[Editor’s Note: “Your Skeptic Stories” is an ongoing series written by readers like you, people who have, through one means or another, discovered skepticism and critical thinking. These stories remind us that we all started somewhere and some of us are still finding our way as skeptics If you are interested in contributing your own story, please submit your piece of around 1000 words to maria (at) randi.org along with a short 2-3 line bio.
Today’s story comes from Robert "Ramen" Boucher]
In my teenage years - early 1980's - living in sleepy Connecticut, I was drawn by the glamor of New York City, and moved there when I was just 17. For the year I was there, I lived at night, worked in nightclubs, and was, generally, unhealthy. So by the time I got over the glamor, I was pale, sullen, and depressed, but not otherwise ill. Finally, begrudgingly, I moved back to Connecticut.
That word sounds so innocuous; to most people 'yoga' refers to the sets of high-priced stretches that are done in a studio. However, to me yoga was nothing more or less than a religion. With my guru I got the nickname which I use to this day: Raman. I learned to meditate and chant, to eat according to the Aryuveda, to perform spiritual healing and to worship Hanuman and my guru. The experience culminated with a long and fascinating trip to India, wherein I was able to visit ancient temples and speak with the people who lived there.
Looking back, it's hard to say that my five years in yoga was not beneficial. My guru was clearly not in it for the money. He didn't seem to preach any sort of negativity and I fully recovered my health and happiness. However, as I entered my mid-20's I realized something else was missing; namely, sex. My guru preached one bit of negativity: being gay was "bad for the energy."
At about the same time I decided to leave Connecticut and move to California. My thinking was that I could be closer to my guru (who lived part of the year in the Bay Area). However, moving to San Francisco was like a second revelation to me. There I learned it was OK to be gay and I could connect with people like me.
Slowly I gave up vegetarianism, though I clung to my practices for several more years. I graduated from San Francisco State University and met my husband. He and I think alike and as we discussed issues such as medicine, religion, and human nature, I realized that the benefits attributed to yoga were really attributable to getting enough sleep, eating enough, not doing the occasional bump and not drinking too much. I questioned my acupuncturist about why the treatments weren't working after years of taking them for stress or smoking or aches and pains - the answer was, of course, that more treatments were required. As I continued to question these expensive and probably harmful practices, they all dropped away: acupuncture, Homeopathy, yoga, belief in god(s), fear of Big-(fill in the blank), etc.
By the time I started law school in 2003, I was a dyed-in-the-wool skeptic (though I do still enjoy shopping at the local natural food store from time to time where - I'm pleased to say - I confronted a non-medical practitioner who claimed he could cure colds if only customers would come to him soon enough). Now I try to use the concepts I learn from listening to the Skeptics Guide to the Universe, Skeptoid, and the like in my life and law practice, especially concepts about logical fallacies.