The Only Religion Analysis

Cecil Rajendra, a lawyer-poet, was born in Penang and spent his childhood age in Tanjung Tokong. He started formal education at St. Xavier Institution and continue to University of Singapore before doing Law at Lincoln’s Inn. He was the first recipient of the Malaysian Lifetime Humanitarian Award and nominated for Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005. Cecil first published his poetry while still studying Law in London in 1965. He wrote about the spiritual, cultural and material values of Asian society. He also criticized is the issues related to industrial development. His poems constantly carried the theme of social relevance. In his poem “The Only Religion”, Rajendra expresses his clear attitude towards football. Football is loved by almost everybody all over the world. It is a global phenomenon. It is one of the most important sports that form a united foundation, supported by everybody almost anywhere. This poem however, does not rhyme but quite allegorical.

In the first stanza, the writer describes football as a single event that is able to gather supporters from everywhere. Hordes of

Football is like religion because there is also forgiveness and rules to ensure non-violence. When a player hit other player, he is given opportunity to be a better player by issuance of warning or yellow card. Those who commit greater sin or mistake, they will be issued sterner action or red card. Forgiveness is always available but punishment must also be given. Only then players will realize his mistake and play better in the next game. This concept of forgiveness and punishment is also exists in the Bible. The writer explains that in football, there are rules and there are sacred rituals to be observed. Football takes over the place of Almighty God. Players who break the law, or in this poem the writer labels them as “sinners”, deserve corrective action, sent off and punished for their