Please, only answers from pastors or deacons or elders or someone who really know this stuff...i mean, i don't wanna be receiving answers telling me "yoga is good for you" or "why is it not good for christians?".......i mean, i've heard that it's got to do with new age thing but i wanna be more clear about this.Thanks.
2006-09-25 05:08:53 · 19 answers · asked by GymAddict 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
...Question: "What is the Christian view of yoga?"
...Answer: For many Christians in the West who don't understand the history behind it, yoga is simply a means of physical exercise, and strengthening and improving flexibility of the muscles. However, the philosophy behind yoga is much more than physically improving oneself. It is an ancient practice derived from India, believed to be the path to spiritual growth and enlightenment.
...The word "yoga" means "union," and the goal is to unite one's transitory (temporary) self with the infinite Brahman, the Hindu concept of "God." This "God" is not a literal being, but is an impersonal spiritual substance that is one with nature and the cosmos. This view is called "pantheism," the belief that everything is God, and that reality consists only of the universe and nature. Because everything is God, the yoga philosophy makes no distinction between man and God.
...Hatha yoga is the aspect of yoga which focuses on the physical body through special postures, breathing exercises, and concentration or meditation. It is a means to prepare the body for the spiritual exercises, with less obstacles, in order to achieve enlightenment. The practice of yoga is based on the belief that man and God are one. It is little more than self-worship disguised as a high level of spirituality.
...The question becomes, is it possible for a Christian to isolate the physical aspects of yoga as simply a method of exercise, without incorporating the spirituality or philosophy behind it? I don't believe so. Yoga originated with a blatantly anti-Christian philosophy, and that philosophy has not changed. It teaches one to focus on oneself instead of on the one true God. It encourages its participants to seek the answers to life's difficult questions within their own conscience instead of in the Word of God. It also leaves one open to deception from God's enemy, who searches for victims that he can turn away from God (1 Peter 5:8).
...Whatever we do should be done for God's glory (1 Corinthians 10:31), and we would be wise to heed the words of the apostle Paul: "Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise" (Philippians 4:8, NLT).
2006-09-25 05:22:26 · answer #1 · answered by carson123 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
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2016-12-23 19:48:03 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
New Age is a really broad label churches attached to everything exotic back in the 60's-70's. It's funny, because most of the practices so labeled were pretty ancient, and all of them silly as a basket of kittens. Various forms of Yoga, Kundalini Yoga in particular, focus on forms of meditation and pseudo-science nonsense around the development of what we would call paranormal abilities, if they existed (I call it wishful thinking). Other forms, like Hatha Yoga for instance, the kind you usually see at the YMCA, are just stretching, balance and flexibility exercises. But fear of the unknown makes some Christians (fundamentalists in particular can be a xenophobic lot to begin with) fearful of all unfamiliar practices. I have to say that many Yoga teachers buy into and market via nonsensical claims of spiritual and paranormal results beyond the simple health benefits of flexibility, balance, posture, good breathing and mental focus. If your Yoga teacher starts babbling about unproven and unprovable silliness like "chakras" and "energy centers" and "serpent power" I'd go elsewhere until they demonstrate these things exist in a physics lab.
I actually know of a former low-ranked (2nd degree black belt) American Karate Association competitor (a major drug abuser, loser) who made a living off of "love offerings" going around to fundamentalist churches claiming that martial arts were an occult practice that invoked demons and seduced children to worship Satan. At that time four of the top twelve PKA fighters were born-agains that had Christian prayer before class, so it was really laughable. He actually had the nerve to go on the 700 Club with that crap back when Ben Kinchlow was co-hosting. Kinchlow is a Taekwondo black belt himself and knows better, but he did the interview anyway, and when he mentioned he was a black belt I thought Mr. Phony was going to stutter himself to death. But some people eat that stuff up. I've trained with grandmasters and masters in both hemispheres, none of whom had any paranormal abilities or had ever seen them, but who knew dozens of charlatans who made such claims. Bluntly, martial arts are no more demonic than golf and tennis. I would say the same about the physical techniques of Yoga.
A final comment. You were looking for pastors, deacons and elders. I've done all three, and for the most part the people that end up with these titles are more available than knowledgeable. By that I mean they're just willing to serve, not necessarily prepared with all knowledge, and being ordained doesn't give them the power to help you with your calculus homework or any other topic they are unfamiliar with. None of the folks I've served with would have known there was a type of Yoga different than what they do in the morning at the YMCA. That said, you can always ask them to observe a class you're considering and give you their opinion. If something creeps them out or gives them concern it won't be the stretching and bending, and then you can make your call on whether the class is for you, or not.
2006-09-25 05:52:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry I;m not a pastor or anything, but I am Christian. I haven't heard that yoga is discouraged by Christians, but I can see how the theology behind it can be decieving. Yoga as an exercise and way of clearing your mind I believe can be healthy, but the belief behind it that comes from a different faith can be decieving, and can skew our faith if we are not strong enough in our faith. I think that once we have a stable relationship with the Lord, we can study other religions to be educated in what others believe and why, but until we have a stable foundation, exploring any other religions or faith can draw us away from the Lord and jeopordize our walk.
2006-09-25 05:14:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it teaches meditation and has teachings of a different religion. (I'm a priestess... a Pagan one)... but I do know many Christian Pastors and this is pretty much the answer for that.
It's not new age.... yoga is a practice that is older than Christianity. Anything Christianity wants to make meaningless, they call it New Age.
2006-09-25 05:46:15 · answer #5 · answered by Kithy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yoga comes from eastern religions. A it is all about lining up your forces with the earths etc. The Bible clearly warns us away from any other religions as it makes a rift or break between man and God. By practising yoga you are basically saying God may be wrong! It means you believe in something that is not from God and the Bible clearly warns us about what will happen to us.
2006-09-25 05:20:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you treat it as an exercise and not as a spiritual experience I'm pretty sure you're in good shape. I'm a Christian and l love doing yoga, and don't feel that there's anything wrong with it. If you need to meditate while doing yoga, meditate on God, and ask his help in getting from one seemingly impossible position to another.
2006-09-25 05:22:17 · answer #7 · answered by GLSigma3 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From what I remember a pastor in high school telling my religion class, it has something to do with the meditation and clearing your mind or whatever. We were told that it could allow bad spirits in or some junk like that. Seems pretty rediculous to me.
2006-09-25 05:11:57 · answer #8 · answered by made_of_spam 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
As I understand, some practices of yoga want people to clear there minds and focus on inner self. The Bible teaches we are to control our minds...Taking every thought into captivity... in obedience to Christ, not opening it up to just any thought.
2006-09-25 05:12:56 · answer #9 · answered by RB 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I heard, from a very uber-fanatical Catholic woman at my church, that it opens you up to demons. As, apperantly, does martial arts and anything brought over from the Orient (except Anime, her daughter loves anime and that's allowed).
2006-09-25 05:14:13 · answer #10 · answered by sister steph 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