What is Surfing???

[Surfer16]

In the latest eddition of Surfing Mag, they claim that surfing has now become its own religion. What do you guys think? Should surfing be it's own religion???

[WaveHog]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Prn5eiLMneA

[Swellinfo]

religion?

does surfing suggest morality and the purpose of life?

[tbing]

Can we talk religion on these forums?

[aczaplicki]

surfing is the purpose of life...

[smack da lip whaaapaaa]

surfing is getting shacked

[epidemicepic]

religion?

does surfing suggest morality and the purpose of life?

Also, it would have to have some sort of Deity..... However surfing can definatly be a spiritual practice.

check out: http://surfermag.com/magazine/archivedissues/godgoofy/index.html
i dunno if thats the same article, but same topic anyway.

[jimbo_robinson]

ya, I read that article. I thought it was a bunch of crap, but I think it could be a religion.

[brandx]

a person can treat anything as a type of religion, basically whatever someone puts above all other things in thier life is thier religion - it's what someone chooses as thier God - thus all the biblical warnings about idolotry, that's not just talking about a statue a person bows to.

On a lighter note - if surfing can be viewed as a religion - I want to open a surf shop and not pay taxes.

[OBlove]

I found reading that article was interesting. I found it interesting because it's something we all have in common. Maybee it could be spiritual, enlighting or whatever...but surfing doesn't suggest that there is a person like Buda, Jesus or Rasta. I think the article hints at the fact that with surfing's potentential to globalize, become greener, change your mood by catching one wave is something incredible. A religion is something organzied. Surfing is exactly not. That is why we love it. We don't sit in a box, or read one book, and we all truley fear it. It's oranges and apples i guess. I think acient polynesians used surfing as part of their spiritual practices. I use surfing as my own selfish fetish.

[Aguaholic]

Their trying to make surfers look like a cult or something.......ridiculous. :cool:

[South Bethany]

...but surfing doesn't suggest that there is a person like Buda, Jesus or Rasta.
Dave Rastovich is God!

[OBlove]

rasta is cool. not god. not at all.

[Swellinfo]

Giving praise to the surfing gods would be a Pagan belief. In fact I'm sure there were/are deities of the sea.

Pagan being where you gain spiritual growth by living in harmony with the earth upon which we live.

[oipaul]

I think the surfing mags ran out of anything new to talk about maybe 20 years ago.

[smack da lip whaaapaaa]

I think the surfing mags ran out of anything new to talk about maybe 20 years ago.

hahahah too funny

[freewax]

so lets see, go to church on Sunday or catch a wave? i go to church EVERY week, but i am also shooting pics when it's good. you can do both. some have turned cars, boards, boats into gods or religion. you know whats really funny, when we all get the smackdown, we look up and we ask God to help us out. why not turn it into a full time focus, where it should be. God promises to give us the delights and desires of our hearts.
MAYBE THAT WILL CHANGE THIS FLAT SPELL.
THIS PLACES ROCKS, AND I HELP!
check it out
http://www.bayshorecc.org/

[aczaplicki]

Surfing is also a way of life. I know i wake up every morning and hop online to see if there are waves or take the drive down to see for myself. It takes up a lot of time, making it a lifestyle and a great one at that.

[steelwave42]

I though it was pretty interesting too. I think anything you do that is somewhat secluded from society, and in nature, is a spiritual experience. But religion is a belief. Surfing is an action and way of life. I can see how the connection is made because we are surley a different breed and often nomadic. Lots of strange people and wanderers that don't really go with the norm. But as far as it emulating a religion, I think that's a bit far fetched.

I can say one thing, big seas in the dead of winter on a solo session is quite the experience, and definately leaves me feeling enlightened.

[Swellinfo]

I can say one thing, big seas in the dead of winter on a solo session is quite the experience, and definately leaves me feeling enlightened.

I'd say anything that makes you fear death will make you search for a purpose to live?

Some surfers quite readily put themselves in life threatening situations for the joy of the experience.

