Is Tarot a religion?

[2dogs]

I've been involved with Buddhism, a little paganism and read about other religions (and went to Sunday School a long time ago) but find the strongest attraction to Tarot, Oracles etc. and doing a reading is about the only thing I can do to help anyone else. There's no fixed dogma, hierarchy, leaders, agreement on a single correct deck or meanings, but there's a lot of personal development and wisdom to be found. What do the rest of you think?

[Tanga]

No imo. Lol.

But I guess it might depend on your definition of religion:

 

"-the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. Synonyms: faith, belief, divinity, worship, creed, teaching, doctrine, theology;

 

-a particular system of faith and worship.

 

- a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion."

[2dogs]

I've never been introduced to any superhuman power by name and can't see why they'd want worshipping. Unless you count a quick thumbs up to the Weather Fairy after a walk in the countryside  8).

[CharlotteK]

I don't think it's a religion, though it does require commitment, faith and devotion :)

 

Also whilst systems and rituals are involved for many readers, it's not a prerequisite. A belief in some kind of higher or divine power (call it God, Goddess, Spirit, Universe, Buddha Nature, collective consciousness...) also seems to be common amongst tarot readers, but there are also many sceptics and agnostics.

 

So i think it's too loose to be a religion in general, but for some, perhaps it's something they incorporate into religious practice, and for others, maybe Tarot devotion is as close as they get a religion ?

 

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[Tanga]

I've never been introduced to any superhuman power by name and can't see why they'd want worshipping. Unless you count a quick thumbs up to the Weather Fairy after a walk in the countryside  8).

 

 

LOL!  *falls off chair*

I think CharlotteK hits the nail on the head. :)

[2dogs]

Thanks for the replies, too loose to be a religion sounds like my sort of thing  8).

[Page of Ghosts]

I don't think tarot is in itself a religion, but it lends itself well to religious exploration in a few different ways.

 

Think about all the Christian symbolism in the RWS, how Crowley incorporated his beliefs in the Thoth or how flexible the tarot system is so you now have a myriad of different pagan themed decks. I've read about tarot being used to communicate  with someones deity/ies and some people believe their answers when they read come from a higher power.

 

There is also the curious 4 tools to represent the elements on the traditional Wiccan altar: a chalice, an athame, a wand and a pentacle. I think that must be related to the tarot somehow, either directly or by way of some other group like the Golden Dawn.

[Mab]

And on the Magician's altar...

[Trogon]

I've been involved with Buddhism, a little paganism and read about other religions (and went to Sunday School a long time ago) but find the strongest attraction to Tarot, Oracles etc. and doing a reading is about the only thing I can do to help anyone else. There's no fixed dogma, hierarchy, leaders, agreement on a single correct deck or meanings, but there's a lot of personal development and wisdom to be found. What do the rest of you think?

 

I think you kind of answer your own question here. "There's no fixed dogma, hierarchy, leaders ..." Not having these things is, to my way of thinking, the exact opposite of organized religion. Also, to a great extent, an organized religion does not actually want it's adherents to seek "personal development and wisdom". They want followers, people they can tell what to believe and precisely how they should practice that belief. Finding your own path to understanding and enlightenment is anathema to main-stream, organized religions.

 

Tarot leads you down the path to finding your own answers. Making your own, very personal, spiritual connections. Learning your own truth. The Church generally does not like that. In fact, they dislike it to the point of, in many cases, excommunicating people who try to seek their own answers with tools such as the Tarot. And, it wasn't very long ago (in the sense of the history of the Judeo-Christian religions), that being different and seeking your own truth could get you burned at the stake.

 

So, no. Tarot is completely opposite of what I think of when I hear the term "religion". (Oh, just in case you hadn't noticed, I'm not big on organized, main-stream religions these days ... ;))

[Bodhiseed]

I agree with CharlotteK that it's too loose to be a religion, but I find it a helpful tool in my spiritual toolbox!  :D

[chongjasmine]

I don't think tarot is a religion, not like Christianity.

I think it is more a divination tool.

 

[Little Fang]

Tarot is a tool and not a religion.  Some people use it in their religious practices (deity communication and such), but in itself it's as much a religion as a pendulum.

[EmpyreanKnight]

It's not a religion, but it can be spiritually fulfilling too, tho maybe not to the same level.

[Bookworm]

So i think it's too loose to be a religion in general, but for some, perhaps it's something they incorporate into religious practice, and for others, maybe Tarot devotion is as close as they get a religion ?

 

Yes, for me, I think Tarot is as close as I get to religion.

[GoodMojo33]

I'm not religious, but my tarot cards are the only thing I'm superstitious about.

 

 

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[Cocobird55]

I don't think so, but I'm not sure I have any value for tradition religion. Tarot is my spiritual center, though.