Yoga=evil?

It's not the exercise that is against the bible, it's when you start to meditate on anything other then God that's the problem.

Originally Posted by Animus27

Even though western yoga has been secularized and cleaned up for most secularist/not-particularly-religious people; it's still based upon principles and trappings that come from Hindu cultures.

All Eastern religions/practices are on a deep and fundamental level incompatible with Christianity. There is simply no way to bridge the divide between dualism and monism, or monotheism and pantheism or panentheism.

Christians in the Church hierarchy are well aware of this and their objections arise from there.

[Silver]

Originally Posted by pre-dawn

All Eastern religions/practices are on a deep and fundamental level incompatible with Christianity. There is simply no way to bridge the divide between dualism and monism, or monotheism and pantheism or panentheism.

Christians in the Church hierarchy are well aware of this and their objections arise from there.

Makes sense, good answer.

My first chiropractor when I arrived in southern California in 1971, was a Christian. He was very good at what he did as a chiro. After getting to know him better, he expressed this very thing, that yoga was 'good' for the movements and exercise, but kind of a warning about getting 'too' into it. I had no idea at the time what he was going on about. Now it just smacks of superstition. Life is weird. Or I should say people are sometimes.

[theophilus]

Here is a Christian perspective on yoga.

http://carm.org/should-christians-practice-yoga

According to this yoga originated within Hinduism as a means of attaining salvation. The Bible teaches that the only way of salvation is through Jesus Christ.

[Jyotir]

Hi telepathkid,



"Yoga" is traditionally, broadly defined as any number of deliberate methods and practices which lead to an individual's permanent conscious union with GOD.
How can that be evil?

'Hatha' yoga (the physical stretching, exercises, poses, etc.) is only one type out of the entire spectrum of 'yogas', but in Western culture is often seen as synonymous with, as the exclusive definition of 'yoga' - which is incorrect.
Other types include: Love and Devotion (Bhakti Yoga), Work and Service (Karma Yoga), Wisdom and Discrimination (Jnana Yoga), Self-Perfection (Raja Yoga).

Technically, many Christian practices are usually considered 'Bhakti' (devotion).

In actual 'real-life' however, there are many overlaps and interpenetrations of the different types within various general movements, religions, and often within one's own personal practice as it evolves, so it is not so rigid and distinct. But still it may be helpful to differentiate the types for the sake of clarity.

It seems that it is not any authentic and viable Yoga which is 'evil', but that which functionally supports the prevention of the dispelling of ignorance and darkness which is.

As one progresses on the spiritual path, these evaluations and decisions as to what must by internal necessity constitute one's individual practice and path - must by their very nature become increasingly subjective for each seeker. This is also part of the nature of any true yoga, and why it is threatening to some established institutions when seekers reach the stage where they begin to look within more assiduously.



~ J



Some recommended reading material:
Swami Vivekananda, The Yogas (especially 'Bhakti', for Christians)
Sri Aurobindo, Synthesis of Yoga; also Bases of Yoga, Lights on Yoga

Originally Posted by Jyotir

Technically, many Christian practices are usually considered 'Bhakti' (devotion).

Technically, the Christian's devotion is to God, who is "wholly other" to use Martin Buber's (a well-known Christian theologian) wording.

In Eastern religions and practices God is "I". "Thou art that". In this forum it is often expressed as "I am God".

How could the idea of "God, the wholly other" and "I am God" ever be reconciled?

From a dualistic perspective, and Christianity today is inherently dualistic, the devotion is thus effectively to oneself. This is what makes it evil in their view.

One can of course strip Yoga, Tai Chi and other martial arts from their spiritual content and reduce them to to something akin to gym exercises. However, if one does that one does not really practice Yoga or Tai Chi, no matter how well the movements or postures are executed. All eastern practices address the whole spirit-mind-body complex at all times. Separating them would be going against the most fundamental principles on which they are based.
For Christians, performing the activities is OK, getting involved with the mindset behind the activities is not. Unfortunately, in the long run, such separation cannot be maintained and interest in such practices must be nipped in the bud as soon as possible, lest your soul will be lost.

Question: "What is the Christian view of yoga?"

http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-yoga.html

Edited by SF Staff

This is just one of MANY things that organized religion says that many are dumbfounded by.

This seems rather assertive for the pastor to tell you this if you didn’t initiate the conversation.

Yoga is NOT, NOT, NOT evil.

This is just one of MANY things that organized religion says that many are dumbfounded by.

This seems rather assertive for the pastor to tell you this if you didn’t initiate the conversation.

Originally Posted by telepathkid

I been doing chanting yoga as well as sahaja yoga for some time now. And i mentioned it at church the other day. Somehow it got round to the pastior and they told me yoga is against the bible. Im dumbfounded by this.

I took Yoga for a bit, while in the hospital a yoga instructor came and gave a class to help with rehabilitation. Afterwards I joined a yoga class and when this yoga "instructor" opened his mouth and began babbling away his philosophy, I realized that this wasn't a Christian thing to do. If it was just the exercises I would have been content, but his teachings opposed the Christian view.