Getting “Physical” with the Victorians (Part 2): What Was “Muscular Christianity”?

You can’t talk about physical culture during the Victorian Era without discussing “Muscular Christianity.” I describe how this movement developed in the mid-19th century, ways in which it was practiced within and outside the UK, and how it intersected with phenomena that are still with us today, such as nationalism, imperialism, and eugenics. ***** References Graham, Alex. “Friedrich Ludwig Jahn & German Nationalism.” https://counter-currents.com/2017/11/friedrich-ludwig-jahn-and-german-nationalism/ Heffernan, Conor. “Indian Clubs in Victorian Britain.” https://physicalculturestudy.com/2022/01/19/indian-clubs-in-victorian-britain/ Hughes, Thomas. Tom Brown’s Schooldays. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1480/1480-h/1480-h.htm#link2HCH0018 Morse, Greg. “The Search for Manly Men of God.” https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-search-for-manly-men-of-god Movement Health. “What is the Physical Culture Movement?” https://www.movementhealth.com.au/news/physical-culture-movement/ Perelman, Michael, and Vincent Portillo. “The Brutal Legacy of the Muscular Christian Movement.” https://www.counterpunch.org/2013/08/09/the-brutal-legacy-of-the-muscular-christian-movement/ Stark, James. “Fitness gurus and ‘muscular Christianity’: how Victorian Britain anticipated today’s keep fit craze.” https://theconversation.com/fitness-gurus-and-muscular-christianity-how-victorian-britain-anticipated-todays-keep-fit-craze-129522 Wikipedia “Charles Kingsley.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kingsley “Charles Spurgeon.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Spurgeon “Christian Socialism.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_socialism “Friedrich Ludwig Jahn.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Ludwig_Jahn “Luther Burbank.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Burbank “Tom Brown’s Schooldays.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Brown's_School_Days ***** I am honored to have been included in the most recent episode of Sandman Stories Presents! Check it out here (and catch a few past episodes while you’re there!): https://open.spotify.com/episode/3zZ11HW0tV1RwWjdEHM5hJ?si=vtId5NQvTzu98CvudrHqPg&dd=1 ***** Email: [email protected] Twitter: twitter.com/victorianvarie1 Mastodon: @[email protected] Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/marisadf13 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thevictorianvarietyshow I’d greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to rate & review this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Goodpods, Spotify, Podchaser, Audible, or wherever you listen, as that will help this podcast reach more listeners!