Is it okay for a Catholic to practice Yoga?

  • Thread starter Thread starter followingtheway
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
triumphguy said:
Like what? Rugby?
Click to expand...
Those Olympics you are about to watch - they still perform a re-enactment of the pagan ceremony of lighting the Olympic flame from the rays of the sun in Greece before they send it on its way to wherever the Games are being held, y’know.

Of course the whole reason the ancient Olympics was brought into being (and held in Olympia, hence their name) was as a celebration in honour of the ancient Greek gods who were thought to reside in that part of the world. So they too believed in the idea of worshipping the gods by moving one’s body.

And yet none of the good Christian souls here bats an eyelid at the idea of watching such a spectacle. :shrugs:
 
What makes you think that there are no demonic principalities and powers behind Hinduism?
Viviphilia said:
Are you suggesting that you believe in Hinduism?
Click to expand...
I am stating that there are REAL demonic powers at work in Hinduism.
 
bearer said:
They are correct in this regard. If our offender has not asked for our forgiveness, we are not obligated to forgive him or her.

It’s the same with confession. In order to seek Christ’s forgiveness, we must go to Him and ask for it.
Click to expand...
You are absolutely wrong. Terribly wrong. Forgiveness between people is not the Sacramental Confession with a priest. I will be doing an essay on this when I put Jimmy Akin in our Hall of Shame.

And I will pray for all the people with this errant view that they will not have to pay the consequence that Jesus mentioned that to not forgive, they will not be forgiven.
 
aicirt said:
Okay Betty, if it isn’t a Hindu practice, what is it?
Click to expand...
LilyM summed it up quite nicely a few posts ago:
Many many MANY people understand quite a different meaning by the word ‘yoga’ - they use and understand it to mean simply the physical exercises by themselves, with the sole and only aim being better physical health. Nothing more - as a lot of atheists who do it will attest. Not that this is the only definition of the word, but it is a perfectly valid one…
Click to expand...
 
Conqueror said:
What makes you think that there are no demonic principalities and powers behind Hinduism?

I am stating that there are REAL demonic powers at work in Hinduism.
Click to expand...
Ooooo… scary! Yoga might cause demonic possession! :bigyikes:

Sounds like you could have a plot for a cheap made-for-TV movie there. Innocent Catholic practices ancient yoga moves. In so doing, she unwittingly causes the release of some bizarre Hindu demon. Bad special effects ensues!

You give Hinduism too much credibility.
 
What makes you think that there are no demonic principalities and powers behind Hinduism?

I am stating that there are REAL demonic powers at work in Hinduism.
Viviphilia said:
Ooooo… scary! Yoga might cause demonic possession! :bigyikes:

Sounds like you could have a plot for a cheap made-for-TV movie there. Innocent Catholic practices ancient yoga moves. In so doing, she unwittingly causes the release of some bizarre Hindu demon. Bad special effects ensues!

You give Hinduism too much credibility.
Click to expand...
satan loves it when you make fun of his work to destroy. I never said that yoga causes demonic possession. Principalities and powers are a biblical concept. Is poking fun at the devil’s work also approved by the scriptures?
 
Conqueror said:
What makes you think that there are no demonic principalities and powers behind Hinduism?

I am stating that there are REAL demonic powers at work in Hinduism.

satan loves it when you make fun of his work to destroy. I never said that yoga causes demonic possession. Principalities and powers are a biblical concept. Is poking fun at the devil’s work also approved by the scriptures?
Click to expand...
The point is that even if there are demonic powers behind hinduism the physical exercise involved in yoga when seperated from the spiritual exercise, is just that, a workout. It is no longer a hindu practice beccause you have removed all elements of hinduism from it. It is instead a purely nuetral exercise routine, no demonic influence involved. 🤷
 
BettyBoop416 said:
LilyM summed it up quite nicely a few posts ago:
Click to expand...
And Betty, even with LilyM’s nice summary, it still a Hindu practice. 🤷

Namaste Betty…that’s Sanskrit for bowing to you. Sanskrit is the liturigical language of Hindu.
 
thewanderer said:
The point is that even if there are demonic powers behind hinduism the physical exercise involved in yoga when seperated from the spiritual exercise, is just that, a workout. It is no longer a hindu practice beccause you have removed all elements of hinduism from it. It is instead a purely nuetral exercise routine, no demonic influence involved. 🤷
Click to expand...
Why would you practice yoga based on Hinduism, when there are so many healthy exercise routines? I wouldn’t want to do anything that could possible lead anyone away from the Lord Jesus. Those who aren’t born-again aren’t concerned about that.
 
aicirt said:
And Betty, even with LilyM’s nice summary, it still a Hindu practice. 🤷

Namaste Betty…that’s Sanskrit for bowing to you. Sanskrit is the liturigical language of Hindu.
Click to expand...
and latin is the liturgical language of the Church. Does that mean that anytime an atheistic scholar uses latin they are practicing Catholicism??? No, because latin is not intrinsicly connected to Catholicism just as the particular physical postures and breathing exercises are not intrinsically linked to Hinduism. They can be seperated. This is the ridiculous “you can’t sing any hymns written by protestants” argument. The origins of a thing do not always determine what it is. Just because a particular hymn was written by a protestant doesn’t mean the Hymn can’t be used at Mass. Just because Sanskrit is the liturgical language of Hindu’s doesn’t mean it can’t be used by non-hindus. Just because the particular physical exercises involved in yoga originated from some Hindu, that doesn’t mean that other people can’t avail themselves of them.

