Sport proves our inherent need to worship

We were on a family holiday in Newcastle years ago, and this of course meant we had to visit St James’ Park. We didn’t manage to watch a match or do the stadium tour, but upon visiting the club shop, we came across some thought-provoking memorabilia in the form of a t-shirt which featured the phrase, ‘Newcastle United is my religion. St James’ Park is my church'.

Now, you could tell by looking at my dad, who is a church minister, that he had already come up with a sermon illustration for his return to the pulpit. And who could blame him, as this sentiment reveals more about our human condition than the designers of the t-shirt could possibly have imagined.

This story focuses on Newcastle United, but the sentiment expressed on the t-shirt would be common at most football and other sports stadia up and down the country.