So, a christian and a yoga instructor were arguing... well the christian was arguing let me point that out clearly and the yoga instructor was quite calm...the whole thing was about how yoga opens you up to demonic activity and how yoga is bad and not allowed for christians... I remember hearing things like this when I was church but apparently it has gotten more severe... I really want to know what others think...my whole thing is that if christians are so afraid of yoga it is because they are afraid to open their minds up to their own strength. Preachers teach against it because they don't want you to realize you can feel whole and healthy, and relieve stress without having to pray or read the bible...
Nothing bad has happened to me and I have done yoga for years...I guess satan has just fooled me then right?
2007-09-12 02:29:05 · 20 answers · asked by pr0tegemoi 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My understanding of why a christian should not practice yoga has to do with putting your physical body into the positions of the Baphomet or inverted five pointed star ( the symbol for satan). It opens your body up to demons to enter.
Here is an excerpt from an excellent article:
“These are postures that are offered to the 330 million Hindu gods. Yoga postures really are; they are offerings to the gods. If you do these postures and you do this breathing technique and this meditation, then you will be accepted by a god, little “G.” That’s the real danger,” she said.
Laurette told me that one of her PraiseMoves certified personal trainers visited India for three months on a mission trip, and she would often see people in the streets doing yoga poses in front of the statues of the gods.
“Romans 12:1-2 says we are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God,” added Laurette. “Here they are doing something very similar with these postures to their 330 million gods, and it is scary. So we abstain from things offered to idols—Acts 15:29.”
In yoga they do what they call pranayama breathing. Prana is the Hindu word for life force, the same concept as the word chi in some martial arts. Yoga breathing attempts to manipulate that life energy, which Laurette believes is perilous. “That is a dangerous thing,” she said, “because I think that we are coming out from under the blood of Jesus when we do stuff like that, and we are no match for the enemy in those areas. I think of what Paul said in Ephesians 2:2, that Satan is the prince of the power of the air. We are not talking about oxygen.”
A third area of concern in yoga is the concept of emptying the mind, which is contradictory to what Christianity teaches. As Laurette explained, “We are transformed by the renewing of our minds, not the emptying.”
Along with emptying the mind, yoga guides people into astral travel, which is where people actually leave their bodies, a practice that Laurette was familiar with and has since questioned. “I wonder with those experiences when I left my body what got in there when I was gone?” Laurette posed. “As a Christian with the Holy Spirit in there, we are not going to be possessed, I don’t think. But one could easily be oppressed.”
Clearly, with this understanding of yoga, Christians should think twice before heading to the local gym for a yoga class. But if you are a Christian who thinks it’s all right to attend yoga classes because you think you are strong enough not to fall prey to the spiritual deception that’s being taught and you enjoy the physical benefits, Laurette pleads in all seriousness that you to please consider a younger believer or weaker Christian who is watching your lifestyle. If you go to a yoga class, chances are they might be inspired to go also, and they could fall completely off track in their walk with God.
The ‘Christian Yoga’ Controversy
Can yoga and its religious roots be separated? Some who have been concerned about Eastern influences of yoga have looked to hatha yoga for answers, since hatha yoga is supposed to simply be the flexibility exercises without the spiritual influences. But Laurette is convinced that yoga and Hinduism are inextricably linked, and beyond that, there can be no such thing as Christian yoga.
“Christian yoga is an oxymoron,” said Laurette. “It is like saying someone is a Christian Buddhist or a Christian Hindu. What some people are doing is that they are trying to make yoga Christian. Even Hindus are saying that you cannot do that.”
Just because you don't see the evidence yet doesn't mean there is no harm.
The very fact you have already made your mind up about this activity even though there are scriptural reasons not to participate shows the evidence of rebellion that has been planted in your heart even through this very activity.
2007-09-13 10:57:56 · answer #1 · answered by steinbeck11 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yea, I've often wondered about this too. I've heard of rare cases where people have just simply caused themselves bodily harm or chiropractors have caused paralysis in patients, but no more than something like 1 per 100,000 people. Christians can't refute that exercise in general and done in moderation keeps the body healthy. So, I also don't understand why Christians can't do simple yoga stretching exercises. Maybe members of the Christian clergy who also practice yoga could create a form of yoga for Christians and call it Christian Yoga or something, right? It seems zealous Christians just don't want to lose people to Buddhism or Hinduism, ya know?
2007-09-12 02:59:38 · answer #2 · answered by endpov 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not all Christians are an example of the Christ mind.
There are guided disciplines that lend to cult influence and control.
King David said he contemplated the commandments, statutes, and judgments. These are words of the Almighty.
