This weekend, much of the world around me was encapsulated in an Easter frenzy. My social media feeds filled with easter baskets, dyed eggs, and solid chocolate Easter bunnies as some celebrated Jesus’ rising. But, not being Christian, this was not emotionally or spiritually relevant to me. Instead, my older sister, Emma, and I dove into a conversation about religion. Or perhaps Candy Crush? 

I received a text from Emma saying, “I think Candy Crush is my religion.” For context, we are avid Candy Crush players. We have a team set up to earn more power ups, we strategize and help each other clear levels, share lives with one another, and much more. Currently, I’m stuck on “Nightmarishly Hard Level” 1,919. Emma is on level 1,462 and my step-mom, Sarah, is well into the 2,000 levels.

Photo of Candy Crush level 1,919 by Candy Crush Mom.

Simply, we are dedicated. We have invested time and careful thought (shamefully, money too) into this game. We play pretty much every day. So, is it our religion? Can Candy Crush be a religion? 

Defining religion is one of the most difficult concepts within religious studies. It seems simple, but in actuality, what and how we define religion can cause serious problems and further the exclusive colonized view of religion.

For example, some may argue that Native American traditions aren’t religiously motivated. They are practiced on a minuscule level compared to Christianity or Islam and don’t often involve a set place of worship, such as a temple or church. But, they’re practiced on a small scale because Native people were notoriously wiped out. Those left were not allowed to practice their beliefs and were often forced to conform to the white colonized definition of religion – mostly Christianity.

Colonizers arrived and decided Native traditions didn’t qualify as a religion because it didn’t fit their understanding. Centuries later, we can and MUST recognize that this was wrong. Humans shouldn’t change religious traditions to match their own. And to do so is to further the oppression of many minority groups. This leaves us with an important question – how do we define religion, and should we define religion? 

Largely, people recognize religion as a devotion to a higher power, perhaps a god or gods. Often, there is an element of ritual, symbols, sacred text and core beliefs. But that doesn’t fit all religions.

For example, some Jewish people define themselves as Jewish, but they do not believe in God. Their religion becomes focused around their community and specific rituals, but that’s not to say it is no longer religion. 

Could following sports be religious? Football fans often dedicate their Sundays for the game. They have distinct symbols (mascots), follow rules (wearing ‘lucky jerseys’) and specific foods they eat when enjoying a game. Many avid football fans have friends over to watch games, where they share their thoughts and beliefs about their respective teams and perhaps the sport as a whole.

These actions align well with what we typically view as religious, but can we say following football is a religion? How would that reflect onto other religious practices and institutions? 

Photo of a Super Bowl Sunday meal by the Today Show.

The same argument stands for Candy Crush. The game has importance in my life, I devote more time than most to clearing levels and improving my strategy. I usually play around the same time, in between classes and while traveling on the L, and I play before bed to make sure I regenerate lives while I’m sleeping.

But calling Candy Crush religious adds value to it, while possibly devaluing other things and religious practices in our lives. The game changes from what is probably just an addiction, to something much more important.

Ultimately, I don’t have the answers. My sister may view Candy Crush as her religion, but I’m not yet willing to define it as mine.

We can shape things in our lives to become religious, or they may unintentionally happen, but in doing so we have to consider the effects it may have. Are we devaluing other institutions? Are we furthering oppression in our definitions? As humans, especially those living in a religiously rich community, we need to be careful how we define religious aspects of our lives and understand how they correlate with institutions already in place.