Is BDSM a religion?

[IAN 2411]

As anyone bothered to look up the word religion, if you haven't then this will be a surprise to all you non believers. Intpret it in any way you wish, my belief is that it is a religion and a faith.

Wicipedia.

This article is about a general set of beliefs about life, purpose, etc.
A religion is any systematic approach to living that involves beliefs about one's origins, one's place in the world, or a responsibility to live and act in the world in particular ways. Religion is often equated with faith and belief in a higher power or truth, but it is more properly defined as the pattern of action that expresses that faith, and reinforces it in day-to-day living. Thus, one can share the philosophy of a religion, believing in its higher truth, without manifesting that faith religiously.
Aspects of religion include narrative, symbolism, beliefs, and practices that are supposed to give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life. Whether the meaning centers on a deity or deities, or an ultimate truth Religion is commonly identified by the practitioner's prayer, ritual, meditation, music and art, among other things, and is often interwoven with society and politics. It may focus on specific supernatural, metaphysical, and moral claims about reality (the cosmos and human nature) which may yield a set of religious laws, ethics, and a particular lifestyle. Religion also encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and religious experience.
The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction. "Religion" is sometimes used interchangeably with "faith" or "belief system, but it is more socially defined than personal convictions, and it entails specific behaviors, respectively.
The development of religion has taken many forms in various cultures. It considers psychological and social roots, along with origins and historical development.

Regards ian

[SadisticNature]

BDSM is neither a religion nor a cult in my opinion.

I think there is ample evidence already in this thread to support the fact that BDSM is not a religion, most importantly the fact that it goes against the basic definition of religion.

As for the more extreme claim that BDSM is a cult, I strongly disagree. Firstly, cults often try to indoctrinate minors, which BDSM strictly avoids with age limits. Secondly, BDSM offers a lot of personal freedom to both Doms and subs with regards to even such fundamental things about what BDSM is. You wouldn't see Scientologists offering these choices about the meaning of Scientology for instance.

Thirdly, while each group or event has its own rules, these are often a matter of practicality, and vary wildly from event to event even within the same organization. The dress code for a munch for instance is radically different than the dress code for a play party and each is often dictated by the location of the event, and other practical considerations. This is a far cry from some sort of uniform.

[Thorne]

A religion is any systematic approach to living that involves beliefs about one's origins ...

Well that lets me out! My life is as far from systematic as you can get!