Some big news in my world: I’ll be joining the faculty at Truett Seminary as assistant professor of Christianity and Sports and as holder of the Riley Chair in Sports Ministry and Chaplaincy.
I'll continue to direct FSI as well. Super grateful 🙏
More here: truettseminary.baylor.edu/news/story/2...
In my book I wrote about Jackie Robinson and his place at the intersection of sports and Christianity.
Here’s one of those sections:
Oh man this is too good! I need to play in that gym.
What happens when you cross @paulputz.bsky.social and Banksy
Shared some thoughts on this book project and what’s next here:
open.substack.com/pub/paulputz...
Truly incredible mail day.
If you’re the kind of person who gets excited about both of these books, we should be friends.
Full draft of “Jesus and James Naismith” is complete!
It tells the story of the deep relationship between basketball and Christianity, from Naismith and the origins of the game up to the present.
More work ahead, but I can’t wait to get this out in the world with @eerdmansbooks.bsky.social
I wrote about Jesse Jackson's influence at the intersection of sports and Christianity
open.substack.com/pub/paulputz...
I wrote about Jesse Jackson's influence at the intersection of sports and Christianity
open.substack.com/pub/paulputz...
Me: I study the history of sports and Christianity. I’ve seen it all. Nothing would surprise.
Mississippi Baptist Pastor: Hold my grape juice.
(Full story here: mississippitoday.org/2026/02/13/t...)
Me: I study the history of sports and Christianity. I’ve seen it all. Nothing would surprise.
Mississippi Baptist Pastor: Hold my grape juice.
(Full story here: mississippitoday.org/2026/02/13/t...)
We know that James Naismith created basketball out of his desire to "win men for the master through the gym."
But did you also know that Black churches and Christian leaders shaped the early history of the game in key ways?
My @christianitytoday.com piece:
www.christianitytoday.com/2022/02/nba-...
Love seeing my friend Hunter Hampton's new book on football get some attention!
Check out @johnfea1.bsky.social's review. And check out the book if you're into the study of religion and sports.
www.christianitytoday.com/2026/01/book...
"Historiographically sophisticated, eminently readable, and narratively sound, The Spirit of the Game breaks new ground in the study of religion and sports in America."
Grateful to @readingreligion.bsky.social for this generous review of my book!
Read here: readingreligion.org/978019009106...
my report today on what Twin Cities churches are trying to do in this moment: www.christianitytoday.com/2026/01/ice-...
Coming this year, two new books that dive into the rise of sports gambling.
I’ll be reading these for sure. To fight back and resist the domination of sports gambling in our current moment, we need to understand how we got here.
Thanks so much for your generous words about my book! Was truly an honor.
Something I never would have expected: a conference panel devoted to my book.
Grateful for the careful engagement and thoughtful comments from these great scholars!
Thanks David!
Something I never would have expected: a conference panel devoted to my book.
Grateful for the careful engagement and thoughtful comments from these great scholars!
Ha! He should! Only a brief mention, but you will understand the history that made figures like him pop up all over the sports world in recent decades.
2025 was my first full year with a book out in the world.
My main takeaway: it is an incredibly rewarding thing to have careful readers who engage thoughtfully with your work.
Here’s a roundup of some of the reviews. Grateful for them all!
Happy release day to my friend Hunter Hampton!
After hearing him talk through the ideas behind this project for years, it’s so cool to see it out in the world. Lots of great material, with chapters on Notre Dame, BYU, Wheaton, Baylor, Wiley, and Liberty.
Weekend reading!
Religion, hoops, and history, there’s a very good chance I’m going to enjoy this.
Three of my favorite things combined in one interview: sports, Christianity, and the process of historical research.
Check it out here: fromthevault.wheaton.edu/2025/12/12/i...
Three of my favorite things combined in one interview: sports, Christianity, and the process of historical research.
Check it out here: fromthevault.wheaton.edu/2025/12/12/i...
I've got a book coming out in February on Dr. J, Moses Malone and the 1983 76ers. Preorder through the publisher and we'll send you free custom-made basketball cards of Dr. J and Moses. www.hachettebookgroup.com/grand-centra...
Who else is going to Boston this weekend for AAR/SBL?
Hit me up if you'll be around and want to connect. And if you're free Saturday, check out our "new books in sports and religion" panel.
Special moment for me this week. Got to celebrate receiving the Guittard Book Award at Baylor:
history.artsandsciences.baylor.edu/news/story/2...
When I started the book project, our two youngest weren’t even born yet.
Grateful for the incredible support my family has given me along the way!