Discussions
Is Yoga a Religion?
Posted by Solaris2008 • 3/07/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: religion, yoga
Some Westerners who are practicing Christians or Jews are concerned about Yoga being an Eastern religion. They fear that by taking up the practice of Yoga, they might undermine their own religious faith. Are their fears warranted? Is Yoga a religion?
User Comments
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Let me begin with the extremist position of Christian fundamentalism, which regards Yoga as a dangerous import from the East that should under all circumstances be shunned. Often Yoga is lumped together with New Age teachings, which are seen as a threat to the Christian establishment.
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I say that Christianity is a dangerous import from the Mideast, that is a threat to human Reason
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I've never heard of Jews being concerned about Yoga, and everything I find online says that Jews and Jewish leaders of all streams embrace yoga and meditation.
Where have you found Jews being concerned about this? -
NO YOGA IS NOT -
In America Yoga is stretching of the body and nothing else.-
That's a ludicrous generalization.You have no idea what you're talking about.
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Fundamentalist Christians are morons. What's your point?
*Disclaimer: So are most other fundamentalist or extremist religious whackjobs.-
exactly!
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Perhaps they should do some research instead of having a knee-jerk, negative reaction, then. [rolls eyes] -
Wow. Stretching, relaxing, and essentially turning off your mind for short periods of time are going to undermine Christianity? I should take up yoga. -
Religion is something what you believe ! -
Yoga is different for different people, as it has physical, mental, and spiritual aspects. For some people it's largely physical. For others it's largely mental. For others it's largely spiritual. For most it's combination of at least two of those elements.
Of course, "spiritual" means a lot of different things for different people.
Many people of various religions practice yoga and say that it strengthens their own faith. Yes, there are those for whom yoga is very much tied in with Hindu beliefs, which is where fundamentalists get concerned. However, there is also such a thing as Christian yoga. And there are lots of atheists and agnostics (like myself) who practice yoga.
So, ultimately, what yoga is depends on how one chooses to practice it.-
cosign...
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No,Yoga is not a religion.But it is against the teachings of the religion.-
Yoga is against the teachings of what religion, exactly?
There's a lot of supersition and what I can only refer to as 'mumbo jumbo' that surrounds yoga. Yoga itself, is not a religion.
Speaking as a yogi who is studying to become a yoga teacher... I can only say if you've done some form of stretching or 'warm up' exercises in your life, then you've done something approximating the outer physical aspects of yoga already.
Did participating in that sort of physical movement undermine your faith/beliefs? I'd be incredibly surprised if you could seriously answer 'yes, it did'.
The 'original' purpose of yoga was to clear the channels of the body for the purposes of meditation. So, you could say its a method for freeing up the body and the mind.
Yoga has been around, actually, since before Hinduism was even acknowledged as an organised religion. However, there are ties to/from yoga and Hinduism to each other.
But Hinduism is the religion, yoga is not.
Despite the original purpose of yoga, there's many other physical and mental benefits as Dr Jay pointed out. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, I'd say its a bonus, and a good one. And people should enjoy yoga at whatever level they find it useful.
Some of those benefits include increased strength and flexibility, stronger core muscles, improved digestion and lower stress levels. To name but a few.
Whatever people choose to get out of doing yoga, so be it. But to imagine that moving your body in a way that can only be beneficial to your health can in any way threaten or undermine someone's faith... it really doesn't make any sense to me.
I'd also add, if someone's faith can be undermined so easily, is it yoga that caused the crisis, or the individual who is supposedly one of the faithful? -
what?!
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Yoga is definitely not a religion.
Yoga is another way of meditation. -
Ironically, i WAS one of those christian fundamentalists who was taught that yoga was either damned near devil worship or a tool in which one would open themselves up to beliefs that were not consistent with christianity. Before my falling away from christianity entirely, i was exposed to christians who were finding ways to incorporate yoga into a practice that respected, or encouraged, christian theology.
I always felt it was a bit of a pathetic stretch that christians were so determined to either undermine/misinterpret yoga entirely (devil worship... as in not-of-christ) OR find a way to MAKE it christian. I was strongly drawn to yoga, but afraid to practice it publicly... until the very end of my christian walk. It actually DID become a way for me to part ways with christianity entirely... so i would be a poster child for those who preach/teach that yoga discourages christian faith... though it would be a gross oversimplification of the falling away. Yoga was merely a tool for me to become connected to my body... in a very secular way. Also i learned a thing or two about not needing a god/saviour outside oneself... but one can probably learn that in a healthy manner from other areas of study.
