Indonesian Muslims banned from practising yoga

[Praxius]

CTV.ca | Indonesian Muslims banned from practising yoga

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia's top Islamic body banned Muslims from practising yoga that contains Hindu rituals like chanting, the chairman of the group said Monday, citing concerns it would corrupt their faith.

Cleric Ma'ruf Amin said the Ulema Council issued the ruling following weekend talks attended by hundreds of theological experts in Padang Panjang, a village in West Sumatra province. Though not legally binding, most devout Muslims will likely adhere to it because they consider ignoring a fatwa, or religious decree, sinful.

The ban, which follows a similar edict in neighboring Malaysia, was passed after investigators visited gyms and private yoga classes across the country to see what effect Hindu rituals like chanting mantras might have on Muslims.

Amin said clerics decided it could weaken their faith.

"Those who perform yoga purely for health reasons or sport will not be affected," he added. "We only prohibit activities that can corrupt Islamic values."

Indonesia is a secular country of 235 million people, 90 per cent of whom are Muslim. Though most practice a moderate form of the faith, a vocal extremist fringe has gained strength in recent years.

In recent years, yoga -- a blend of physical and mental exercises aimed at integrating mind, body and spirit -- has been increasingly practised in gyms and dedicated centres around the world.

In the United States, where it has become so popular that many public schools began offering it in gym classes, yoga has also come under fire.

Some Christian fundamentalists and even secular parents have argued that yoga's Hindu roots conflict with Christian teachings and that using it in school might violate the separation of church and state.

Egypt's highest theological body also banned yoga for Muslims in 2004.

Indonesia's Ulema Council -- which wrapped up its annual meeting for the issuing of fatwas late Sunday -- decided to investigate the need for a yoga ban after Malaysia's top Islamic body issued its fatwa late last year.

Geez, who would have thought Yoga would be so evil?

 

[EagleSmack]

CTV.ca | Indonesian Muslims banned from practising yoga



Geez, who would have thought Yoga would be so evil?

Indonesian Muslims

 

[Praxius]

Indonesian Muslims

And apparently Christians too.

 

[EagleSmack]

And apparently Christians too.

Did they ban it?

From what I read is that some Christians think it conflicts and some secular parents think that it violates spearation laws.

So I guess non-believers think it is evil as well.

 

[Praxius]

Did they ban it?

From what I read is that some Christians think it conflicts and some secular parents think that it violates spearation laws.

So I guess non-believers think it is evil as well.

Some Christian fundamentalists and even secular parents have argued that yoga's Hindu roots conflict with Christian teachings and that using it in school might violate the separation of church and state.

^ Which sounds along the lines as:

Though not legally binding, most devout Muslims will likely adhere to it because they consider ignoring a fatwa, or religious decree, sinful.

^ Neither are legally binding, but through my own experience with the Christian faith, I already know that many of these groups teach their followers what they claim above and although not legally binding (though seems that they're trying for it) will imply that doing yoga while practicing Christianity would be a sin to the faith.

Then again, although they also claimed that teaching yoga in schools would violate the seperation of church and state, it's funny that many of these groups have been attempting to teach creationism and abstinence in the schools, which would also violate the seperation of church and state.

Yet another hypocracy.

 

[EagleSmack]

Some Christian fundamentalists and even secular parents have argued that yoga's Hindu roots conflict with Christian teachings and that using it in school might violate the separation of church and state.

Well looks like they both agree.

Then again, although they also claimed that teaching yoga in schools would violate the seperation of church and state, it's funny that many of these groups have been attempting to teach creationism and abstinence in the schools, which would also violate the seperation of church and state.

Yet another hypocracy.

Well should we let them teach Yoga AND Creationism?

 

[Praxius]

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Well looks like they both agree.

Well should we let them teach Yoga AND Creationism?

Toss in Athiesm and Alternative Religious Theories as a class subject and you have a deal.