The Most Infamous Religion

Is soccer only one more of the many sports practiced around the world or does its popularity go beyond the realm of the other not so widely acclaimed sports?
As a young child, I grew up going to church, must I clarify: Catholic Church. Yes, I admit that the people attending the church were overflowing with faith, most of the time that is. Yet, at the opposite side of the spectrum Sunday was not only the day to attend holy mass, but the sacred day of soccer matches. Whether on television, radio or at the field, soccer was never to be missed on a Sunday. Everyone had a team for which the will went so far as to betting one’s life for the game. The same way one was immersed into believing that an eternal joy was to follow an earthly existence if one only managed to follow the teachings of church. Old traditions die hard, but some harder than others. I have realized that soccer has a far stronger grip on humanity than Christianity. After all, people do switch religions when they find that another belief system fits them better than the one they previously were devoted to. But soccer, soccer is forever.
The preceding claim is supported by the multiple evidence that can be collected. FIFA’s president can take the role of the Pope while FIFA itself acts as the ruling body for soccer around the world as the Vatican does for Catholicism. The President of the each National Soccer Association functions as the Cardinal of each country serves to the Catholic faith. And one can move down through soccer hierarchy as well as church’s hierarchy, but that would make for a weak argument. In other terms, however, this will be easier to grasp as a possibility.
In a simple scenario, aliens are observing humans from cyber space and they are trying to understand what is that we hold on to as a higher unit. Their answer will be found in a soccer match. Let us take this image step by step. First, there are thousands of people ready to watch a soccer match, a world cup final, close and personal at the Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, commonly called Estádio do Maracanã located in Brazil, which once was the largest stadium in the world. What do aliens see? They observe a group of priests fighting a battle which will lead them to acquire the favor of those watching the game. Plus, the aliens have access to the satellites that send the signal to each house in which everyone who could not be at the stadium is also watching the game. Soccer attracts everyone. The young, the old, women and men whereas religion can only get a hold of those that have lost hope because while young they did not do much to help themselves as well as those young ones who do not yet know any better.
When time comes around for a world cup, every one wants to know how their national team is doing. Dare I say it, even those who preach that soccer is not worth their time as a sport or those who simply advocate alienation from sports in general. This so strange an event boast an audience twice that of the Summer Olympic games. The world cup carries a power that even the four most powerful religions in the world do not posses as an ability to command billions of their non-followers at their maximal event even if it happens only every four years.
There is a reason to believe that Soccer’s Ten Commandments, which can be derived from the rules of the game –otherwise known as soccer’s bible–, are more widely respected than those of religion. I’ll let you be the judge of them:
Thou shall not love any other sport but soccer.
Thou shall not make wrongful use of the name of soccer.
Thou shall remember the finals of all tournaments and keep them holy.
Thou shall honor your team: national & league.
Thou shall not score against.
Thou shall not switch teams.
Thou shall not prevent another team mate from scoring.
Thou shall not deny the team when it loses.
Thou shall not covet thoughts in favor of other teams.
Thou shall not covet your neighbor’s team.

Remember that to those watching from outer space, soccer is much, much more than a simple sport.


xoxo,
Poison Drops


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