I'm not Religious, I 'm a Whovian: The Line between Pop Culture and Religion

When considering the definition of a religion, beliefs, values, rituals, community, identity, purpose, etc., it is easy to get caught up in the minutiae of how each religion follows and fulfills each guideline. In reality, rituals, symbols, traditions, and identity are not solely for religions and religious groups. Pop culture displays many of these religious attributes in the myth behind the first basketball game, the traditions of award ceremonies for the elite celebrities, the identity in which avid Dr. Who fans call themselves "Whovians", and the need to find purpose and solace in oneself through owning the next line of designer jeans. Whether one considers pop culture a religion or not, it is undeniable that it operates in a similar way to mainline religious groups the world over.