Maradona’s church by Juliana Ortiz

Many people around the world have heard about Diego Maradona, and how he became one of the best soccer players in the world in the story. From that idea was born Maradona’s church. It was created on October 30th, 1998, by the fans and people that believed in his way of playing soccer. They oversaw its creation. The religion started in a city called Rosario, where a few fans oversaw the establishment and decreeing of the basis of this new “religion”. It's been spreading and starting to be worshiped in many countries like Spain, Italy, Germany, Afghanistan, and especially American countries like Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, and the United States, among many others. Analyzing the way this religion was created and what the beliefs are based on, is this something that could be considered a real religion?

In my opinion, this is a ridiculous way to express the passion and the way Maradona's fans like and adore the way he plays. I recognize him as one of the best soccer players in Argentina, and the story of soccer around the world is enough reason to adore him like a real God. I recognize that he worked hard to become the soccer player that he was, but I can’t believe this justifies calling him God. If we analyze the way religion is based and the way it is established in society, it is illogical how the founders created this cult. The first commandment is “The ball is not stained, as D10S said in his tribute” This is illogical because a ball is on the same level as a divine object. No, it is only a piece of rubber and, in the best cases, covered with leather, not a sacred object with an important history or maybe a divine meaning, analyzing the number five, “Spread Diego's miracles throughout the universe,” really a miracle! It is not a miracle that winning a game, scoring a goal, or winning a cup is not a miracle. It is a recompense for working and training harder than the whole team. Not only was Maradona's “miracle” something that was 100% impossible, and whoever knows why it became true, like someone with a disease to the point of death survives and is cured, or something at that level of impossibility. As if it weren't illogical enough, number two, “Loving football above all things”, please think, soccer is more important than our family mates, or maybe our health, the economy of the family, parents work, enough food, and I can continue with a long list of vital priorities beyond a game.

In conclusion, it is an irrational way to think and prioritize things, objects, and ideas that are not vitally important, not to mention what an offense it is to the various cultures around the world and how they govern their parishioners.