Ian, I think I see your point about bowing and impressing Aikido's "religion" on peopleİ I must add, though, that whatever you make of the bow before the Kami or O-Sensei, you must realise that the bow to another person is not religious at allİ Well, it could be, and if your religion forbids it than I don't think it's a big deal, but the fact is that it's only a respect thingİ I would tell him that it doesn't matter, but I would also think it very odd if an Atheist didn't want to bow to another student before they pair up, as it's not something that carries any religion with itİ I don't know, I think people are very quick to add elements of meaning to the bows and everything without thinking about what they're really forİ I think that you maybe didn't mean it the way I took it, and I'm sorry if that's the caseİ I've never had a problem doing anything that I found to be spiritual, and I'm an Atheistİ Anyway, sorry if that post didn't make sense, I'm tiredİİİ
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