Priest explains why yoga and new age are dangerous

[Michael_Mayo]

If an aetheist can be oppressed spiritually from using a ouiji board for fun.
Can a yogi be oppressed from doing yoga for fun?

How does a ouiji board work?

Who is the atheist oppressed?

 

[Path_Finder]

So you’re negating the advice of the retired head exorcist of the Vatican and International Association of Exorcists (life time honourary president member of the International association of exorcists), just because of a possible incorrect opinion on one occasion?

From the original interview in German: kath.net/news/40649 to a translation: cathcon.blogspot.com/2013/03/roman-exorcist-tells-pope-to-beware.html

The Roman exorcist Gabriele Amorth said that Pope Francis wanted a “poor church of the poor” like John Paul I. “I would not wish that he ends like Luciani”. John Paul I died after only 33 days in the papacy

Father Gabriele Amorth, chief exorcist of the Diocese of Rome has warned the new Pope Francis about a quick death following the fate of Pope John Paul I. “The Masons have their branches everywhere, even in the Vatican, unfortunately,” Amorth said in an interview with the Italian newspaper “Il Giornale”, which the newspaper “Österreich” online reported.

Again, I would not think it would be binding to believe every statement he has made.

I don’t know if I believe the Masons are in the Vatican. I would tend to not think so.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

It sounds like and I saw posts referring to when Yoga began, Yoga actually predates Hinduism, predates Buddhism which of course, even the Buddhas pose is somewhat of that “Lotus flower” pose of meditating.

I’d say Yoga basically is a science, exercise, etc. Not necessarily a religion or philosophy.

Of course, people can and do bring Hindu religion into it, Sri Ganesh, the elephant god and all of that. Still, some people in India seem to bring in religion, culture into a lot of things they do.

The funny thing is that the philosophy of Classical Yoga talks about a duality between consciousness and nature (Purusha and Prakriti), not a universal spirit, as in the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. Yet they both make use of the same exercises like a tool. I think any philosophy or religion can adopt them.

 

[Path_Finder]

He’s in good standing with the church.
He’s a lifetime honourary member of the International Association of Exorcists.
He was an strong admirer of Pope John Paul II. And worked under that Pope.
I’m talking about his stance on spiritual issues of yoga. Not the controversy you are talking about.

I mentioned a load of deliverance evangelists comments on yoga (if you read my other posts), they work with the church and their opinion bear gravity also. It is not one person’s opinion

And in comparison, there are and have been many Christian Yoga followers including Father Dechanet of France and Father Perreira of India.

 

[Path_Finder]

The funny thing is that the philosophy of Classical Yoga talks about a duality between consciousness and nature (Purusha and Prakriti), not a universal spirit, as in the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. Yet they both make use of the same exercises like a tool. I think any philosophy or religion can adopt them.

Yes, good post and JimOCDS’s posts were concise and informative as well. This is a question that comes up routinely, someone should write a book.

The analysis is simple, leave out the Spiritual parts though there is a lot of integration with the culture of India.

I know at times, the Spiritual comes into Yoga, I’m not sure if saying "Namaste’ which I understand can mean among other translations, “I bow to the Divine in you”, it seems to be a common greeting in India, not just in Yoga practice.

Some parts, saying “Om” and “The third eye”, those parts are a bit more questionable.

 

[OurLadysServant]

And in comparison, there are and have been many Christian Yoga followers including Father Dechanet of France and Father Perreira

Is it correct to negate an advise from an authority in the church because ‘others do it so it must be ok’?

 

[OurLadysServant]

.

I know at times, the Spiritual comes into Yoga, I’m not sure if saying "Namaste’ which I understand can mean among other translations, “I bow to the Divine in you”, it seems to be a common greeting in India, not just in Yoga practice.

Some parts, saying “Om” and “The third eye”, those parts are a bit more questionable.

Agreed
That’s the danger that is incompatible with Christianity

 

[friardchips]

I think this is a far better start to a debate - with simple questions! I don’t what you think but this feels better already.