(just for further clarification, Just because Latin was originally the language of pagan Rome and so the liturgical language of their pagan worship to the many “gods” [who happen to be widely thought to havve been demons] doesn’t mean it can’t later be put to a different use… say, becoming the official language of the Roman Catholic Church.)
 
Conqueror said:
Why would you practice yoga based on Hinduism, when there are so many healthy exercise routines? I wouldn’t want to do anything that could possible lead anyone away from the Lord Jesus. Those who aren’t born-again aren’t concerned about that.
Click to expand...
So you are claiming to know whether or not I care about being close to Christ? Please leave such ad hominems out of your future posts.

My point is that the physical exercises in themselves are not inherently Hindu. And so will not lead one towards Hinduism if removed from all the Hindu spirituality that often accompanies those particular exercises. Unless you can prove that the physical poses themselves are intrinsically connected to Hinduism then you have to accept that they are not, and so are perfectly neutral.
 
Conqueror said:
What makes you think that there are no demonic principalities and powers behind Hinduism?

I am stating that there are REAL demonic powers at work in Hinduism.

satan loves it when you make fun of his work to destroy. I never said that yoga causes demonic possession. Principalities and powers are a biblical concept. Is poking fun at the devil’s work also approved by the scriptures?
Click to expand...
OK, which REAL demonic powers are activated by yoga? Is it demonic possession or demonic summoning or some other hellish evil? Exactly which yoga postures have demonic effects? Also, what about common yoga positions like bending over and touching your toes? Are we risking eternal damnation by merely stretching our arms when we wake up in the morning?
 
thewanderer said:
and latin is the liturgical language of the Church. Does that mean that anytime an atheistic scholar uses latin they are practicing Catholicism??? No, because latin is not intrinsicly connected to Catholicism just as the particular physical postures and breathing exercises are not intrinsically linked to Hinduism. They can be seperated. This is the ridiculous “you can’t sing any hymns written by protestants” argument. The origins of a thing do not always determine what it is. Just because a particular hymn was written by a protestant doesn’t mean the Hymn can’t be used at Mass. Just because Sanskrit is the liturgical language of Hindu’s doesn’t mean it can’t be used by non-hindus. Just because the particular physical exercises involved in yoga originated from some Hindu, that doesn’t mean that other people can’t avail themselves of them.

(just for further clarification, Just because Latin was originally the language of pagan Rome and so the liturgical language of their pagan worship to the many “gods” [who happen to be widely thought to havve been demons] doesn’t mean it can’t later be put to a different use… say, becoming the official language of the Roman Catholic Church.)
Click to expand...
My discussion with Betty concerns yoga being a Hindu practice. It is . And the liturgical language of Hindu is Sanskrit. There is nothing wrong with Sanskrit. I don’t think there is anything wrong with yoga as long as you use it for exercise. I did not and would not use it to get closer to any diety. Only god I’m interested in is God.

So that being said, I’m out of here. Peace and good-bye! :takeoff:
 
Why would you practice yoga based on Hinduism, when there are so many healthy exercise routines? I wouldn’t want to do anything that could possible lead anyone away from the Lord Jesus. Those who aren’t born-again aren’t concerned about that.
thewanderer said:
So you are claiming to know whether or not I care about being close to Christ? Please leave such ad hominems out of your future posts.

My point is that the physical exercises in themselves are not inherently Hindu. And so will not lead one towards Hinduism if removed from all the Hindu spirituality that often accompanies those particular exercises. Unless you can prove that the physical poses themselves are intrinsically connected to Hinduism then you have to accept that they are not, and so are perfectly neutral.
Click to expand...
I have done nothing to offend you and cannot be responsible if you are easily offended. If you are going to accuse me, could you provide evidence?
 
Viviphilia said:
OK, which REAL demonic powers are activated by yoga? Is it demonic possession or demonic summoning or some other hellish evil? Exactly which yoga postures have demonic effects? Also, what about common yoga positions like bending over and touching your toes? Are we risking eternal damnation by merely stretching our arms when we wake up in the morning?
Click to expand...
Go ahead and promote yoga and Hinduism all you like. You might even lead some away from Christ this way.
 
Conqueror said:
Go ahead and promote yoga and Hinduism all you like. You might even lead some away from Christ this way.
Click to expand...
I’m not promoting Hinduism in any way shape or form. You’re the one giving it credibility when you pretend like Hindu demons are real. The healthy stretching postures of yoga are not limited to any one religious belief. It’s just stretching, breathing, and good body posture.
 
Viviphilia said:
I’m not promoting Hinduism in any way shape or form. You’re the one giving it credibility when you pretend like Hindu demons are real. The healthy stretching postures of yoga are not limited to any one religious belief. It’s just stretching, breathing, and good body posture.
Click to expand...
Are you sure that there are no demons in Hinduism leading millions astray? What makes these people have multiple gods and worship statues?
 
Conqueror said:
Are you sure that there are no demons in Hinduism leading millions astray? What makes these people have multiple gods and worship statues?
Click to expand...
There is plenty of bad stuff about Hinduism. But yoga doesn’t belong to Hinduism. Yoga is practiced by a variety of religions and philosophies, especially Buddhism. That fact reveals to us that yoga does not belong to any religion. If you feel better calling it something other than yoga, feel free. But if you want to learn more about stretching, resources having to do with yoga are an excellent place to look. Like I said before, when I get a book on yoga I only look at the pictures. There are probably even Christian-themed yoga resources out there. But it’s all pretty much the same stretches.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top