tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post838633168649353218..comments2024-03-28T00:46:19.476-04:00Comments on Religion & American Law: Is yoga religious?Brantley Gasawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02894338478934982958noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-26427053841790371732018-08-08T03:38:58.002-04:002018-08-08T03:38:58.002-04:00Even religion should not be practiced by children ...Even religion should not be practiced by children under 16.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15301256106175925703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-69163153425406079332013-11-11T20:39:49.227-05:002013-11-11T20:39:49.227-05:00I've never really thought about this before be...I've never really thought about this before because (like many comments above have already mentioned) my high school taught yoga and I never really thought about it as a very religious exercise. I can understand how an Establishment case could be made if the public school teacher was facilitating a very spiritual version of yoga twice a week, but clearly the school made a conscious effort to avoid religious entanglement by changing the names of the poses and making them kid-friendly and strictly secular. Additionally, one could argue that even if yoga was explicitly religious, it is a practice that teaches secular ideals (fitness, well-being, peacefulness, etc.) with a religious spin or viewpoint. If in that case yoga was not allowed to be taught in schools, one could argue that the school was unconstitutionally discriminating against the yoga classes based on that particular viewpoint.Sayeh Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02819285451257157344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-30744141666216310762013-11-11T14:00:37.422-05:002013-11-11T14:00:37.422-05:00I think yoga is one of those things that is severe...I think yoga is one of those things that is severely divorced from its religious connotations. I've taken yoga classes before, and they've always taken place in a dance studio or gym of some sort, rather than a place of worship. In addition, they've always used the english name for the poses as opposed to the traditional sanskrit names. I've always been taught it strictly as a form of exercise. Therefore, as long as the school teaches it as such, there is no problem with teaching yoga in schools.SChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14016723584670728029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-34651464772482724552013-11-06T14:25:24.275-05:002013-11-06T14:25:24.275-05:00I participated in yoga classes during high school ...I participated in yoga classes during high school while having no understanding that it was related to any religious practice. In no way is there any sort of indoctrination of religion while practicing yoga in a "gym" setting. I believe it is purely secular at that point. I do not see it as an establishment of religion and I commend the school in their efforts to promote yoga's benefits while attempting to remain as neutral as possible.Benjamin Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425760933102237136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-9132829950989798792013-11-06T14:19:59.458-05:002013-11-06T14:19:59.458-05:00As someone who enjoys yoga, I also find this topic...As someone who enjoys yoga, I also find this topic to be really interesting! Personally, I believe that there is a definite spiritual practice involved but it is religiously neutral. I dont think the Establishment Clause has been violated because there are other options for students to choose from and names were changed from their original sanskrit meaning. Moreover, I don't think there is enough evidence that yoga is establishing religion as this school especially since it is not being promoted by a professional Hindu teacher and appears to have no praising of Hindu either.Blairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13735304430086782666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-5742433110269869162013-11-05T21:30:24.892-05:002013-11-05T21:30:24.892-05:00I would have to agree with everybody above on this...I would have to agree with everybody above on this post that I see no religious purpose in yoga in America. I can see the secular purpose of yoga on health and exercise. It is really a great way to release stress and yoga is also use for therapy as way to help build muscle memory and basic muscle back. I don't think it infringes on the Establishment Clause because I see more secular purpose than religious purpose for yoga. In this case the school is not forcing the students to do yoga there are clearly providing other alternatives to fulfill a certain credit. I think the school does good in dealing with this issue of considering yoga as strictly an exercise. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07186692103893472216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-60995625960930338902013-11-05T20:53:23.815-05:002013-11-05T20:53:23.815-05:00I think that the school district has done well in ...I think that the school district has done well in its quest to provide the students with the experience of yoga while remaining neutral to religion. Yoga in the Hindu tradition is certainly a deeply religious practice but yoga in the non-Hindu American context is far from a religious experience. Furthermore, the school does well in allowing students the opportunity to participate in alternate activities instead if they are not comfortable with yoga. Yoga in this context seems far from religious thus I do not see it as a violation of the establishment clause.Dan Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08318390188717858527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606201113344523885.post-46701586290881083242013-11-04T13:12:27.214-05:002013-11-04T13:12:27.214-05:00I think this is an extremely interesting topic, an...I think this is an extremely interesting topic, and something I have never thought about before. I know yoga is considered "spiritual" but I guess I never really linked it to being explicitly religious. If there is no religious language being used, I do not think it is an infringement on the Establishment Clause to have it taught in public domains considering it is proved that yoga can have healing affects and serves other purposes rather than just religious. However, the issue of having it taught in public schools is tricky. Based of precedent, the Court usually handles these cases in public schools with a strict separationist attitude and takes all the necessary steps towards blocking any religion from schools. Therefore I would say it is okay to be taught in a public space, but maybe not in schools. Gabby (东碧柔)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01208742107973775296noreply@blogger.com