8 clergy during the Elizabethan period9 bitterly attacked stage plays，church festival gatherings，dancing，gambling，bowling，and other“devilish pastimes”such as hawking and hunting，holding fairs and markets，and reading“lascivious and wanton books.”
James I10，however，recognized that the prohibition of harmless amusements such as dancing，archery，and the decorating of maypoles caused public anger.In 1618 he issued a Declaration on Law ful Sports11，in which he asked，“When shall the common people have leave to exercise，ifnot upon the Sundayes and holy days，seeing theymust apply their labor and win their living in all working days？”James stressed the military value of sport and the danger of an increase in drinking and other vices as substitute activities if sportwere denied to people.
Contrary to a recurring narrative in the writing of the history of sport，Christians prior to the Reformation did not have an unremittingly negative attitude toward the body.On the contrary they emphasized the goodness of the material world as it had been created by God and that the body was constitutive of human personhood.They also emphasized the unity of the human person，body and soulor body，soul and spirit.These emphases were related to the emergence of a religious culture in which the body was integrally involved in religious practices.Having an accurate understanding of mainstream Christian attitudes toward thematerialworld and the body in these periods provides，with the beginnings of an explanation for how play and sport could have been incorporated into the religious culture so easily.
This heritage has relevance for Christian theologians today.Christian theologians are justified in paying attention to sport in our time，not only because they are trying to be relevant in a world in which sport is so popular，but because Christians see the world in a particular way.
From a Christian perspective，the material world is good and the body is constitutive of human person hood.If the person is a unity of body，soul and spirit，then thismeans when persons are engaging in bodily activities such as sport，they are also being impacted in their mind（their understanding of themselves and themeaning of life，etc.）and spirit（their capacity for relationship with the Holy Spirit）.Sports are indeed a form of gymnastics of body and spirit.
The requirement for amovement that began with necessary life activities gave way to an individually qualified race to reach“the best and themost virtuous”with the Greeks.Just as physical education pertained to chivalry in the Middle Ages，during which body care and physical education were rejected，so too the idea of physical education was renewed in the 15th and 16th centuries with the Renaissance，meaning“rebirth”.Highly important philosophers lived and worked during the humanist period，which is accepted as a“transitional period”in the history of mankind.All of these philosophers proposed the requirement of body building for developing the soul and the idealman based on a completely humanistic education；for this reason，they recommended body exercises and outdoor games for the young.The Humanists who understood the importance of the antic era of gymnasium and emphasized the place of physical education as well as scientific knowledge in general education set up convenient training centers.
Notes：
1 Dark Ages
The“Dark Ages”is a historical periodization traditionally referring to the Middle Ages，that asserts that a demographic，cultural，and economic deterioration occurred in Western Europe following the decline of the Roman Empire.The term employs traditional light-versus-darkness imagery to contrast the era's“darkness”with earlier and later periods of“light”.
2 High Middle Age
The High Middle Ages，or High Medieval Period，was the period of European history that commenced around 1000 and lasted until around 1250.The High Middle Ageswere preceded by the Early Middle Ages and were followed by the Late Middle Ages，which ended around 1500.
3 François Rabelais
François Rabelais（between 1483 and 1494—1553）was a French Renaissance writer，physician，Renaissance humanist，monk and Greek scholar.He has historically been regarded as awriter of fantasy，satire，the grotesque，bawdy jokes and songs.
4 Vittorino da Feltre
Vittorino da Feltrewas an Italian humanist and teacher.He was born in Feltre，Belluno，Republic of Venice and died in Mantua.His real name was Vittorino Rambaldoni.It was in Vittorino that the Renaissance idea of the completeman，or l'uomo universale—health of body，strength of character，wealth ofmind—reached its first formulation.
5 Roman Catholicism
Roman Catholicism，Christian church that has been the decisive spiritual force in the history of Western civilization.Along with Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism，it is one of the three major branches of Christianity.
6 middle class
The term has had various，even contradictory，meanings.In medieval European feudal society，a“middle class”composed primarily of peasantswho formed a new“bourgeoisie”based on the success of their mercantile ventures，eventually overthrew the rulingmonarchists of their society and ultimately led to the rise of capitalist societies.
7 English Puritan
The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries，who sought to purify the Church of England of Roman Catholic practices，maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and needed to become more protestant.Puritanism played a significant role in English history，especially during the Protectorate.
8 Anglican
A Protestant who is a follower of Anglicanism Anglican Church，Anglican Communion，Church of England—the national church of England and all other churches in other countries that share its beliefs.
9 Elizabethan period
The Elizabethan era is the epoch in the Tudor period of the history of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history.The symbol of Britannia was first used in 1572，and often thereafter，to mark the Elizabethan age as a renaissance that inspired national pride through classical ideals，international expansion，and naval triumph over Spain.
10 James Ⅰ
James Ⅰ，（born June 19，1566，Edinburgh Castle，Edinburgh，Scotland—died March 27，1625，Theobalds，Hertfordshire，England），king of Scotland（as JamesⅥ）from 1567 to 1625 and first Stuart king of England from 1603 to 1625，who styled himself“king of Great Britain.”
2-19 Declaration on Lawful Sports
11 Declaration on Lawful Sports（The Book of Sports）
The Declaration of Sports was a declaration of James I of England issued just for Lancashire in 1617，nationally in 1618，and reissued by Charles I in 1633.It listed the sports and recreations that were permitted on Sundays and other holy days.
Practice for the unit
A.Blank filling
1.During the Middle Age，the vastmajority of people in Europe followed the_____________________religion under the authority of the_____________________________________.
2.The views on body&soul of the Catholic church was：___________________________________________________________________________________________.
3.Most Medieval sportswere geared towards increasing the__________________of participants.
4.Tenniswas considered an elite Medieval sport perhaps because____________________________________________________________________.
5.According to Edward II，“football”was only a_________________________________________________for his soldiers.
6._____________________marked a transition between the medieval world and the modern age.
7.__________must be the picture in middle age，while_____________________could be the one during the Renaissance.
8.The Reformation was a_________________________________________and an improvement in_____________________________________________________.
9.___________________________________listed the sports and recreations that were permitted on Sundays and other holy days.
10.Both Humanism and the Reformation appreciated_____________________________________________.
B.Short-answer questions
1.List the different characteristics between the folk and royal leisure in Middle Age.
2.How the Renaissance play a significant role in educational issues？
3.The different natures of the Renaissance and the Reformation？
C.Critical thinking
1.By studying the case that the kings are opposing football or such sport，can you conclude the ideas on sport of the upper class？
2.Please conclude the core role that the Reformation played of affecting sport.