Catholics against yoga?

[Rudy_Baga]

mirandajb

For myself, I do yoga exercise first thing in the morning. Then after my shower, I pray the LOTH and spend time in medication.

Jim

Thanks for that comment, I needed the laugh. I have days I want to start with prayer and medication too…

 

[Rudy_Baga]

Personally for me, id rather just be safe than sorry with these types of things. For my exercise I lift weights

Lifting weights cannot be aligned with the Catholic church due to the possibility of a serious increase in pride, vanity and narcissism. Surely it is a sin. And since all Hindu and Buddhists think, Catholics are not allowed to think anymore lest they fall into the trap of becoming Hindu or Buddhist leading to a destruction of the Catholic faith.
Many of the comments in this thread stem from a misunderstanding of other disciplines. Much like most people who attack the Catholic church have a fundamental misunderstanding of Catholicism. When I read such foolishness as I’ve read here, I see why so many think that Christians are simple-minded.

I breathe, but yoga teaches that breathing can increase prana. I am no longer allowed to breathe. By doing so, I am worshiping Hindu deities.

I stretch, but yoga teaches that stretching opens up the energy meridians. I am no longer allowed to stretch lest I fall into worshiping Hindu Deities.

I am a vegan, but yoga teaches that a vegan lifestyle purifies the body and mind, both a part of spiritual growth and development. I am no longer allowed to eat a healthy diet. Doing so will cause me to become Hindu and I will no longer be able to believe that Jesus is the true Son of God. (and I was SOOO enjoying all of that healthy food…)

I guess Christians came too late to the game to enjoy doing any of those things so necessary to actually living in this body that God deemed fit enough for us to live in.

 

[lssanjose]

Love your posts, Rudy Baga! I had to chuckle at the last one.

 

[AthenaC]

I guess Christians came too late to the game to enjoy doing any of those things so necessary to actually living in this body that God deemed fit enough for us to live in.

And this is the crux. The Bible does indeed say that “There is nothing new under the sun.” If it was true back then, it’s even more so now.

 

[Bill_Martin]

Lifting weights cannot be aligned with the Catholic church due to the possibility of a serious increase in pride, vanity and narcissism. Surely it is a sin. And since all Hindu and Buddhists think, Catholics are not allowed to think anymore lest they fall into the trap of becoming Hindu or Buddhist leading to a destruction of the Catholic faith.
Many of the comments in this thread stem from a misunderstanding of other disciplines. Much like most people who attack the Catholic church have a fundamental misunderstanding of Catholicism. When I read such foolishness as I’ve read here, I see why so many think that Christians are simple-minded.

I breathe, but yoga teaches that breathing can increase prana. I am no longer allowed to breathe. By doing so, I am worshiping Hindu deities.

I stretch, but yoga teaches that stretching opens up the energy meridians. I am no longer allowed to stretch lest I fall into worshiping Hindu Deities.

I am a vegan, but yoga teaches that a vegan lifestyle purifies the body and mind, both a part of spiritual growth and development. I am no longer allowed to eat a healthy diet. Doing so will cause me to become Hindu and I will no longer be able to believe that Jesus is the true Son of God. (and I was SOOO enjoying all of that healthy food…)

I guess Christians came too late to the game to enjoy doing any of those things so necessary to actually living in this body that God deemed fit enough for us to live in.

Are you sure we’re allowed to live? We might do something wrong.

 

[dixieagle]

Thanks for that comment, I needed the laugh. I have days I want to start with prayer and medication too…

This made me actually laugh out loud.

 

[bearer]

I feel like yoga is rejected by the Catholic Church because it is from Hinduism and they believe yoga promotes it, but I would think yoga would actually quiet the mind and help someone hear God better. Then again, I am not the most knowledgeable person on yoga.

The end just not justify the means. We are not to live and do things as pagans do. If a person wants to hear God, he should stick to Christocentric activities.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

 

[AthenaC]

Are you sure we’re allowed to live? We might do something wrong.

LOL!!!

 

[lssanjose]

The end just not justify the means. We are not to live and do things as pagans do. If you want to hear God, stick to Christocentric activities.

Those being? Again, I do martial arts, does that make me a “heathen?”

 

[lssanjose]

LOL!!!

Second this.

 

[bearer]

Those being? Again, I do martial arts, does that make me a “heathen?”

Those being activities and lifestyles rooted in pagan religious and philosophical practices.

Stretching is fine. Yoga is more than stretching, even when done by someone ignorant of its true purposes.

 

[lssanjose]

Those being activities and lifestyles rooted in pagan religious and philosophical practices.

Stretching is fine. Yoga is more than stretching, even when done by someone ignorant of its true purposes.

Recall the Epistle of St. Paul to the Thessolonians to test all things, and retain what is good, and take out what isn’t. We do everything to the glory of God. The early church actually retained icons, after the initial condemnation. Okay, so what are you going to tell a fellow Brother Knight, whose wife is a Yoga instructor, for a living? What about monastics who do similar patterns to Buddhists (breathing patterns) ?