[eastcoastgilson]

what a joke......surfing as a religion HAHAHAHAH. This country is moving farther and farther away from the morals our country was founded on

[South Bethany]

what a joke......surfing as a religion HAHAHAHAH. This country is moving farther and farther away from the morals our country was founded on yeah..not many indians getting massacred these days. Thats good!

[eastcoastgilson]

good one smart ass.......when indians being massacred has anything to do with Christian morals our country was founded on, get back to me

[conway]

i think that surfing could be viewed as an extension of christianity in the sense of feeling closeness to God and enjoying the gift of the ocean we've been given. i, for one, feel closer to God when im surfing or in the ocean than i do anywhere else. but thats not to say that surfing is a viable alternative to God. it does not have anything to say about the underlying meaning of life. i think this whole "surfing as its own religion" thing is kind of dumb, but i can see where theyre coming from.

[Zansurf]

Christianity and morality are two separate things. This country was founded on a lot more than religion. I'm tired of Christians claiming that their religion should be the moral compass for Americans. I consider myself a morally sound individual however i do not consider myself part of any form of organized religion such like Christianity. I also consider surfing as an influence on my moral decisions. Surfing is based on mutual respect that can certainly constitute a belief system and i don't feel the need for a deity or a bunch of rules that are set in stone to govern my morals or dictate my spirituality.

[Db2k5]

It's a sport, people. It's no different than football, basketball, baseball, motocross or anything else in this world. Get a grip... If you worship surfing, or in any way shape or form view it as some sort of religion, you should really talk to someone while confined to a padded room while wearing a funny looking white coat with buckles all over it.

[Zansurf]

Do you worship Chrisitianity? Its not the worship of surfing as a whole. It is the belief in what the sport stands for, how it influences the view of ones world, and how it connects you to any kind of spirituality. As a rough belief system i think the ideals fostered by riding waves can be seen by some as a form of religion.

[Swellinfo]

Christianity and morality are two separate things. This country was founded on a lot more than religion. I'm tired of Christians claiming that their religion should be the moral compass for Americans. I consider myself a morally sound individual however i do not consider myself part of any form of organized religion such like Christianity. I also consider surfing as an influence on my moral decisions. Surfing is based on mutual respect that can certainly constitute a belief system and i don't feel the need for a deity or a bunch of rules that are set in stone to govern my morals or dictate my spirituality.

religion generally implies morality. in other words what is right and wrong. this black and white polarity is the biggest problem with religion in my mind. as i mentioned earlier, worshiping the earth and the gifts of nature, such as the ocean, would fall under the pagan belief system.

[Zansurf]

Morality and religion are not mutually exclusive ideas however they aren't always a package deal. I don't know if i would put surfing under a pagan classification. It transcends a strict connection to nature. Most pagan religions are connected to nature in return for something.(good harvest..etc) Surfing dictates morality not because a surfer wishes to receive something in return, but because he/she knows it is what is right (or wrong.) To think otherwise would be hedonistic.

[conway]

this is a heavy thread.
whoa.

[Swellinfo]

Morality and religion are not mutually exclusive ideas however they aren't always a package deal. I don't know if i would put surfing under a pagan classification. It transcends a strict connection to nature. Most pagan religions are connected to nature in return for something.(good harvest..etc) Surfing dictates morality not because a surfer wishes to receive something in return, but because he/she knows it is what is right (or wrong.) To think otherwise would be hedonistic.

i think you just contradicted yourself. if surfing becomes the center of your life or way of life, isn't that in itself hedonistic?? I mean, we surf, because we get pleasure from surfing - correct? Some would opt out of sex or blow off many other things in order to not miss a good day of surf.

[Db2k5]

Did you delete my post? Or did I just not hit the right button?

[Swellinfo]

Did you delete my post? Or did I just not hit the right button?

i didn't delete anything.

[Zansurf]

That is where the other spiritual aspects come into play. Surfing is not only a means to personal pleasure, but instills certain qualities into the psyche that constitute morals and beliefs. While the immediate goal for most surfers is enjoyment, you can't discredit the lasting effects on a surfers outlook on life, and morals.

[Swellinfo]

In other words its good for the soul!