Christians: are yoga and meditation the work of Satan?

Question

I've heard some christians say that the chants and doing postures are like worshiping false gods. This is why I ask...

Answer 1

I find it a bit sad when a fundamentalist Christian incorrectly describes the intent of meditation or the concept of 'emptiness'. Emptiness has nothing to do with expelling all thoughts from them mind. Meditation encourages us to *accept* and *allow* thoughts and formations without becoming attached to them, letting those attachments rule us.

As a Buddhist I participate in a "non-denominational" meditation group, led by a Christian where we are inclusive of all manner of meditation. I also have a friend who is an evangelical Christian and we have had long, long discourses and the very question you've posted.

Christian meditation has been practiced ever since there were Christians and in fact Jesus was a prolific meditator.

Clearly there are very divergent views on meditation with the Christian community. My friend, for example, is afraid that if he were to meditate that it would be like an open invitation for the the devil to come right in and make himself at home."

However...

Joshua 1:8

“This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein 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.”

Note: A bonus scripture for those who may be afraid of what they may encounter in stillness:

Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy G-d is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Answer 2

Did you know that the word meditation can be found multiple places in the bible and purely in a positive light? In fact, the Bible tells us that you SHOULD meditate on scripture. Please see Joshua 1:8,

("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 1:2, etc. I will post below a link of all the different scriptures in which the word 'meditate' can be found (in the New International Version)

However, it is worth noting that the meditation spoken of in Scripture is different from the meditation you are probably speaking of (such as Transcendental Meditation, etc.). Christian meditation is meditation in which the individual focuses on a word or scripture in order to more fully understand it. It can even be chanted like a mantra if that helps.

I cannot speak as to whether or not is is the work of Satan (being that I don't believe in Satan), and I feel that meditation is a VERY beneficial practice. Studies show that it actually can increase lifespan and reduce medical conditions from ocurring. I can only say that I don't know why your God would create/allow the potential for such a beneficial practice if it weren't so good for us to do!

It increases your body's natural production of melatonin, the chemical in your brain that increases T cell production to fight off bacteria and cancer cells.Also, The antioxidant activity of melatonin has been shown to increase the average life span of mice by 20% in some studies!

Anyway, I hope that answers your questions. :-)

Answer 3

Some Christian sects like to make up all sorts of things. For many such groups, anything that doesn't fit into their defintional idols is automatically 'not god/the work of satan'.

What is Yoga---Yoga is stretching the body and using breathing techniques---aren't satanist all lazy people?!?

What is meditation---sitting bringing a state of peace and connectedness within the self---isn't satan all about pain and anachy?!?

Answer 4

I don't know much about Yoga, but meditation can be a part of Christian practice. I've meditated on the cross (your relationship with God: Vertical, and relationships with others: Horizontal). Many prayers can be a form of meditation.

Answer 5

(Kait - stop the bible thumpin! It would be a little hard for Yoga to originate with a blatantly anti-Christian philosphy, since Yoga originated thousands of years before Christ walked the earth.)

Yoga is a Sanscrit word which means "union", in a spiritual context, "union with God". There are many forms of yoga. In the western world, when we speak of yoga, usually we are thinking only of the stretching and breathing exercises. This is Hatha Yoga. Hatha means body, so Hatha Yoga is "union with God through the body". Another form of yoga is Bhakti Yoga. This means "union with God through the heart, through devotion".
For a better understanding, google "eight limbs of yoga".

Meditation, or Dhyana Yoga, can be put simply as relaxing and quieting the mind's chatter, so you can better connect to yourself, and to God.

Ditto on the "why would Satan want you to do that?"

Answer 6

If you Wiki 'yoga' it means to connect - body, mind & spirit.

Xians fear anything that doesn't support belief in their specific invisible sky chappie. Well, they fear lotsa things really - I think most of all they fear going to hell and anything that could be contrued as being a sin could give them a one way ticket.
This doesn't make sense, like many things to do with religions don't make sense, when you consider that a serial killer, if he's born again, gets an auto ticket.

Answer 7

Yoga
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).

Meditation (non christian)
Contemplative spirituality is an extremely dangerous practice for any person who is concerned with living a biblically God-centered life. It is most commonly associated with the Emerging Church Movement, which is riddled with abhorrent, false teachings. It is also used by many different groups that have little, if anything, to do with Christianity.

In practice, contemplative spirituality is primarily centered around meditation, though not meditation with a biblical perspective. Passages in Scripture such as Joshua 1:8 actually exhort us to meditate: "Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed." Notice what the focus of meditation should be: the Word of God. Contemplative spirituality driven meditation focuses on nothing, literally. A practitioner is exhorted to completely empty his/her mind, to just "be." Supposedly this helps oneself open up to a greater spiritual experience. However, we are exhorted in Scripture to transform our mind to that of Christ's, to have His mind. Emptying our minds opposes goes contrary to such active, conscious transformation.

Answer 8

No they cannot go together. Yoga's source is in Eastern Mysticism/Hinduism. That would make it idolotry for a Christian.

Answer 9

everything that Christians dislike is of satan ,god's first son.
And don't even recognize a god or satan ,zeus or mother goose for that matter.

Answer 10

No way! On the contrary that which gives you a more flexible, limber body and peace of mind is the work of the Creator.