Finally, Jackie Robinson’s Faith Is Getting the Attention It Deserves

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Over at Christianity Today I reviewed two new books that analyze Jackie Robinson's faith. You can read the intro below, and, if so inclined, check out the rest of my review here.

There is a God-shaped hole in the heart of 42, the 2013 film that depicts the inspiring story of Jackie Robinson. Observers noticed it at the time, pointing out that the film mostly ignored the role that faith played in Robinson’s life and in Branch Rickey’s decision to sign him to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. And the film is not the only account of Robinson’s life that downplays religion. While Rickey’s stalwart Methodist convictions have been widely recognized, most biographies of Robinson provide limited attention to his own faith.  

Not so in Michael G. Long’s and Chris Lamb’s Jackie Robinson: A Spiritual Biography (Westminster John Knox Press) and Ed Henry’s 42 Faith: The Rest of the Jackie Robinson Story (Thomas Nelson). Published earlier this year, both books claim to offer a thorough look at the religious dimensions of Robinson’s life.