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What do football, iPhone and Harry Potter have in common? At first glance, nothing, but if you think about it - each has a colossal army of loyal fans who devote a lot of time to their favorite thing, know everything or almost everything about even the smallest details, and, most importantly, are ready to die on this hill for their beliefs.

In other words, the same characteristics that religion had for the vast majority of mankind just a couple of hundred years ago. Remember the Crusades, religious wars and other "charms" of the Middle Ages? Yes, now religious fanaticism has significantly decreased, but worship of new idols has definitely taken its place.

This was also noticed by the topic starter of one of the threads in the AskReddit community, who just a few days ago asked the question: "What is not a religion, but people treat it with the same attention?" And so, as of today, the thread already has over 34.8K upvotes and around 27.7K different and sometimes extremely pathetic comments.

Bored Panda made a list for you that includes the most interesting and popular elements of the original thread. Sports and brands, music legends and internet traditions - all that make people worship them so devotedly. So feel free to scroll to the very end (literally everything is interesting there!), mark what you definitely agree with and, of course, don't forget to write your point of view straight in the comments!

More info: Reddit

#1

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) elon musk. he’s annoying, he’s not saving the world so please shut up about what a selfless person he is. he exploits his workers. stop being annoying fanboys. don’t worship billionaires

p0rkch0ps , JD Lasica Report

#2

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) The way Americans talk about their constitution is very reminiscent of religion.

They worship it, but they haven't read it in a long time. Maybe never.

They insist that you should respect it, even if you're not a member of the cult.

They tend to assume that a justification for every opinion they have is in there somewhere.

They treat the men who wrote it as if they're prophets.

They can become sullen, withdrawn, or even hostile when you say it's wrong and requires serious alteration.

Bizarre_Protuberance , fdecomite Report

#5

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Antivaxism

Few-Author-4971 , Presidencia de la República Mexicana Report

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Tammilee Truitt
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Problem in States is when ANYTHING is made mandatory people flip out and think somehow their freedoms are being threatened.

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#7

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Mommy groups. Started getting completely out of hand when my kids were teenagers. I'm a crunchy mom, I'm this kind of mom, or that kind of mom. Those people get rabid. How DARE YOU listen to advice given to you from a doctor about your individual child, MY group thinks "THIS". Heresy! Blasphemy! We will CRUCIFY you!

They used to helpful, now they are f*****g cults.

SubstantialPressure3 , English106 Report

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keighterz
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I learned very quickly not to ask other moms for advice, especially on the internet. Go to the experts, folks.

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#8

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Scientology

CatJudgement , isghoul Report

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Jaguarundi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Germany considers it to be a scam, I can only hope that the US can follow that lead soon.

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#10

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Workaholism / hustle culture.

trashpanda44224422 , Brent Ozar Report

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And i was like WTF!!
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find this so... weird. I mean, it is cool that you work like 60 hours a week and so your boss can say bravo, but i want to work as much as i am payed, do my 8 hours a day and go and spend time with my wife, kids, friends or just by myself

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#13

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Gender ideology (aka the pseudoscience surrounding transgenderism). I say this as a trans person. If you do not follow a woke belief system to the very letter you are treated like an apostate. The left used to be very areligious but it is all spiritual gender woo woo stuff now.

Manaxium , Mack Male Report

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InvincibleRodent
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

See, the use of the word "woke" is what concerns me in this one. Their gender identity notwithstanding, cis or trans, anyone who refers to someone as "woke" in order to dismiss them, I can't trust to comment on the issue they're talking about.

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#14

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Disney. Especially when you go down to Florida.

Alpha_Solid , Michael Rehfeldt Report

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keighterz
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Disney adults are weird and you cannot convince me otherwise. I have my fandoms, yes, but I'm not making a yearly trip to a special theme park like it's Mecca.

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#15

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Brands in general.

People praising Adidas, Apple, Hugo Boss, etc.

Spaceman_Beard , adifansnet Report

#16

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Politics

CrunchM , Jack Report

#17

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Fraternities and Sororities. Down to the recruitment/shunning culture

abhiwan_kenobi , Mike Report

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The Idaho Potato
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They also can't even pronounce Greek the right way. "GGGGGAMMA", "BETA", "PHYYYYY", "DDDDELTA" (γβφδ). I may be exaggerating but still.

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#18

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Crypto

avellinoblvd , QuoteInspector.com Report

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censorshipsucks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No dude, crypto is as scammy and religiony as the stockmarket. Sure, some people are obsessed with it, yep. But so are stockbrokers.

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#19

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) astrology zodiac signs

dohrn1i , morebyless Report

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censorshipsucks
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

let's see. Unscientific. Check. Magic. Check. Unfalsifiable. Check. Irrational beliefs, check. PS why are there jiggleballs there?

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#21

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) College football

ham_wallet998 , aaronisnotcool Report

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Bouche Clay
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it's Alabama's state college that has an adorable pug for a mascot. I don't like football, but I love dogs.

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#22

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Homoeopathy

dangerus_dave , Dr Tricky Report

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Esme Weatherwax
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also a potentially dangerous religion when the believer relies on it instead of science based medicine

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#25

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Football! Biggest sport in the world, stadiums are genuinely awe-inspiring and the atmosphere created during a game is crazy.

(Edit) Okay okay... guys, I do mean FOOTBALL as that's what the vast majority of the world calls it but to allow other cultures to understand... yes, "soccer" is the biggest sport in the world.

SurvivingWow , pbkwee Report

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Bouche Clay
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What I don't understand is why, when someone grabbed the ball and ran, the people who turned it into a new sport chose "FOOTball." Was it just that it came from football/soccer? Why didn't they call it handsball or something like that?

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#26

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Crossfit

LettuceGreedy9345 , Big Titan Report

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Victoria Pitt
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the only thing that came to mind. But I think it's ok if it's treated that way, you get a community and you stay fit. Win win.

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#27

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) iPhones, Tesla, Marvel

CleonII , Windell Oskay Report

#28

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) The idea of a nation.

CompetitiveSherbert7 , LEGOFIIR Report

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Luke Branwen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nationalism, aka. the idea that you're superior because you were randomly born inside a certain set of nonexistent lines on the map.

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#29

Hot take: owning dogs

EDIT: owning specific breeds of dogs

baby_yoda_is_thick Report

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Becky Samuel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The very concept of "pure-breed" dogs is a genetic disaster waiting to happen. As soon as you restrict the genetic diversity in this way, the extinction of the breed becomes inevitable. As much as people don't want to hear it, this is scientific fact. Don't even get me started on the ethics of deliberately breeding deformed animals that suffer throughout their lives in search of an aesthetic. And now we've moved on to doing the same thing to other species, like cats, rats, mice and guinea pigs. Even reptiles aren't immune to the greed and selfishness of the humans who breed them for "pretty colors".

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#30

“What Is Not A Religion, But People Treat It With The Same Attention?” (30 Answers) Harry Potter

StirlingBridge1297 , Elen Nivrae Report

Note: this post originally had 35 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.