Soccer: The World's #1 Religion

  http://soccerisreligion.weebly.com/

Soccer is a sport few people know the power of.  When I say a few people, I mean America.  Soccer has transcended itself as just being a sport and has evolved into a tool of power, an influence of politics, a catalyst for emotion, and a point of pride.  Don’t believe me?

Soccer can topple governments and send nations to war (El Salvador and Honduras, in 1969). The quest for the World Cup, soccer's grail, can humiliate the powerful and make the wretched and ragged of the Earth feel like world-beaters.  It almost always makes England weep.  In remote areas of Africa, entire villages will turn out to watch the games on a battered television powered by a generator. Where there is no television, they will listen on the radio.  In the great cities and small towns of Italy, there is no need to watch the game to know when the Azzurri have scored. The horns and great explosions of cheers from every neighborhood announce the news. (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-06-04/news/0606040375_1_world-cup-soccer-top-two-teams)

Everywhere around the world soccer is known as much more than a sport; it’s a way of life.  Now I know what you’re thinking: you probably don’t think it’s that serious right?  How can a whole bunch of “grass fairies” kicking a ball around have so much power and influence in the world? 

Soccer is no longer just a sport but a religion. To be specific, it is a civil religion. According to author Jordi Xifra, the term "civil religion" refers to a religion that demonstrates both the moral and spiritual values of a community or modern society. It is meant to uphold the political and social culture of a people. It involves myths, symbols of popular devotion, and public rituals. In light of this, civil religion stresses identity amongst a people… (http://soccerisreligion.weebly.com/)

Soccer’s influence in the world has remained true since its start and continues to be a lifestyle and a set of belief systems as well as a great form of entertainment, opportunity to bond, and a tool for solidarity.  While other sports have their fans, soccer has its disciples.  While other sports have “special treatment” into how they were incorporated into society, soccer did the same thing through sheer determination and will.  While other sports seemingly dominate in terms of physical strength and fortitude, soccer sees the most sports injuries in a year and that’s without any bodily protection other than shin guards.  All silliness aside, soccer has become something that football or basketball or even baseball hasn’t able to replicate yet: it has become a nation’s symbol.  The nationalism behind each soccer team can be physically felt on the field, in the stands, and even through the television.  So in a way, soccer has definitely become a religion.  A religion has avid followers, a place of worship, a set of beliefs, morals, and rules, significant influential power both on the local level as well as the global level, and it has other religions that contest its very core.  Soccer has all of these attributes.