Priest explains why yoga and new age are dangerous

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rosarydevotion
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Greetings in our Lord Jesus Christ.

I read some materials and went to a yoga place for a 1 week session. Hindu brothers & sisters claim ownership to these practices. So they feel free to mix Hindu Godly chants & prayers into yoga and breathing. I was thinking about our Lord when they were doing that. I felt little odd because myself and another Muslim brother were the only ones who were quiet. Everyone else were loudly chanting and singing. For example, they were praising the elephant god. In the western world, yoga spread just holding the “Om” part of the chant.

Although I was interested in the beginning, later my interest slipped out.

Breathing… - our Lord or our Saints never said anything so important about any kind of breathing. Saints were all in Love with God.

I do not like to blame anyone. Whether Christians, Muslims or Hindus, they are all children of God and our Lord Jesus has suffered and died for them too.

As it is too confusing, I did not want to waste my time into it a lot. If the bottom line what I am going to get is some exercise, I think I would prefer simple walking, etc.

Being the follower of Christ, one has prayer which is the most effective way of meditation with respect to the soul & spirit. Prayer will give body what is necessary as a Christian.

As far as exercise, I am not even a strong gym defender either. I like to walk or jog looking at the nature. This is just me.

My mind thinks this way - we can only give so much interest to our body. It is in my thought that my body may be cared only to an extent to aid the care for my spirit and soul. Not more than that. If our exercise makes to care for our body more than our soul, then I wonder if it is desirable for a Christian.

Well, we can ask our Lord in prayer if we can pursue yoga. Sure our Lord will give us the right answer.

Best wishes 🙂
 
originally Posted by friardchips:
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?
Click to expand...
Originally Posted by Michael Mayo:
I don’t know but I’ll bet it has a great deal to do with intention rather than procedure.
Click to expand...
A Sacramental is blessed by the power God works through the Church to whom the priest is a part. It is divine power.

For a curse, the Devil is always waiting to pounce on everyone. As St. John Paul II, as did St. Paul (referring to the lion as the character of Satan). This is much easier for him when people don’t have God - Satan doesn’t need to try because they are already doing his work by not acknowledging God - and so he tries a little harder with those who bring greater satisfaction: Christians!

The result of a choice is not only the intention but also the action expressing the intention. This is what makes the thought, an act - to act upon our impulses. (Although also pondering upon a tempting thought is an act of the will).

A person can open themselves up to demonic attacks by opening their minds, and this can be to material that one might think is harmless. Pope B even suggested that Harry Potter is to be avoided. This is apparently harmless and so it would seem that a curse or attack can happen without even one’s intention to worship Satan. And yet, the choice to act upon even a seemingly innocent intention, can draw in Satan - otherwise Pope B would not have said this. And as you said, materialism and consumerism can do this. Well these are not directly worshipping Satan, but are consequences of a capitalist culture/system in which we seek to provide for our temporal needs. And yet, you said that these things can bring evil into our lives. Yet these are not even direct causes.

Also, if one is watching TV for example, might one see this as a kind of modern day ceremony? You said that you didn’t think ceremonies are enough to bring a curse to an object? I don’t think it can be denied, that the ceremony surrounding the watching of a film, if stated as dangerous (or the internet!!), could invite a curse which could be brought into a house (or demon), right? So a ceremony can bring a curse to an object because a house is an object/possession (apt!).
Originally Posted by friardchips:
Yes. Is there a difference between using one’s whole body in a position and using an object (ringing a bell?).
Click to expand...
Originally Posted by Michael Mayo:
i don’t think so.
Click to expand...
But here, in answer to this question:
Originally Posted by friardchips:
So, the person holds more significance than the object being used?
Click to expand...
You said this:
Originally Posted by Michael Mayo:
I think so.
Click to expand...
…you just said that there is more significance for a person than an object, so if that is so, how can one say there is no difference between a person using their whole body in an act rather than just ringing a bell - I am not saying I am right but just following a line of thinking, so please follow…
Originally Posted by friardchips:
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?
Click to expand...
Michael Mayo:
Yes, it is a body posture involving the mind to sit down.
Click to expand...
So if there is no more significance of a person using their whole body in an action than ringing a bell and yet when one is doing an action we are at the very least using our minds and bodies to make that action happen, then surely one is putting more of their mind if their whole body is used to make a position than if they are just ringing a bell? The position takes focus and concentration, but ringing a bell takes how much effort? (Not involving intention yet).
Michael Mayo:
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.
Click to expand...
We haven’t got to that bit yet specifically yet but it is significant, as you have said!
 
OurLadysServant said:
If an aetheist can be oppressed spiritually from using a ouiji board for fun.
Can a yogi be oppressed from doing yoga for fun?
Click to expand...
Lesee… an atheist who actively invites conversations with ghosts versus… a fitness buff bending his body this way and that.

You know I’m going to repeat the question. How does this?

http://0.tqn.com/y/yoga/1/W/g/2/scorpion.jpg

Equate to this?

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
friardchips said:
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.
Click to expand...
Well, if the practice is so objectionable, why doesn’t the Church kick him out? Because surely, the authority of the Church sees nothing wrong with it.

