Muscular Christianity
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Hearty or strong- minded Christianity, which braces a man to fight the battle of life bravely and manfully. The term was applied to the teachings of Charles Kmgsley — somewhat to his annoy- ance.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Muscular Christianity” mean?
Hearty or strong- minded Christianity, which braces a man to fight the battle of life bravely and manfully. The term was applied to the teachings of Charles Kmgsley — somewhat to his annoy- ance.
Is “Muscular Christianity” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.