Yoga as an exercise to achieve physical fitness, balance, and self awareness is not precluded anywhere. Nor is self-examination/contemplation (meditation) if this is done based on the righteousness that is given to us for thought.
If a person adds in the twisted nonsense of animals then the path is leading to nowhere or worse.
2007-09-12 11:41:42 · answer #3 · answered by cordsoforion 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
People should use their common sense and their personal choice / free agency to live their lives the way that makes them healthy & happiest.
Common sense dictates that NO person, not even so called religious clergy have the right to tell others how to live their lives.
Do Unto You As You Would Have Them Do Unto You is the most basic christian doctrine that obviously the christian from this news report was not adherering to.
2007-09-12 11:20:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You'll need to find out for yourself.
I recommend you take the time to do an in-depth study of the doctrines of the nature of man, and the sufficiency of Christ.
Sure, a person can feel whole and healthy, stress free, but those are NOT the reasons for prayer or Bible reading. They are the RESULTS of following God.
Yoga is from the flesh, what man can do, and lasts only for a short time. What God has done lasts forever.
2007-09-12 02:39:40 · answer #5 · answered by Jed 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yoga is not a religious practice. It's stretching your muscles. It leaves you with a very relaxed, almost "enlightened" feeling when you're done, but it's no different from the glow you get from an aerobics class. The breathing exercises are meant to focus yourself on your body, posture, and for easing into the relaxed state you need to be in to attempt the poses, it doesn't need to be "meditation". Yoga is SO good for your body--I have athritis (even though I'm not even 30 yet :( ) and it helps a TON to do yoga for. If I relied on only meds for my pain I'd have to get a prescription or rip my stomach up with ibuprophen. People shouldn't knock it if they don't understand it--it really, really helps people.
2007-09-12 02:39:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Yoga is a religious practice, not merely just excercise.
Christians are not afraid of Yoga, they just know they are not suppose to OPEN THEIR MINDS to things not of God. It does allow demonic spirits in. Just like when one uses drugs. It opens the mind. It is about self, also, which, if you are a Christian, are suppose to deny. I don't care how you sugar coat it. It is a religious practice, and it isn't right with God.
2007-09-12 02:47:30 · answer #7 · answered by byHisgrace 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I have only done yoga one time myself. I imagine that many people in any church (not just Christians) may be afraid of the unknown. I know I was. I thought that if I committed a "sin" that "satan" would get his toe in the door and be able to tempt me to do more and more wrong. How foolish I was.
I now realize that each individual on this planet is on his or her own journey. Each person needs to find out for him or herself what is best for them.
If yoga works for you, then do what makes you happy. "Satan" does not have you fooled. In fact, I now understand who "Satan" really is.
“Lucifer” is mentioned only once in the biblical text of the Old Testament. The name is a translation of “the Son of the Morning,” and is again mentioned by John the Beloved in Revelation. Jesus became mortal and received a body of flesh, which “flesh,” or human nature, when revealed according to its true meaning, is synonymous with Lucifer, often referred to as “the devil” or “Satan."
In the symbolic relation given in which Jesus is tempted by the devil, he was contemplating the vast powers passed on to him from the DNA patterns of God, when his human side began to tempt him: (See Matthew 4:2–11.)
If Lucifer were an actual personage, why would Jesus allow him to “take him up into the holy city” or “take him up into an exceeding high mountain”? The conversation took place in Jesus’ mind. The experience was shared with his disciples to teach them that serving God is more important than giving in to human nature and its desires. In essence, John is saying that Jesus was born into the same mortal flesh as the rest of us, but overcame the flesh. He was born into the world to teach us by his example and laws how to overcome our own flesh (Lucifer), which in reality is our human nature—“the prince of the kings of the earth.”
Your spirit knows what brings you balance and peace and happiness. "Satan", or your flesh would have you miserable and unhappy. Do unto others what you would have them do to you, and "Satan" will not fool you.
;0)
2007-09-12 11:26:59 · answer #8 · answered by smallone 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He seemed very poised and his answers were great... I think Chris Wallace did an excellent job interviewing him as well. I am glad Obama finally acquiesced to a FOX interview as this is an audience with whom he needs to prove himself. He probably should have Done the interview BEFORE the PA primary, though, in order to show his abilities to the critical voters in that state.
2016-05-17 21:25:13 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its the meditation part were you are putting your mind in a certain state that opens your mind up for demonic domination or rather be possessed by a demon, demon possession is not always realized, not like in the scriptures were the person is salvating at the mouth and running around throwing themself into the fire, most people with demons have no idea they have one, so don't be so sure. You can have a demon in your emotions in your mind and in one more part, I forgot, but I have not been to the class for a while so I can't remember which part is the one that always shows itself so much.
2007-09-12 02:41:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