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???
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.
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.
Church? 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.
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.
priorities 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/
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.
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.
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.
