Yoga, Hinduism, and the Orthodox Christian Culture: Attitudes in Religious Education in Romania

This study examines the attitudes of both instructors and attendees of the confessional Orthodox Christian religion class in Romania toward yoga. It examines whether individuals are more familiar with religious or secular forms of yoga and whether they approach it with curiosity, neutrality, or opposition. As yoga is rooted in Hindu traditions and is often associated with Hinduism when viewed in a religious context, the study also examines the attitudes of students and teachers toward Hinduism. It draws on data collected in two field studies involving students and educators. The findings reveal a significant gap: students generally exhibit curiosity and openness despite limited knowledge, while teachers tend to adopt a more cautious or critical stance aligned with Orthodox discourses. This contrast reflects broader societal tensions between emerging pluralistic tendencies and longstanding religious norms in Romania. The study highlights how negative attitudes, shaped in part by Orthodox media narratives, underscore the importance of educator training to counter exclusivist viewpoints.