ON RELIGIONS POSING AS "NON-RELIGIONS" - YOGA, FOR EXAMPLE

Tim publishes a lot of good stuff on his blog, Random Observations, and (to my loss, sad to say) it's been a long time since I've dropped by.  His is a thoughtful, independent, creative mind.  A few days ago he posted wise observations on an important, but rarely discussed subject.  He titles his post "Front Door" versus "Back Door" Religions: Yoga, Meditation & Buddhism."

Below is a snippet to wet your appetite:  (Note: When you go to read the whole post, be sure to read the comments, because Tim interacts powerfully with an interlocutor, adding a lot of material.)

. . . Another litmus test I'd suggest is to consider whether a religion is primarily marketed as a "front door" religion, or as a "back door" religion. In other words, does it admit it is a religion, and is it honest about it's own nature, or does it often pretend to be something it isn't? Will they tell you, up front, the beliefs or outlook their adherents tend to adopt? Or are they uncomfortable admitting such, hiding those pesky details until later? . . .

. . .  Many who sign up for "yoga" classes in health clubs, strip malls (or even public schools, apparently) will be told explicitly that it is not a religion. Yet many yoga teachers are pushing a religious worldview, and will continually introduce more elements as the teaching progresses. But that's not the only, or even most important aspect of indoctrination at work.

Contrary to those who insist yoga is not religious, the word "yoga" is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning "to yoke" or "control", and refers, in India, to a method or technique for