Atheism and dance

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"Jewish Dance" Alexandr Onishenko, 1999

Judaism has a long tradition of Jewish dancing. For example, dancing is a major part of Jewish weddings.

Many religions and cultures have religious dances that people take part in. For example, Wikipedia, a wiki founded by an atheist and an agnostic, has an article entitled "List of Christian dance, electronic, and techno artists".[1] Wikipedia has no articles which focus on atheist dance.

In addition, dance is deeply a part of African life. According to the book African Dance, "Dance is the soul of Africa".[2] Africa has one of the lowest rates of atheism and nones in the world.[3] See also: Western atheism and race

Western World atheism has no tradition of dancing (See also: Atheism and culture).

Andrew Brown wrote in The Guardian in an article entitled You can't dance to atheism :

“ ...a religion is a philosophy that makes you dance. It pleased me because the book itself can be read as a history of how philosophy grew from dance...

There aren't any overwhelming and inspiring collective atheist rituals...

If I'm right, then liberal, individualistic atheism is impossible as an organising principle of society because any doctrine that actually works to hold society together is indistinguishable from a religion. It needs its rituals.[4]

”

As far as nontheistic Buddism, an article entitled A Rare Day of Buddhist Dances declares:

“ As Buddhism grew and spread from India, its views and practices absorbed, rather than annihilated, the cultural heritage of its host countries, including traditions traditions of dance and movement. Most of the dances are therefore, very old, or at least have very old elements contained within them. Buddhism emphasizes meditation...[5] ”

Traditional dances in atheistic Japan

See also: Japanese dance

Japan is one of the most atheistic countries in the world.[6]

However, Shintoism is a polytheistic religion.

Japanese dance, as we know it today, is an amalgamation of five original, separate dance forms. Foremost amongst these is the kagura (神楽), the ritualistic dancing and music associated with the Shinto faith, which still forms the basis of Shrine festivals (祭り matsuri) today.

For more information, please see: Japanese dance.

Sumo wrestling and ritual dancing

Sumo wrestling ceremony in Japan

Sumo is a traditional Japanese style of wrestling that has existed in Japan for over 2,000 years.[7] As a professional sport, sumo wrestling does not exist outside of Japan. Because of its long history in Japan, sumo wrestling is often referred to as Japan's national sport.[8] It is not officially Japan's national sport, however.[9] The cultural research of Helen Gremillion of Indiana University in Bloomington indicates that sumo wrestlers are a reflection of Japanese ideals in terms of tradition.[10]

Sumo wrestlers are usually very large, appearing overweight to the point of obesity. They train to gain weight.[11] Sumo wrestlers eat large amounts of food each day and drink large amounts of beer with their meals.[12][13]

On September 27, 2008, Japan Today declared:

“ Not only is the life expectancy of sumo wrestlers 10 years less than the average population, they also suffer higher incidences of kidney and liver problems. Wrestlers are also subject to hormonal imbalances, signaled by serious weight problems and voice changes. While much of this may be the result of the unusual diet and harsh training, many of the same symptoms are also present in steroid abusers.[14] ”

A video of summo wrestler Yokozuna Hakuho engaging in ritual dance can be seen HERE.

Ron Prescott Reagan

The atheist Ronald Prescott Reagan was a talented dancer who joined the Joffrey ballet. Despite being talented in dance, he has not come up with a single atheist dance form.

See also: Atheist music

Ronald Prescott Reagan, son of Ronald Reagan, is an atheist.[15] He dropped out of Yale University to pursue being a ballet dancer.[16] He joined the Joffrey Ballet.

Time magazine noted: "It is widely known that Ron's parents have not managed to see a single ballet performance of their son, who is clearly very good, having been selected to the Joffrey second company, and is their son nonetheless. Ron talks of his parents with much affection. But these absences are strange and go back a ways." Ronald and Nancy Reagan went to see their son dance at the Lisner Auditorium on Monday, May 18, 1981. The elder Reagan commented in his White House diary that his son Ron's performance reminded him of Fred Astaire.[17]

Despite being a talented dancer, Ronald Prescott Reagan has not come up with a single atheist dance form.

Atheist Penn Jillette's poor dance performance on the show Dancing with the Stars

The atheist Penn Jillette appeared on the television show Dancing with the Stars. At the time, Jillette was overweight (See also: Atheism and obesity). In his performance Jillette performed the dance move the "walrus slide". A video of an overweight Jillette doing a walrus slide can be seen HERE. One of the dancing judges said that Jillette, who performed the cha cha cha with his partner, was very heavy on his feet.[18]

Fed Astaire on his religious faith

Fred Astaire wrote:

“ I find great comfort in that magnificent church in the midst of the hurly-burly of the city. I think of everything there–my life, my work, the hidden meaning of the good and bad things that have happened to me. I come out spiritually refreshed. It often helps me to go on.[19] ”

See also

Humor:

Notes

  1. ↑ List of Christian dance, electronic, and techno artists - Wikipedia
  2. ↑ Kariamu Welsh; Elizabeth A. Hanley; Jacques D'Amboise (1 January 2010). African Dance, page 7, Infobase Publishing. ISBN 978-1-60413-477-3
  3. ↑ Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. "The Global Religious Landscape". Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  4. ↑ You can't dance to atheism by Andrew Brown
  5. ↑ A Rare Day of Buddhist Dances
  6. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)
  7. ↑ Sumo wrestling at Japan.org
  8. ↑ Sumo wrestling at Japan.org
  9. ↑ Sumo wrestling at Japan.org
  10. ↑ Sumo Wrestlers Compared to Bodybuilder by Matthew Lee
  11. ↑ What you can learn from a Sumo Wrestlers Diet - video, Alpha Labs Direct
  12. ↑ How to eat like a sumo wrestler
  13. ↑ What you can learn from a Sumo Wrestlers Diet - video, Alpha Labs Direct
  14. ↑ Sumo shows its hypocrisy
  15. ↑ "20 Questions: Ron Reagan", by Betsy Rothstein, The Hill, September 24, 2008.
  16. ↑ "20 Questions: Ron Reagan", by Betsy Rothstein, The Hill, September 24, 2008.
  17. ↑ White House Diary: May 18, 1981, reaganlibrary.com; accessed September 2, 2014.
  18. ↑ Penn Jillette dancing the cha cha cha
  19. ↑ The religion and political views of Fred Astaire
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