By some estimates there are more than 10,000 different religions in the world today. Could yoga be one of them? Countless books and DVDs espouse the spiritual benefits of yoga practice, and there are certainly some enthusiasts who find it to be a religious experience. Others though, insist that yoga is no more a religion than jogging. What does yoga truly represent?
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Is Yoga a Religion?
Mirroring of religion
I don't practice yoga myself, but I know a few people who do and they are agnostics/atheists and have nothing to do with religion what so ever. They do it because it relaxes them.
Recently yoga was forbidden for muslims in Malaysia, because they say it is a religious expression.
I think religious people mirror their own religiousness on everything else that people think or do. They say evolution is a religion, atheism is a religion, some even say pot is a competitor of religion. This is all because they can't believe other people can do or think certain things for no religious reason at all, especially when they think it could drive them away from the religion they obey. They want to kill it before it could eventually "harm" their own religion, even when there's no single shred of evidence that it will.
Now they found their next victim: yoga. Probably it makes religious people think that it's a competitor to their way of praying.
- genejunkie February 11, 2009 2:22PM
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Words taken hostage
What's happened is the "big-label religions" - and just a few in particular - have attempted and largely succeeded in taking the word " religion " hostage to their own understanding and usage of it. Of course, their control over the concept and word is rather weak in that all one really has to do is refuse to accept their very narrow and simplistic usage of the word and begin to define and use it as you see fit in your own individual life. One ought not be quick to distance oneself from a word simply because what one believes and practices doesn't fit how others define "religion". I would contend that you in fact have a religion but only if you define the word in ways the "big-label religions" are likely to reject.
So be it. Language is merely a tool. If you are able to use language, you are free to use it in whatever manner you choose provided others understand what you mean in doing so. Their agreement isn't necessary, only their understanding. No one owns the word "religion" exclusively nor can they.
The concept "religion" is too valuable to outright reject as a tool in understanding one's own experiences and life. Because others wish to strangle the word into submission to their own small minds doesn't mean you have to do the same. I personally feel the concepts and words I use to label them must grow as I grow. This is why my definition of "religion" has grown far beyond its common meaning to one that fits the places I need and wish to go, and I'm not alone in doing this.
The word "religion" is not the exclusive property of the "big label religions". It belongs to and can be defined and used by anyone who wishes it.
- Naumadd
September 3, 2009 9:06PM
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You hijack everybody yourself
I don't know what exactly you're responding to when you say I do have a religion , the atheism or yoga part, but as I said I'm not into yoga myself I assume it's about my atheism. But either way I disagree with you.
Is not believing in gnomes or Zeus a belief or even a belief system or comparable to a religion? I don't think so. Just like not collecting stamps is not a hobby either. Atheism is not a religion and atheists are not religious just for being atheist.
When you juggle with the meaning of words and extend the meaning of the word religion to your own liking by saying language is merely a tool, you can claim that it doesn't matter what you say, because you're always right and we only disagree about the meaning of a word. By doing so you're hijacking everybody as being religious yourself. "A cage is not just the area limited by bars, but the whole world is a cage". Words do have a particular meaning. A hammer is not a screwdriver nor a peanut. Therefor the lack of belief in a higher spirit, worshiping and devotion (to some spiritual leader) can't be a belief or religion.
If you say I am religious in one way or the other, maybe you should explain yourself some more were I should search for my religion then. I'm getting curious! Not that I am, but just as an example, being (extremely) devoted to something, like a job or a football team is not yet being religious.
- genejunkie September 6, 2009 4:23PM
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