No, not just the ceremony. That would give power to otherwise meaningless actions and objects.

This question is a thread in itself actually! The Church teaches that we as laity can’t bless a sacramental. But objects can be blessed by priests. And yet objects can be cursed. So what is the procedure or action needed for a curse upon an object by any person?

Slash doesn’t help much. Still not sure what you are asking.
“Is there a different bewteen using one’s whole person OR and an object?”

Yes. Is there a difference between using one’s whole body in a position and using an object (ringing a bell?).

We certainly have to start with the whole person befor an object can have any significance.

So, the person holds more significance than the object being used?

What we are using is at least our mind and body. Souls and heart would seem to me to involve something much deeper, like intention.

So, as a quick intelligent guess, if one is sitting down in a position that could be considered special to yoga this uses the mind and the body?

 

[Path_Finder]

.
Agreed
That’s the danger that is incompatible with Christianity

We have to be careful to not misunderstand other people as well.

Namaste means I bow to the divine in your, from what I understand, God does live inside of us and that is a Christian concept.

The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, interestingly enough and it is down to language, Spirit can be translated into breath, Yoga relies on breathing.1 Corinthians 6:19

But the definition may be broader:

Just think, one definition of breathing is indeed, “respiration”

So, since there is a divide between cultures, East and West, we have to be careful not to misunderstand others.

 

[OurLadysServant]

The funny thing is that the philosophy of Classical Yoga talks about a duality between consciousness and nature (Purusha and Prakriti), not a universal spirit, as in the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. Yet they both make use of the same exercises like a tool. I think any philosophy or religion can adopt them.

Ewtn have even had speakers speak out against yoga
Some quotes:

I was very surprised to learn that yoga, even “Christian” yoga, is not OK. I learned this from Johnette Benkovic on EWTN, and she had an expert on New-Age things as her guest. Basically, the poses of yoga are occult symbols in themselves, even if you don’t do any meditation. The analogy they used was the Sign of the Cross. When you make the Sign of the Cross, it is a prayer, even if your mind isn’t on the Sign. Please do yourself a HUGE favor and stay away from yoga and choose some other form of exercise. The health benefits cannot compensate for the fact that it is an occult activity. Johnette has a radio program on EWTN where you can call in, called “Moments of Truth Live.” Why not call in and ask this question? The website is www.lhla.org

I agree with Sam. They talked about yoga on Life on the Rock a while ago. The guest said that the point of yoga was to release the serpent from your spine and have him climb all through your body… something like that. Anyways, the serpent? Where have I heard that before…

lhla.org/videos/vcna.htm?..69cfdd753b015c

I happen to hold Johnette Benkovic in very high esteem and the evidence she presents helped me to understand why even secularized yoga-type exercises are not that great. This was hard for me to accept because my mom used to take yoga lessons, and I always thought yoga was a wonderful activity. But after hearing what Johnette and her guest have to say, I couldn’t help but change my position.

Jesus warns us about rotton fruit coming from a rotton tree
“There is no sound tree that produces rotton fruit, nor again a rotton tree that produces sound fruit.” (Lk 6:43)
To the extent that you are rooted in the occult and other non-christian practices will the fruit you produce be rotton or withered.
Jesus warns us several times about being rooted in good soil - see the parable of the sower (Lk 8:4-8) and the fig tree (Lk 13:6-8). The good soil is of course Jesus and the word of God.
“Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5)

For more information on the roots of Yoga, and other similar eastern meditation techniques follow this link. flameministries.org/word.htm

 

[Mystical_Seeker]

I don’t know how to verify this, but once I heard someone whose opinions I generally respected say that “yoke” as in “my yoke is easy and my burden is light” is of the origin of (or had original meaning or something) as “yoga” so "my yoga is easy … " is another interpretation of the original language.