 

[bearer]

Recall the Epistle of St. Paul to the Thessolonians to test all things, and retain what is good, and take out what isn’t. We do everything to the glory of God. The early church actually retained icons, after the initial condemnation. Okay, so what are you going to tell a fellow Brother Knight, whose wife is a Yoga instructor, for a living? What about monastics who do similar patterns to Buddhists (breathing patterns) ?

I would tell him that yoga is school of eastern philosophy with practices that include certain spiritual objectives that stray from Christ. This isn’t secret. You’d be hard pressed to find a professional yoga instructor who is completely ignorant of these facts and hasn’t made at least a cursory examination of various yogis’ writings.

Seeking “enlightenment” as Hindus, Buddhists, and other eastern religious followers know it is not good because it is by its nature ignorant of Christ.

 

[lssanjose]

I would tell him that yoga is school of eastern philosophy with practices that include certain spiritual practices and objectives that stray from Christ. This isn’t secret. You’d be hard pressed to find a professional yoga instructor who is completely ignorant of these facts and hasn’t made at least a cursory examination of various yogis’ writings.

Seeking “enlightenment” as Hindus, Buddhists, and other eastern religious followers know it is not good because it is by its nature ignorant of Christ.

Tell that to Eastern Christians… Some of them would call thee, Heterodox.

 

[lssanjose]

I would tell him that yoga is school of eastern philosophy with practices that include certain spiritual objectives that stray from Christ. This isn’t secret. You’d be hard pressed to find a professional yoga instructor who is completely ignorant of these facts and hasn’t made at least a cursory examination of various yogis’ writings.

Seeking “enlightenment” as Hindus, Buddhists, and other eastern religious followers know it is not good because it is by its nature ignorant of Christ.

Then what shall we do about Wrestling, Boxing, Basketball, sports many Americans love, for they are borne from India, Greece, and the like?

 

[bearer]

Then what shall we do about Wrestling, Boxing, Basketball, sports many Americans love, for they are borne from India, Greece, and the like?

You sure do want to argue about this, don’t you? These sports do not include philosophical and religious practices by their nature. Geography is irrelevant.

How many times do I have to tell you that yoga stems from eastern religion? If you want to get to know God, stick to Christianity!

 

[Sonic]

From Researches into Chinese Superstitions: Vol. II by Fr. Henry Dore, S.J.

Foot note 2 on Pg III of the preface:

Yoga: Incantations accompanied by mysterious movements and distortions of the hands and fingers for magic purposes.

On the same page III it says…

Buddhists have also their own system of charms or “Yoga” (2), which has its “Dharani” (3) or formulas for removing “Mara” (4) and ensuring good for mankind. They have borrowed much from Taoists, hence the Reader will frequently find in this Volume a Taoist charm and Buddhist charm placed side by side each other, and producing an identical effect.

The term “Yoga” is to be understood to not only be part of Hindu mysticism, but is also prevalent in all forms of western and eastern esoteric and occult mysticism under this definition. “Yoga” can also include positions and movements of the whole body.

See also:

Thu, Oct 25 2007 Exorcism Workshop - Session 1, Part 1 - specifically starting at 55:57 of the audio file - concerning comments by Moira Noonan about Yoga.

kenrick.edu/podcast/audio/07-10-25_1.html?page=4

 

[AthenaC]

Then what shall we do about Wrestling, Boxing, Basketball, sports many Americans love, for they are borne from India, Greece, and the like?

Well those are okay because everyone knows that:

1. the net in basketball invokes the fishnet of Peter
2. boxing mimics spiritual warfare with the Devil; and
3. Jacob wrestled with an angel in the OT

In particular with basketball, though - we have the sacred rite of the NBA game and we have our canonized players to look up to.

 

[Rudy_Baga]

I would tell him that yoga is school of eastern philosophy with practices that include certain spiritual objectives that stray from Christ. This isn’t secret. You’d be hard pressed to find a professional yoga instructor who is completely ignorant of these facts and hasn’t made at least a cursory examination of various yogis’ writings.

Seeking “enlightenment” as Hindus, Buddhists, and other eastern religious followers know it is not good because it is by its nature ignorant of Christ.

And yet we are not being called to be “enlightened” in Christ? If we hide and never look out of the box, how can we truly use our free will to choose Christ? If eastern teachings claim there are energy pathways in the body, does it make it false just because they say it is so? If it is false, how then does the signal from the brain reach the big toe and tell it to move? Is it necessary to dismiss belief in the divinity of Christ for this to be possible?

 

[lssanjose]

You sure do want to argue about this, don’t you? These sports do not include philosophical and religious practices by their nature. Geography is irrelevant.

How many times do I have to tell you that yoga stems from eastern religion? If you want to get to know God, stick to Christianity!

If God created everything, then isn’t creation good? That term, Christianity, is loaded. What is an inherent Christian activity, outside of worship? (a question you’ve been avoiding)