Is mediation considered evil?

Question

From a christian's point of view, is meditation and finding that "inner peace" considered evil? If so, why?

Sorry, I spelled meditation wrong.

I've done yoga before, and I sense anything wrong about it just because its a practice from another religion, seeing how its not a practice that it sucluded to only that religion.

Answer 1

I presume you mean meditation?

Unfortunately many Christians resist or are scared by anything that is different from what they normally do. And because meditation sounds like something a Buddhist would do, many Christians think of it as wrong.

There are many types of meditation. Some involve making the mind still so that you have no thoughts. Other types involve meditating upon a particular sound, word or thought. What they have in common is focusing one's attention inward, rather than on external stimulation. This is why Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is within you. Within us, is where the Holy Spirit is. And all of the preaching and yammering on of the world is outside of us and keeps us from looking inward.

So, for Christians who want to experience the Kingdom of Heaven and the Holy Spirit, I would suggest looking inward. Call it something else if you don't like the word meditation.

Answer 2

No it's not evil. Even Christian prayer can be considered 'meditation'.
Meditation means to "ponder over" or to "think deeply" about something. So meditating on our God, his purposes, or our future, etc is actually something we should do.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says simply to "Pray incessantly."
Romans 12:12 says to "Persevere in prayer."
1 Peter 4:7 says "Be vigilant with a view to prayers." :)

Now unless the form of meditation (since there are many types of meditation) results in you doing the practices of another religion, now that is wrong.
So really, a Christian really shouldn't do yoga, since it is a ritual of another religion.

Answer 3

It would only be considered evil to Pauline Christians... those that follow the self-deprecating edicts of Paul of Tarsus, as opposed to his few enlightening comments, such as the fundamentalists do. There are many Christian sects that are proponents of meditation, although some of those sects do attempt to control what the meditator thinks about while in meditation. Meditation is often recommended by Christian sects that follow the kind and compassionate teachings of Jesus. Someone once put it very plainly: "Prayer is talking to God, and meditating is listening to God."

Answer 4

Most Christians consider "meditation" a form of prayer, so it wouldn't be evil. But some might consider trying to find "inner peace" without going to God evil.

Answer 5

Absolutely Not. Prayer, in its natural form, is a form of meditation, but one where you are attempting to speak with God. Generic Meditation, which is simply an attempt at calming and finding "inner peace" as you put it, is in no way a conflict of religious belief with Christianity. This is, unfortunately, a generalization though, and some zealots of specific sects of christianity might disagree.

Answer 6

Meditating is very scriptural...as long as it's the Lord you are meditating on. These are just a few verses I found having to do with meditation.

Gen 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide.

Jos 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psa 119:27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I meditate on thy wondrous works.

Psa 145:5 Of the glorious majesty of thine honor, And of thy wondrous works, will I meditate.

Answer 7

It depends on how you define "mediation".

Eastern style (Buddhist) mediation is an attempt to empty your mind of all thoughts and desires (based on the Buddhist theory that all desire is bad, and being an individual causes suffering). Easten, or Buddhist style, mediation focuses on things like, "think of the sound of one hand clapping" (I.E.: think of nothing!). It is an attempt to empty your mind, and it is probably not any more useful than watching TV. It certainly does not bring you any closer to God.

Biblical mediation is to think about God's word and how it might apply to your life. Christian mediation is to FILL your mind with good thoughts, not to empty it. The Bible does not teach that our God given desires are inherently bad (like Buddha did); the Bible teaches that we simply desire the wrong things, so we suffer for it. To change your desires, think about good things instead of bad things. Think about your blessings rather than the things that make you stressed out. Biblical mediation is to "listen" to God by actively using the brain that God created you with.

..............................
Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Psalm 48:9 (NIV)
Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.

Psalm 77:11-13 (NIV)
I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Answer 8

Absolutely not against Christian faith when you can fast, ask the Holy Spirit to quieten your spirit, and ask Jesus to give you peace. Meditation on a particular scripture that brings you to a calming point is great.

When Jesus went to the desert to fast and pray, he was meditating on what His Father's plan was for his life. That's when Satan decided to try and tempt Him. Jesus answered Satan with scriptures to get the evil to flee from him. Meditation and that calming time is a wonderful energizer for Christians.

Crystals, cards, and tools of witchcraft or sorcery used for meditation purposes is DEFINITELY AGAINST the Christian faith.

Answer 9

There are verses in the Bible that talk about meditation. It depends on what you are meditating on. Psalm 19:14 says, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." If you are trying to find "inner peace," you should rely on God to give it to you and not finding something within yourself. Isaiah 26:3 says, " You [God] will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. "

Answer 10

Nope. Meditation if also a form of worship. Mediation has nothing to do with meditation, and is a form of settlement before going to court.