It may seem odd, to equate religion with sport entertainment. Nevertheless, it must be
understood that, prior to mass communications, religious ceremonies were a source of
entertainment, for ordinary people who rarely attended a theater, or travelled to a sporting
event. Sports and religion may get categorised separately, but their intersection is difficult
to miss. Psychologists are closing in, on the conclusion that, sport has many of the same
effects on spectators, as religion does. The similarities between sport fandom, and organised
religion are striking. Consider the vocabulary associated with both: faith, devotion, worship,
ritual, dedication, sacrifice, commitment, spirit, prayer, suffering, festival, and
celebration. But the greatest irreconcilable discrepancy is that, while religious feeling is
soul-nourishing, fandom is spiritually enslaving. The current trend of fandom, abetted by
gambling related to football betting, has become an 'electronic cocaine', which numbs
people's responsibility, in their pursuance of naturally available avenues for HAPPINESS.
Reverentially REAP your deep desire to DIMINISH DEVOTION.