The Other Religion

I've spent enough time jabbing at the Catholic church and other denominations. For the record I have no problem with a belief in god or some higher power. I do believe in the existence of many supernatural forces including possibly a god or aliens or some scientist who has created this galaxy as a computer simulation or a petri dish. I'm really not 100% on the exact form and details. But I do believe in the concept. Not totally sold on the "oh worship me and do as all those old, white uptight people say or you'll have me to deal with" angle, but I get the value of the overall idea of human decency and social order and I do my "just in case prayers" occasionally like the rest of us (please, just this one time and I promise I'll never -fill in the blank - again).

I also believe there are some natural forces that people decide are super and then they form an organized group around that. To take that one step further there are also things people want so badly that they will "pray" to a higher power for it or they will worship certain aspects of a coveted thing and will even form weekly rituals around them. We all know where this is headed, right? Though the sacred other religion I infer is rarely looked at with much of a critical eye by one of its own I will just come out and say it...Buckeye Football.

If you aren't sure if I should be calling this a religion check some eerie similarities...

* Weekly gathering of worship. check.
* Ceremonial garb. check.
* Chants, songs, incantations. check.
* The breaking of bread along with alcohol served in test tubes, mixed with gatorade or straight up out of a scarlet and gray can. check.
* Worship of godlike individual(s). Tentative, changing and fair weather at times but think Woody, Spielman, Eddie, Tressel, Beanie...check.
* Lack of awareness and/or acceptance of other similar worshippers who hold different gods sacred. check.
* Lack of compassion or understanding when others nearby fail to worship with as much fervor as is expected, fail to don the appropriate ceremonial garb or generally aren't as devoted. check.
* Elevated priority of worship beyond what would be considered common sense. check.
* Punishment for worshipping other gods. check.
*Mindset that losses are somehow deserved and due to fate and that if we just cheer/yell louder next time it will have some influence over the outcome. check.

I love this time of year. The smell of fall, the leaves, woodburning fireplaces, grills. The sounds of the season, especially Carmen Ohio. I dig the excitement of football...but I just can't bring myself to worship on fall Saturdays anymore than I can hit a church on Sundays. Now let the games begin. And please forgive me...