Of course he’s not talking about sitting in some weird position or laying out crystals or whatever. I think he’s talking about “being yoked” with him, as in two oxen are tied together so they walk the same direction together. They share the burden; Jesus did His, now we do ours.

It’s easy to walk with Him because all you need is an loving and merciful mind and heart. For anybody who thinks it’s about a bunch of anxiety-producing stuff like worrying over whether sitting in a certain position will basically sell our souls to the devil, I say the peace of Christ isn’t working in them at the moment because He took care of all that complicated stuff so we could be yoked to Him, as opposed to trying to fill in His place after He abandons it… one way to look at this is too much dependence on head knowledge.

1 Cor 8:1b
we realize that “all of us have knowledge”; knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.

I can sit in a position that may bear an uncanny resemblance to some person who believes some weird stuff, without placing my life or soul at any sort of risk. I don’t need to be able to defend that against someone who comes up with arcane reasoning in an attempt to demonstrate otherwise.

If you think it’s dangerous to sit like that, don’t. You may tell me your opinion. But when you insist your opinion is TRVTH, then among my options I can buy it, fight, flee, and/or be amused …

 

[OurLadysServant]

I don’t know how to verify this, but once I heard someone whose opinions I generally respected say that “yoke” as in “my yoke is easy and my burden is light” is of the origin of (or had original meaning or something) as “yoga” so "my yoga is easy … " is another interpretation of the original language.

Of course he’s not talking about sitting in some weird position or laying out crystals or whatever. I think he’s talking about “being yoked” with him, as in two oxen are tied together so they walk the same direction together. They share the burden; Jesus did His, now we do ours.

It’s easy to walk with Him because all you need is an loving and merciful mind and heart. For anybody who thinks it’s about a bunch of anxiety-producing stuff like worrying over whether sitting in a certain position will basically sell our souls to the devil, I say the peace of Christ isn’t working in them at the moment because He took care of all that complicated stuff so we could be yoked to Him, as opposed to trying to fill in His place after He abandons it… one way to look at this is too much dependence on head knowledge.

1 Cor 8:1b
we realize that “all of us have knowledge”; knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.

I can sit in a position that may bear an uncanny resemblance to some person who believes some weird stuff, without placing my life or soul at any sort of risk. I don’t need to be able to defend that against someone who comes up with arcane reasoning in an attempt to demonstrate otherwise.

If you think it’s dangerous to sit like that, don’t. You may tell me your opinion. But when you insist your opinion is TRVTH, then among my options I can buy it, fight, flee, and/or be amused …

Yoga yoke means union with the Absolute everyone and everything is a divine universal god and pursuit of union with it through postures and mantras.
Yoga predates Christianity so has nothing to do with Jesus. As it says in the church document on eastern meditation, -it’s peace cannot be confused with the peace of the Holy Spirit. There are incompatible concepts between Christianity and yoga

 

[OurLadysServant]

We have to be careful to not misunderstand other people as well.

Namaste means I bow to the divine in your, from what I understand, God does live inside of us and that is a Christian concept.

The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, interestingly enough and it is down to language, Spirit can be translated into breath, Yoga relies on breathing.1 Corinthians 6:19

But the definition may be broader:

Just think, one definition of breathing is indeed, “respiration”

So, since there is a divide between cultures, East and West, we have to be careful not to misunderstand others.

‘I bow to the divine in you’ means I bow to the Universal Self the Absolute Being that everyone and everything is a god, everyone is collectively the same god. That’s the yoga god Brahmen. It’s heresy for a christian.
Yoga’s god is not Yahweh /the Holy Spirit. It’s not the God who died for our sins in His son Jesus and sent us His Holy Spirit.

Satan sought to take a place like god,
As St Michael’s the archangel’s name translates: ‘Who is like god?’
As satan said to Adam and Eve in the bible; ‘When you eat the fruit of this tree you will be like God.’
As satan said to Jesus, ‘I will give you all these things if you now down and worship me.’

