The Protestant Church and Recreation--An Example of Social Change

Abstract

RECREATION has become one of major activities of our modern culture. Increased leisure which machine has given us, combined with our changing patterns of life, has resulted in accentuation of man's play. a very real sense recreation has forged to front as one of compelling interests in human life.' Steiner2 estimated that people of United States spent $10,165,857,000 annually in recreational pursuits during prosperous years prior to last depression. Weinberger asserts that from 1909 to 1935 there has been a gradual and steady increase in proportion of national income spent for recreation. Of national income in 1909 only 3.8 percent went for recreation, 4.89 percent in 1919, 7.71 percent in 1929, 7.38 percent in 1933, and 8.12 percent in 1935.3 has become so much a component part of our organized social system that training courses for recreation leaders are at present offered by over 400 educational institutions.4 The President's Research Committee on Social Trends concluded that the movement by American public toward more adequate recreational facilities is one of significant social trends of recent times.5 Only within last few decades have recreation and play been accepted as integral parts of our social system, available to nearly all. In 19th century sports and amusements were primarily for privileged few and were seldom enjoyed by rank and file of people except on holidays and special occasions.6 Two main factors have been closely associated with this significant social change, viz., increased amount of leisure as a result of technological advances, and changing attitude of church toward play. This paper will emphasize latter and will include a presentation of modification of attitude of church, as a social institution, toward recreation. Pangburn's definition of recreation is used as basis for this study: Recreation is leisure activity engaged in for its own sake. It includes outdoor and indoor games and sports, swimming, camping, hiking, nature games, dancing, picnics, drama, singing, playing instruments, parties, arts and crafts, travel, discussions and many other activities.7 Our social structure is constantly changing. It is dynamic not static. Particularly during last century changes have been made in patterns of group behavior. Further social changes are inevitable. Our social institutions have been in a constant state of flux in their relative control over man. A hundred years ago family and church were nearly all-powerful. Today state and industry have gained in hegemony an potency. The church of last century stressed spiritual life. The church of modern era advocates social as well as spiritual values. And with this change in social institution of church a preponderance of recreation and play facilities has come forth. Thus, here is a significant social change of last few decades-the adoption of recreation in religious program. Since play and recreation are so much a part of our present social behavior pattern, it seems advisable for more research and study to be done in this field. The sociologist is becoming deeply interested because he recognizes that most recreational pursuits are group affairs. Man seldom plays alone. Thus many social phenomena arise. The field of recreation is one of least explored social areas, and undoubtedly it provides ample opportunities for sociological research. It is interesting to note number of academic degrees in sociology awarded in 1939, in part for research on recreational problems. Of total of 58 doctor's degrees granted, 3 of theses were centered on recreational problems. Of 177 1 J. F. Steiner, Americans at Play (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1933), p. ix. 2Ibid., p. 183. Julius Weinberger, Economic Aspects of Harvard Business Review, XV: 459 (1937). 4L. F. Hanmer, Encyclopedia of Social Sciences, XIII, p. 179. 5Recent Social Trends in United States (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., 1933), p. 912. 6 J. F. Steiner, op. cit., p. 10. 7 W. W. Pangburn, Recreation, A Major Community Problem (New York: National Association, 1936), p. 5.