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Switch to Forum Live View Religious views of Dancing
4 years ago  ::  Nov 28, 2008 - 9:51AM #11
itty
itty
Posts: 2,949
Fantastic, Laurette! Then we'll see you here. We have a wonderful woman, Holly, who is converting to Reform Judaism. She is here frequently. We have a great group of other Jewish posters here too. LeahOne, Bunsinspace, Cooper, MarySara777 and a lot of others that I forgot to mention.

We are a strange bunch here. You got a sampling with your survery.

I do hope you come and join the fray I mean fun! :)
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4 years ago  ::  Nov 29, 2008 - 11:43AM #12
weirdfaery
weirdfaery
Posts: 282

Laurette wrote:

Hello everyone, my name is Laurette and I have a question for you all. I hope to get as many different views as possible, from as many types of people as possible. I am doing a project for a Human Spirituality class, and as we were allowed to choose any topic that interested us, I chose to do my project on Dance as Pertaining to Worship. So my question (which is really more of a small survey) is this:

What is your religion's view of dancing?

Does your religion use dance as a form of worship?

If so, how are the dancers chosen? Can anyone perform, or are there auditions? Are their any solos in the dances?

Does your religion have any rules pertaining to dance?

Thank you in advance for your answers, and if you could include your religion and age in your responses, it would be greatly appreciated!




I am following my own personal path so I don't have a tradition or a group. Dancing brings me joy so when I dance during ritual it is a sacred offering to my Gods. I see it as a way to say thank you for the life they have given me.

I am a 29 year old solitary Neo-pagan.

I hope that helps.

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4 years ago  ::  Nov 29, 2008 - 2:12PM #13
Redfrog777
Redfrog777
Posts: 2,136
Oh yeah,

When I work with my allies I will dance them in to this world.
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4 years ago  ::  Nov 29, 2008 - 3:16PM #14
itty
itty
Posts: 2,949
I like that Frog. It makes sense to my gut and my heart.

Dance is powerful and beautiful.
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4 years ago  ::  Dec 03, 2008 - 11:19AM #15
Sakhaiva
Sakhaiva
Posts: 942
One of my classmates in the Yoga program I'm in is a classical Indian dancer - which is sacred Hindu performance... and she was telling me that sacred Hindi dance was intended for women to perform in temples before deity -- not for a human audience but for the divine alone. (It was a beautiful way for the women to worship while the men were off doing their yogi activities)

But....

Men saw...

and men liked.....

And the dancers were turned to prostitutes.

Isn't that the way history goes.

(I think any potential 'problems' with dance isn't with the dance itself, but with the intent. )

As far as specific Judaic dancing - I can't help but think of King David dancing before his God stripped down in front of all.
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4 years ago  ::  Dec 03, 2008 - 11:27AM #16
gillyflower
gillyflower
Posts: 5,325
I just don't understand religions that aren't all about the joy and deity. Any expression of joy is, IMO, an outpouring gratitude to the universe and deity for the blessing received.
Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones. Marcus Aurelius
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4 years ago  ::  Dec 03, 2008 - 4:26PM #17
mainecaptain
mainecaptain
Posts: 20,508

gillyflower wrote:

I just don't understand religions that aren't all about the joy and deity. Any expression of joy is, IMO, an outpouring gratitude to the universe and deity for the blessing received.

I agree Gilly. Dance can be a loving expression to Deity. As stated it raises energy.  And it can cause manifestation through the raised energy.

I am willing to wager a penny, that,  that is how some fundamentalist religious groups came to condemn dancing. They probably drew in (caused to manifest) the god of their path and it scared them. Sacred them so much so, that they refused to call upon him again.

I love dance.:)

A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side. Aristotle
Never discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. Plato..
"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives" Jackie Robinson
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4 years ago  ::  Dec 03, 2008 - 5:42PM #18
Redfrog777
Redfrog777
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That's a very interesting line of thought Cap. very interesting indeed!?
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4 years ago  ::  Dec 04, 2008 - 2:36PM #19
bytebear
bytebear
Posts: 1,451
Mormons (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) have church socials all the time that include dances. Social dances and youth dances are a big part of growing up in the church. There are no specific relgious ceremonies involving dance, but music and dance have been a part of Mormon culture from the time the Mormons crossed the west to Utah. Every church is built with a cultural hall that is mutlifunctional and is used for basketball games, dances, recitals, plays, etc. Dances are open to everyone in the community, and many non-Mormons participate, although there are standards of dress (modest clothing, but not pioneer style- that is another group altogether) and behaviour (no smoking, drinking, petting, etc) that are expected to be followed.

Oh, I am 39, and grew up emersed in LDS culture, but have not been actively involved in a very long time.
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4 years ago  ::  Dec 04, 2008 - 3:44PM #20
itty
itty
Posts: 2,949
Thanks bytebear. That is a very interesting window on LDS culture. I know we have pagent every year in Nauvoo, Il. Well it was in Navoo, it has been moved. The pagent is very interesting and colorful with singing and damcing being an integral part of it. I don't live in Nauvoo but I am near there on the Missouri side of the Old Man River.

That is one thing I have to hand to Old Joe. When it came to singing, dancing and fun he was certainly not a stick-in-the-mud. He did quite a bit of cutting up his own self. Not a bad way to live a life.
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