Are any martial arts considered a religion? Am I bowing to a false god when I meditate?

Answer 1

The martial arts are not a religion, instead they are a way of liberation. For some they can be religious in nature. When you bow, you are bowing inward to the mystery in you.

Answer 2

Some stress it more than others.
It really depends on the art, the school and your instructor.
Hollywood tends to make more of the spiritual side than really exists.

Bottom line - it's mostly BS.
Martial arts are 99% athletics despite all the junk about chi, ki etc. The prize goes to the better trained, better conditioned athlete.

Even in schools that practice meditation, chi excersizes etc, do it as a marketing ploy. Stay away from those schools. The winner is always the better athlete.

Answer 3

When you meditate I suppose it depends on what's in your heart. You're supposed to be searching your inner self. Some meditating can be brought to the level of religion, Yoga is seen by some as a religion. I meditate and don't see myself bowing to anyone. Now, if you want to search yourself on a religious level, why can't it be to the god you recognize? There are a lot of benefits to meditating. Really it's deep inner thinking, and we certainly wouldn't limit our thought process while we're walking around doing everyday stuff. I can't see a problem with conscious thinking even if it does gravitate toward religion, you know whom you follow. I have to go with no, you're not bowing to a false god.

Answer 4

They are practices which can be part of a religion, like yoga; they can also be easily taken out of a religious context and used for their own sake. As for meditation, as said before...it all depends on what you are meditating on.

If it's more reassurance, the religions which would have such practices, unlike Western religions, do not have gods and would be considered philosophies by most Westerners.

Answer 5

Certain ones may certainly seem that way. I would consider Shaolin Kung Fu to be of a religious nature, but Kung Fu is not intrinsically religious.

In my studies of martial arts, I have not found any of them to be intrinsically religious. Some have a moral philosophy attached to their traditional teaching, however. you should learn this philosophy and select your martial arts so that you do not find yourself conflicting with your religion.

Myself... I'd love to take a two year sabatical and go live at a Shaolin Temple, even if I am an atheist. I bet it'd be a very fulfilling and spiritual experience.

Answer 6

Well I don't know about the martial arts part of this question but, as far as the meditation goes it all depends on what's in your heart. To meditate literally means to engage in thought. So it really kinda depends on what you're thinking when you meditate.

Answer 7

That is an interesting question. I was once on deliverance teams where people were possessed with demons that came through rituals. One of the guys had to renounce his oath that he made with some martial arts group before the demons left him. On another occasion, a pastor called my radio show and asked if I could help him with a strange case. A pretty young lady bought a chain in a top U.S store with a strange amulet, and since she began wearing it, she began to speak some Eastern language and go through the karate formalities. I met her and the first thing she did was to approach me menacingly. The main spirit spoke through her and told me that he persuaded her to buy that amulet because it is has a martial arts logo with a hidden meaning. I always remember that incident because when those spirits left they left a trail of really and unbearable stuff behind.

Boaz.

Answer 8

Don't you bow to each other? That is equality.

Many religious people mediatate. Meditation is clearing your mind and getting into reality. Climbing out of the Matrix.

Reality is getting trounced by your opponent in a contact environment because you are not as skilled. Being big-headed is thinking you are better. Your job is to prevail.

Answer 9

People from any religion may meditate.

I made the assumption that you were Christian. If so there is a grea book call "The Other Side of Silence" about Christian Meditation. I forget the author's name but it should be easy to find.

Answer 10

Jesus told us that the kingdom of the father was within each of us.

Meditation is the act of quieting perception and turning inward toward the God who lives within you exactly where Jesus said that He would be found. This is seeking the real God of Jesus, not some false idol like the ones found in churches.

Love and blessings Don