Eastern Religions and Western Culture: Meditation, Vegetarianism, Yoga, Reincarnation
Though the majority of Americans consider themselves to be Judeo-Christians and relatively few are Hindu or Buddhist, the influence that these Eastern religions have had on modern Western society can't be denied.
Here are a few specific questions and some hyperlinks that are a starting point for using the Internet to investigate them.
A. Meditation, relaxation exercises, and yoga are becoming a part of many of our lives (and also being incorporated into western religious practice). Does this imply that we are also accepting some of the philosophical underpinnings of these practices?
B. Vegetarianism, though not only a religious or value based choice, is becoming ever more prevalent in our society. In what ways are Eastern religious and philosophical ideas related to the increasing popularity of Vegetarianism?
C. Though not all aspects of the New Age movement are directly related to any specific Eastern religion, certain aspects, such as a belief in reincarnation, certainly are. Can someone be a Christian and have New Age beliefs?
