Guys, this is not a poll about the religion you follow. In fact, as it would turn out, it has got absolutely nothing to do with your respective religious beliefs.
As a preface to this post, I would suggest you read this blog from a Chelsea ‘fan’ (if there is any such thing): The Chelsea Fan’s Blog
Mr. Barney in the post talks about religions and Liverpool FC and tries to establish that both are bad by trying to correlate LFC with anecdotes from religions. In the process he throws down many theological terms; most of which are beyond me, honestly!
The article talks about how religions (like LFC) are obsessed with being big; about rituals like singing; how religious followers (and LFC) are obsessed with speaking the same things; about how religions (and LFC) are obsessed with history; how religions (or LFC) are obsessed with their Saints (or heroes like Shankly); and about how they are also obsessed about the ‘way of doing things’.
Now I don’t find much wrong with any of the above. What I do understand is that both Liverpool FC and some religions of the world are not portrayed in the right spirit. Distasteful is the term that comes to mind. I am open to suggestions.
(If you haven’t yet read the article, please do.. give the guy the webclicks he desires)
Anyway, this brings us to the point. What’s wrong with religions? And what’s the big deal about? Answer is nothing. Without getting into a slanging match, I can simply summarize that the author has neither been a fan nor a religious person.
I am not an atheist. I am not a very religious person either. What’s my definition of religion? Well, I think every religion would make you believe that there are happy times ahead, would set some guiding principles for conducting yourselves and would have some examples like Saints to look upto. They also have prayers and other rituals which is just a language to strengthen your belief. Also, all religions would have a ‘history’ else they would just be classified as a cult.
I get all of the above from LFC. I have heroes to look upto, I have songs to sing, I always believe that there would be happier times ahead, howsoever happy we already are, and the language we speak is, well you can call it ‘football’.
Now, what’s wrong with any of those things you made out to be so criminal? Big? Who doesn’t want to be big? Any club, any religion, any organization, any person in his career, anyone as a human? Won’t you like a bigger TV?
Singing? Don’t you ever sing a song you like? A prayer at times? Didn’t you ever sing? Don’t you like songs at all? If you tell us that no other chant comes as close to YNWA, you’re damn right buddy. Full marks to you on that. But you didn’t need to bother about it. We know!! Do we compromise individuality? Oh hell yeah! The last I checked, football was never about individuals. More on your understanding about football later.
History? I don’t know what to say. It’s a course in school for crying out loud mate. Others being Science, Language etc.. I’m sure you could have done well with a little bit of help in all. To be honest, Chelsea has a history too pal, 100+ years (surely you didn’t know). Just that you only want to talk about it from 2005 onwards.
And heroes.. well.. I think by this time you’ve already lost it mate. It’s good to have heroes. Hence, the name ‘hero’ and not ‘villain’. Like I said, a little bit of Language course would have helped.
Begs the question, what’s wrong with terming LFC as a religion? If the above is true, LFC is my religion and I’m a devotee man. I’m not just a ‘follower’, I’m a really devout devotee.
Apart from the intention of your article and the distasteful references, I agree. LFC is a religion.
Which brings us to the point about you? Who do you support and as a what? Since there is obviously no singing, no common language, no history, no heroes, why do you even support what you support? You make everyone believe that what they always knew. You are definitely not a follower, not even a supporter. You, and people like you, are ‘patrons’. What you do every weekend is walk into an entertainment house, watch a couple of hours of some guys kicking a ball and get out of there. Obviously, you’d not talk about the game next day because that’d be ‘history’. Obviously, you’d not shout or egg your players on. You’d never sing or get into any sort of rhythm. Wait, you sure you’ve not been watching movies instead of going to ball-games Mr Barney? Ever seen a huge movie with an ensemble cast? Get the drift? Feeling closer home?
One final thought.. LFC supporters/ followers/ devotees only have/had their issues with Fernando Torres. Not Chelsea. Chelsea Football Club is just a competitor in the League for us. We don’t have historic rivalries and this is probably the first time that the game has some significance over and above the usual interest level of a football game. We have our strong rivalries, not-so-strong rivalries, historic rivalries, newly-founded rivalries etc. etc. If you guys don’t, pick someone else. We’re occupied!