Essay about Leisure During the Classical Period - 531 Words

Regarding leisure and sport during the Classical period, it is important to comment on the Olympic Games. Although this event has morphed since its inception in 776 B.C. it is still known throughout the world today. The first Olympic Games were held in the Greek city of Olympia, ninety miles west of Athens. The games were originally a religious ceremony to honor the Greek god, Zeus. Boxing, wrestling, and sprinting were just some of the events that were included in the early years of the Olympics. The games continued for over a thousand years before an empire turning towards Christianity abolished them. This new government rejected the ‘pagan origins’ of the games. It wasn’t until the end of the nineteenth century when Pierre de†¦show more content†¦However, the key component of this new religious movement was that God chose who would be saved with the belief that individuals were on earth to glorify and work for God. The phrase ‘Protestant Ethi c’ was coined in 1904 by sociologist Max Weber and describes how followers emphasized hard work and diligence as a way to constantly demonstrate their salvation to God (â€Å"Max Weber†). The Greek view of a balanced approach to work and leisure was gone. As Cross (1990) explains, ‘the old comforts of community leisure were but a snare in dragging the individual believer down from his isolated path of following Christ’ (p. 26). Cross (1990) further illustrates that ‘leisure was feared both as a lure to sin and a threat to godliness’ (p.27). Although the Bible recognized the Sabbath, it was the Puritans that shaped it for generations to come. Regarding holidays, the Puritans only regarded the Sabbath as being biblical. The other holidays were ‘invented by men for pleasure’ (Cross, 1990, p.29). The Sabbath represented a major shift in the work week and allowed for a day of rest for its followers, even though it was to seriously worship God. The Puritans gained momentum and used their power to control leisure and recreation during the Sabbath. Even after the breakdown of the Protestant movement, the effects of regulating the Sabbath continue. In the United States,Show MoreRelatedUnderstanding The Role Leisure Has Played in Our Life Essay1565 Words   |  7 Pagesunderstand how leisure plays an important role in our daily lives today, we should have a complete understanding of how leisure has impacted our lives historically. Just as important would be the role that geo-political events and technology have pla yed throughout history and its effects on leisure. Western civilization uses Aristotle definition of what leisure is â€Å"a state of being in which activity is performed for its own sake or as its own end† (Grazia pg.13). The concept of leisure was first formedRead MoreUnderstanding Contemporary Leisure Essay649 Words   |  3 Pagesmovements in America defined leisure as we know it today. 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