Malaysian Islamic body bans yoga for Muslims

[proud2BlibKansan]

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia's top Islamic body, fresh from banning tomboys, issued an edict Saturday that prohibits Muslims from practicing yoga, saying that elements of Hinduism in the ancient Indian exercise could corrupt them.

The National Fatwa Council's chairman, Abdul Shukor Husin, said many Muslims fail to understand that yoga's ultimate aim is to be one with a god of a different religion — an explanation disputed by many practitioners who say yoga need not have a religious element.

"We are of the view that yoga, which originates from Hinduism, combines physical exercise, religious elements, chanting and worshipping for the purpose of achieving inner peace and ultimately to be one with god," Abdul Shukor said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27857578/

[slackmaster]

1. OK, so no more yoGA for Malaysian Muslims

Are they still allowed to partake of yoGURT?

[glowing]

2. Personally, I find it a wonderful way to stretch the body, and pull everything into focus.

AND if it brings them inner peace and a oneness with God, what the hell is the idiot complaining about.. don't do the chants and don't pray to a hindu god.. I don't chant and I don't pray.. I find it a relaxing exercise that invigorates my body.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. I find the prohibition to be ironic. My brother got into Sufiism (mystical Islam) via yoga.

[NV Whino]

4. I swear, the world will never lack for nutballs.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. So true

LOL

[Fumesucker]

5. The National Fatwa Council

Compare this with the "Imagine no religion" billboard being taken down, about which there is a thread on GD now.

We really need a national fatwa council to coordinate all this stuff and set priorities.

Should we fatwa teh gay or teh atheist first?

[ima_sinnic]

6. if they fully believed their own BS, they wouldn't be threatened by tomboys and yoga

If people could believe wholeheartedly in the precepts of Islam, Christianity, etc. etc., they would not need "fatwas" to keep their beliefs in check. The fact that these precepts are based on ancient MYTHS that thinking people can poke full of holes means they must be defended from the penetrating light of day and from the "corrupting influence" of REALITY.

[POAS]

7. Many Christian sects

also try to stop the practice within their ranks.