I do use yoga as preparation for meditation, sometimes... and sometimes merely as exercise/stretching. I don't see my meditation as a religious practice... consider myself atheist... yet believe, as stated above by others, that yoga, in its many many forms is ONE effective way (not the only) to become more aware and connected to the body... which is divine.-
Ironically, i WAS one of those christian fundamentalists who was taught that yoga was either damned near devil worship or a tool in which one would open themselves up to beliefs that were not consistent with christianity.
Ditto. I heard all that crap too. I was told that if I meditated and cleared my mind that Satan would enter it. Instead of meditating I was taught to cogitate (deeply contemplate "the word"), and to prattle (pray prayers of intercession and supplication continuously). Even as a child I knew bullsh*t when I heard it. The best thing that I have ever done in my life was learning how to meditate. Once all the ego driven blah, blah, blah dissolved I experienced pure consciousness. Then knew unequivocally that god is in everyone and everything and just keeps on is-ing.
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You say *SOME* people believe this. Well let's get real.
Some people believe they are vampires. Some people believe they were abducted by aliens. Some Yoga students believe it's their religion.
Isolating one particular faith, in an effort to bash it just because it's followed by *some* morons is an exercise in futility.
Even the bible teaches to meditate daily.... It's up to you as to what you want to meditate on....
*Some* people spend their whole life meditating on their job, their business, their worries, their diet, or the opposite sex.
Those who spend their whole life worrying about things like that - have in essence made it their religion. It's the thing that rules their lives.
Live and let live.... if someone feels it's wrong for them, then what is it to you? How does it hurt you?
If you want to believe you evolved out of a jellyfish, then what do I care? It's your life...
No person lives without a certain degree of insanity in their life in one way or another. -
No, i don`t think so. DO they have their own holy book or prophet ? If the answer is no, then Yoga is definitely not a religion.-
kinda... for some the Yoga Sutras takes on biblical proportions
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Yoga is not a religion, but more likely a form of meditation which many religions practice. Crazy people, Crazy World!
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To the best of my understanding, the philosophical/spiritual viewpoint in yoga considers mind to be a substance (rather than Being), as in Buddhism.
beingandquirckiness.blogspot.com/2009/01/after-fellow-bc-member-disagreed-w...-
Hmmm, saying that 'yoga' holds that point of view, is untrue. Yoga has many different arms, different schools of thought. There are particular theories where the mind is considered an element, on the same level as earth, water, fire, wind/space and ether. But that's neither here nor there.
The average person going to a yoga class is never going to get into that sort of yoga philosophy/physiology discussion. -
Svasti,
I agree with you here and appreciate you input. I was focusing on the philosophical aspects, which in the last analysis is either a philosophy of mind or of being. I do know these two philosophies exist in India, so it is quite conceivable that yoga be attached to either. However, from what I've read on (philosophical) yoga the mind is considered to be a substance.
Can it be said, as with Buddhism, that yoga anesthesizes passions at the root? This is an honest question. -
Hey there,
By yoga, assuming you're talking about asana? Yogasana is definitely not meant to anesthesize anything. Rather the opposite. The intent of asana is to gain awareness and control over the physical body, and clear the energy channels of the body for meditation purposes.
When you say 'anesthesizes passions at the root', I suspect you might be talking about the shedding of the ego and desire, although I could be wrong (I'm no expert on Bhuddism). There's a whole bunch of different theories on how this is achieved, whether this is required for the purposes of enlightenment and so on.
But yogasana has little to do with such things, actually. Quite the opposite, as you need to really inhabit your body for yoga to be beneficial, if that makes sense? -
yes, I was thinking of desire...
I know someone close IRL who teaches yoga, so this will help me in further discussions.
Much obliged.
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I read about some US teachers who got into big trouble for teaching yoga. Evidentally the parents thought the teachers were pushing religion when in actualilty the teachers were having their students do the breathe, relax, focus inward thing...which helped students concentrate and do better in school. This "relex" practice is one tiny piece borrowed from several religions and does not delve into creation, deities or worship. -
I thought yoga was just stretching and stuff...-
check out wikipedia "yoga"
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![[Image here]](http://www.kobrascorner.com/yogaxtianity.png)
The notion that Yoga is anti-Christian in any way is just silly.-
...I am also a satan worshipper.........I do aerobics and knitting to improve my mind/body!
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That explains a LOT, Lizzy...
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lol ...
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Wow! I didn't know that Voodookobra is an artist. God bless brother...
