Baseball Theology, a Home Run with Students

Published: April 13, 2021

Few theology classes begin with a shout out to play ball, but for Ben Wayman, assistant professor of religion at Greenville College, there may be no better way to commence Interterm studies.

Wayman, creator of the game Theology Baseball and an Interterm course of the same name, uses the competitive structure of Americas favorite pastime to convey the essential teachings of Christianity.

Last month, he umped a seven-game series between the Orthodoxy Dodgers and the St. James Padres as they battled for bragging rights and the title Sultans of the Saints.

Pitchers fired questions at opposing batters, who either hit with a correct response, or missed. Students drew from material presented in class to design their questions, and also from Zondervans Theologian Trading Cards, which follow the concise format of All-American baseball cards.

Wayman also tasked students with designing team shirts. The Padres earned top accolades from design judge, local artist Ryan Young, while the Dodgers won the card game series (featured: the winning design prototype for the St. James Padres).

From little league games to major league play, competitive baseball opens the door for questionable calls and heated exchanges.

I was very pleased with how the students engaged the game, reflects Wayman, who urged them early on to try out an unusual perspective on competition inspired by C. S. Lewis:

There are no ordinary people, wrote Lewis in The Weight of Glory. You have never talked to a mere mortal . . . it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit.

In short, it is immortals with whom we compete and collaborate on the playing field.

The experiences of this years players can benefit next years rookies. At the conclusion of their recent series, members of the Padres and Dodgers shared these valuable tips.

• Pitch perfect -Writing great questions takes practice. If youre a pitcher, expect to improve as play progresses.
• Delivery can make or break A successful pitch consists of more than a great question, especially when multiple-choice options must be provided. I had to watch my pronunciations and tone of voice when asking questions, because I didnt want to give the answer away, said freshman Jessica Ulrich.
• Just lucky Good fortune, unearned, is a reality even in Theology Baseball. Ulrich also advises future rookies to remember that pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). You never know when the tables will turn against you, or for you!
• Remember the fundamentals If you arent batting well, step up your visits to the theologian playing cards, says Padres MVP Kinzer Havill. Theology isnt easy, but steady study brings rewards. The class material was phenomenal, and the atmosphere was like nothing I had ever experienced before, reflected Havill. I learned more in three weeks than I ever thought was possible.
• Constant companions Students agree that thorough familiarity with the theologian cards gives players an edge study, study, study. Even looking at cards during the game helped Charity Prinzings team: We had a better chance of knowing the questions we were going to be asked.
• Dont underestimate inspiration Before the last game, the Padres general manager, Miguel Fabela, delivered a pep talk to boost morale and encourage studying. While the impact of the talk cant be measured, the Padres recall scoring five runs in that game to the Dodgers one.
• Bullpen assist Teammates hailed Dodgers MVP Cassidy Awalt not only for her thorough preparation and consistent hitting, but also for her support of Dodger pitchers by slipping them questions she authored on the side.

In some ballgames, three innings may seem too few to produce the needed runs, and for some subjects like the theology of Christian doctrine, a mere three weeks may seem insufficient to grasp the subject matter.

There was so much to unpack, reflects Dodgers GM Anais Diaz, so many ideas to process and so much information to be delivered; Dr. Wayman handled it beautifully.

Ulrich adds, It was a very welcoming and scholarly atmosphere every morning, which helped in every area of learning.

It would appear that theology and baseball are not such an odd mix after all.

(featured: a snapshot of Wayman with his Interterm class)