Christianity, Sport and Disability: A Case Study of the Role of Long-Distance Running in the Life of a Father and his Son who is Congenitally Blind and has Profound Intellectual Disabilities

Watson, Nick J and Parker, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6842-3067 (2014) Christianity, Sport and Disability: A Case Study of the Role of Long-Distance Running in the Life of a Father and his Son who is Congenitally Blind and has Profound Intellectual Disabilities. In: Sport, Religion and Disability. Routledge, London, pp. 217-234. ISBN 978-0415714150

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Abstract

The aim of this qualitative case study was to explore the role of sport (longdistance running) in the lives of a father and his son who is congenitally blind and has profound intellectual disabilities. Drawing on the works of Jean Vanier, Stanley Hauerwas, Henri Nouwen and John Hull, the major themes explored are relational and religious trust, suffering, sacrificial love, embodiment and blindness. A series of one-to-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with the father (and mother) concerned and the resultant transcripts analysed using thematic content analysis. Locating the lived experiences of the interview respondents at the centre of the analysis, findings demonstrate that sport is an invaluable means of physical, psychological and spiritual development which has the potential to act as a "counter-narrative" and "prophetic incarnational message" to the commercialized world of sport.

Item Type:	Book Section
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	father-son relationship, intellectual disabilities and blindness, long-distance running, prophetic incarnational message
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV557 Sports H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Health, Life Sciences, Sport and Wellbeing
Depositing User:	Anne Pengelly
Date Deposited:	22 Jun 2015 14:18
Last Modified:	12 Mar 2025 11:15
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/2405

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