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I don't think yoga is anti- Christian or devil worshiper.
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It's called exaggeration. It's a common component of satire.
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lol
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It's more of your mind thinks it should be...... -
Yoga as I've read is meditation.
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Yoga is more than asana. Asana are the postures used for meditation and what people not veru familiar with yoga think of when they think of yoga. It is not just stretching and balance.
Asanas are just one part. One must gain control of the body to control the mind. it is like learning to crawl before walking.
A yogi also practices the abstentions...non-violence, non-lying, non-covetousness, non-sensuality, and non-possessiveness.
The observances.... austerity, purity, contentment, study, and surrender to god.
A yogi must keep the body pure. This includes a pure diet. An enlitened yogi follows all thrules including doing no harm to anything. (that is why they must be vegetarian)
A yogi seeks liberation from all worldly desires and suffering. The ultimate goal is realisation of identity. Once the yogi gets to this point he or she becomes one with God. Usually it is said the yogi becomes one with Brahma. Brahma is the hindu god of creation, but the name of said god can be any god of creation.
I could go on with much more on what yoga is besides asana, but I hope that was enough to get an idea. It is more than body. It is mind and spirit. It is a faith without being a religion. It is spiritual without dictating the name you must call god.-
aaron,
that was intereting, as is your link.
you say:
"A yogi seeks liberation from all worldly desires and suffering."
your link page:
"attain the goal of yoga: liberation from the bondage of worldly desires"
is this what we call a "zen attitude"? -
Hey Aaron,
All of what you say has merit for those wishing to go down a more serious/involved path of yoga.
Absolutely, asana is just one part of the bigger picture of yoga.
But I think mostly the question here about whether yoga threatens anyone else's beliefs, relates to those who just want to go to a yoga class. And the answer is... definitely not.
I disagree that all yogis *must* be vegetarian though. That was a line pushed by certain sects of yoga. Its the same fallacy as saying all Hindus are vegetarian. -
Svasti , I didn't exactly say all people who practice yoga must be vegitarian. That is like saying all people who are Christians must give up all material goods and go out into the world seeking to tell the way of Christ. Most people just don't go that far.
One of the reasons no eating of flesh is o.k. for a yogi is that a yogi can cause no harm. Eating an animal will cause death to the animal. Causing death to another creature is not the way to purity.
I realize that most people in the U.S. just think of stretching when they think of yoga, but since the question was about religion I thought they may wish to know a bit more about it.
Saying the stretching and balance acts of yoga are what yoga is could be compaired to saying that a having kippah on ones head made you a practicing jew. Or that reading a verse a week from the bible makes you a christian. It is a very small part of the total.
harveyavatar , it is very much a "zen attitude" or state of being, Taoism and Yoga have many similar concepts.
As for me.. (just for the record) I consider myself a christian. I practice yoga. I eat flesh. I hold worldly desires. I am working on it just as everybody else is. I fall victom to anger, greed, lust... it goes on.
I began with yoga as an exercise. I went to the meditation after a while because I found it helped recovery time from extream sports. It was later still that I began to take interest in the philosophical and religious traditions that go with it.
None of it has caused any problem with my views as a christian.
The biggest hurdle for many is the speaking to a devine creator. That creator need not have Brahma as a name. -
Aaron,
Thanks for sharing this. My general impression is yoga has to do with a zen attitude - at least a certain type of yoga.
Great discussion.
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Iyengar yoga is very popular in the states.
This page
www.iyengar-yoga.com/yoga/
has a great primer on what yoga is.
Then you can follow it to what Iyengar yoga is if you like. -
No,no,no. -
I don't think it's a religion. It is more on meditation and stretching and some people think that it can help cure diseases. -
i don't think of it as a religion but i know some conservative Christians who think opening up your mind can allow "spirits" to enter you. i'm not of that opinion, but to each his own... -
Oh Good Grief ! No it is not - it is exercise for the body and spirit. Religions are terrified of any perceived challenge to their dogma because they know just how tenuous the claim of their own belief systems are. They hit out at anything that empowers people and gives them control and self determination (of their health in this case). Yoga lowers cortisol levels (stress hormone) and so reduces inflammatory factors which reduces incidence of disease, it teaches women to breath and makes birthing children easier, safer. Yoga meditation make chronic pain more manageable and easier to cope with.
So many positive benefits for individuals so its no wonder religions worry about the challenge it poses to their idiotic mumbo-jumbo and pious, judgemental ramblings.
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