Star Footballers Say It Is a Religion

Brazilian star Pelé, who was voted the greatest footballer of all time, says, “Football is like a religion to me. I worship the ball and treat it like a god” (“Football the universal Religion?” BBC, Jul. 13, 2018). Diego Maradona, voted fifth greatest, agrees. “Football isn’t a game, nor a sport; it’s a religion.” Scottish footballer and manager Bill Shankly says, “Some people think football’s a matter of life and death. I can assure them it is much more serious than that.” Psychology Today observes that “as religious attendance rates have dropped off in recent decades, interest in sport spectatorship has soared” (“Is Sport a Religion,” Psychology Today, Nov. 11, 2009). BBC recently said, “Football ought to be rechristened ‘the holy game.’” God’s Word says, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 John 5:21).

(Friday Church News Notes, July s20, 2018, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)

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