The false spirit masquerades as an angel of light, a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Catholics cannot worship other gods

 

[OurLadysServant]

She worked directly with Father Perreira:

In turn, just because Father Amorth alleges and I saw other articles about this than just wikipedia, that Vatican police are involved in the disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi, I would not be compelled to necessarily believe it just because a Priest/Exorcist alleges this.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Emanuela_Orlandi

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriele_Amorth#Sex_parties

Padre Pio saint and miracle worker and stigmatist of the church was given a terrible misinformation from a commission sent to look at whether he was of God, and he ended up being forbidden to say public mass , hear confessions, speak with his spiritual director, meet with people,
And- later he was given back his good reputation and good name and freedom to perform his ministry by the Pope, and since his death has been made a full saint.

People can be misrepresented.
It doesn’t mean their teachings are wrong .

I have also quoted many other voices in my posts, it’s not just one person’s opinion that can be negated to justify a cause

 

[OurLadysServant]

---

 

[Michael_Mayo]

I think this is a far better start to a debate - with simple questions! I don’t what you think but this feels better already.

Now we are cooking with gas!

This question is a thread in itself actually! The Church teaches that we as laity can’t bless a sacramental. But objects can be blessed by priests. And yet objects can be cursed. So what is the procedure or action needed for a curse upon an object by any person?

I don’t know but I’ll bet it has a great deal to do with intention rather than procedure.

Yes. Is there a difference between using one’s whole body in a position and using an object (ringing a bell?).

i don’t think so.

So, the person holds more significance than the object being used?

I think so.

So, as a quick intelligent guess, if one is sitting down in a position that could be considered special to yoga this uses the mind and the body?

Yes, it is a body posture involving the mind to sit down.
Now why one is sitting and what it means to them and what they expect to occomplish involves intention and perhaps also, as I thought you brought up in another thread, context.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

OurLadysServant, why not pay some attention to what the Church actually teaches rather all these other so called experts with no authority.

How is your mother?

 

[Michael_Mayo]

There are incompatible concepts between Christianity and yoga

Yes, yoga philosophy but " 28That does not mean that genuine practices of meditation which come from the Christian East and from the great non-Christian religions, which prove attractive to the man of today who is divided and disoriented, cannot constitute a suitable means of helping the person who prays to come before God with an interior peace, even in the midst of external pressures."

ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFMED.HTM

What does that statement mean to you?

 

[friardchips]

She worked directly with Father Perreira:

This article doesn’t prove anything…

Whether or not St. Therese knew if yoga had been used is one issue with this.

Whether or not this news item is accurate.

Whether or not the priest did put any so-called healing down to yoga.

Whether or not it was down to yoga and could be proved or whether instead it is because God blessed St. Therese’s works in everything she did. In other words, they were healed due to her prayers.

If St. Therese knew the implications of yoga then it might have been that she would not have said “yes”.

As I said: St. Therese was a cloistered nun who would not have been thinking about researching yoga. She would have trusted her priest, out of obedience; nowadays, we have many priests stating that yoga methods are not compatible with Christianity. If someone had pointed this out to her, which isn’t likely in the case of priest who is feverishly spreading its popularity, due to his very biased opinion, then maybe she would not have welcomed this despite the suggested results in this particular article.

 

[friardchips]

‘I bow to the divine in you’ means I bow to the Universal Self the Absolute Being that everyone and everything is a god, everyone is collectively the same god. That’s the yoga god Brahmen. It’s heresy for a christian.
Yoga’s god is not Yahweh /the Holy Spirit. It’s not the God who died for our sins in His son Jesus and sent us His Holy Spirit.

Satan sought to take a place like god,
As St Michael’s the archangel’s name translates: ‘Who is like god?’
As satan said to Adam and Eve in the bible; ‘When you eat the fruit of this tree you will be like God.’
As satan said to Jesus, ‘I will give you all these things if you now down and worship me.’

The false spirit masquerades as an angel of light, a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Catholics cannot worship other gods