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Is Yoga a Religion?
June 15, 2017
Is yoga hiding religious assumptions that clash with conservative Christianity? Or is it simply a fun way to wellness? Two sides weigh in.
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Candy Gunther Brown: The Hidden Religion in Yoga June 15, 2017
If you’ve ever taken a yoga class, undergone acupuncture, visited a chiropractor, or relaxed with a shiatsu massage, then you actually practiced a certain kind of religion, even if you weren’t aware of it. At least, that’s according to Candy Gunther Brown. She says metaphysical ideas behind popular health therapies-- like the belief that our bodies contain a 'life force'--  might be challenging our world view. From December 2013.

Candy Gunther Brown, author of The Healing Gods: Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Christian America
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Erik Davis: Yoga is 'Spiritual but Not Religious' June 15, 2017
Though yoga may be rooted in Hinduism, its popularity as a fitness trend has blurred religious lines. Erik Davis says the yoga we practice today is a modern American creation, not an ancient path to enlightenment. "Sometimes it's very religious, and you have gods and you have chanting," he says. "And sometimes it's very secular. You have Jane Fonda in Spandex doing yoga on VHS tapes." From December 2013.
 
Erik Davis, journalist and cultural critic
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On Vultures' Wings: The Birds of the Bible June 15, 2017
A raven feeds the prophet Elijah in the desert. The Holy Spirit is famously depicted as a dove. Birds appear throughout the Bible, from the creation story to the Book of Revelation. For many of us though, they're never more than supporting characters. Until now. Debbie Blue believes that a better understanding of the Bible’s feathered creatures can enrich our reading of Biblical texts. From September 2013.