Father Joe’s Yoga foundation:
kripafoundation.org/

Mother Teresa standing with Father Joe in front of the Yoga foundation.

http://www.kripafoundation.org/images/Home_1.jpg
 
friardchips said:
A person can open themselves up to demonic attacks by opening their minds, and this can be to material that one might think is harmless. Pope B even suggested that Harry Potter is to be avoided. This is apparently harmless and so it would seem that a curse or attack can happen without even one’s intention to worship Satan. And yet, the choice to act upon even a seemingly innocent intention, can draw in Satan - otherwise Pope B would not have said this. And as you said, materialism and consumerism can do this. Well these are not directly worshipping Satan, but are consequences of a capitalist culture/system in which we seek to provide for our temporal needs. And yet, you said that these things can bring evil into our lives. Yet these are not even direct causes.
Click to expand...
I really don’t like the idea that just because it’s an action or a reflection of beliefs in direct opposition to Christianity, it means we’re possessed. It’s just so out of touch with the humanity of people who simply choose to believe, behave, or act differently.

It’s rather harsh to suggest we’re the devil’s stooges or that a bunch of invisible imps are running around us with glee just on those grounds.

Whatever happened to accountability? One of the prime reasons for my doubt in the Church is that so many members (especially on this segment of the forum) are so caught up with language and rhetoric of exorcists that they perceive any sort of deviancy as the hive mind of hell. Echoing my previous question, what if I simply don’t believe this or that particular lifestyle has done me any good? Why suggest that I’m being duped by an invisible red-skinned archfiend instead of accepting that perhaps I just don’t think religiosity is working out?

Should Satan really deserve credit for all that is ‘evil’ in the world? Heck, if I were a supervillain, I would take offense that some arrogant, unseen entity is taking credit for my decision to commit crimes against humanity. In fact, I’d go as far as find this ‘demon’ and put him in his place. If an atheist can insist their choice to do good is by no means influenced by some higher power, why should I blame my choice to indulge on the voices of dark powers?

Why should the very act of standing up open me to infernal forces of the underworld?
friardchips said:
Time, some hours ago? 😛
Click to expand...
Nah. I’d have a little pretty gripped in my evil, sandstone claws right now. (One’s practically seated three cubicles away. :whacky:)
friardchips said:
(Off-topic: do you draw your own anime?).
Click to expand...
No. I just have a twisted imagination. One that I’ve firmly copyrighted to me so Satan can just jump in his Lake of Fire if he tries to claim any rights to it.
 
Path_Finder said:
Well, if the practice is so objectionable, why doesn’t the Church kick him out? Because surely, the authority of the Church sees nothing wrong with it.

Father Joe’s Yoga foundation:
kripafoundation.org/

Mother Teresa standing with Father Joe in front of the Yoga foundation.

http://www.kripafoundation.org/images/Home_1.jpg
Click to expand...
Oh, Mother Teresa, I thought you meant a different saint. I thought that was odd. Okay. That explains some things. Well, this doesn’t make her an expert in yoga still. She was a helper of those in need not the top exorcist.

Maybe the Vatican hasn’t got around to exploring this subject in full yet, apart from identifying New Age as being detrimental to Christian spiritual wellbeing. Maybe the real ‘fruits’ of ‘healing’ by alternative powers are yet to be scrutinized?
 
Lost_Wanderer said:
I really don’t like the idea that just because it’s an action or a reflection of beliefs in direct opposition to Christianity, it means we’re possessed. It’s just so out of touch with the humanity of people who simply choose to believe, behave, or act differently.
Click to expand...
All is in God. Up to you if you believe this or not! And all evil is a turning away from God. No one is saying though that to not believe in God is to be possessed. Possessions are fairly rare, I think.
It’s rather harsh to suggest we’re the devil’s stooges or that a bunch of invisible imps are running around us with glee just on those grounds.
Click to expand...
We’re not the devil’s stooges but we can play into his ‘claws’. But yes, demons are around us, but thankfully so are angels.
Whatever happened to accountability? One of the prime reasons for my doubt in the Church is that so many members (especially on this segment of the forum) are so caught up with language and rhetoric of exorcists that they perceive any sort of deviancy as the hive mind of hell.
Click to expand...
Pope F talks about the devil a lot. I understand that the devil is a reality. It is not so much a preference to talking about evil in this way but a necessity. Certainly accountability is absolutely a factor; however, we are accountable for making mistakes as to the things we do which are good for us and which are not. Leaving ourselves open to evil is a part of life a lot of the time in ways we don’t even know.
Echoing my previous question, what if I simply don’t believe this or that particular lifestyle has done me any good? Why suggest that I’m being duped by an invisible red-skinned archfiend instead of accepting that perhaps I just don’t think religiosity is working out?
Click to expand...
I haven’t reached the end of my debate with this other poster yet as I think there is more to the subject. I think evil can present itself in the form of good. Good is not always the way we feel and not always at a truthful level about how things are. You can choose your own path obviously and maybe you are so strong in faith that things like yoga don’t negatively affect you but for the majority who don’t want to put themselves in danger there are professionals who will not validate this practice as okay for spiritual health because of their understanding that many people are fragile and vulnerable.
Should Satan really deserve credit for all that is ‘evil’ in the world? Heck, if I were a supervillain, I would take offense that some arrogant, unseen entity is taking credit for my decision to commit crimes against humanity. In fact, I’d go as far as find this ‘demon’ and put him in his place. If an atheist can insist their choice to do good is by no means influenced by some higher power, why should I blame my choice to indulge on the voices of dark powers?
Click to expand...
Good point. No, we are responsible for choosing to do wrong. The devil does tempt us but we choose to follow him. We are being evil when we do evil.
Why should the very act of standing up open me to infernal forces of the underworld?
Click to expand...
A pose like standing up or sitting down or something stupidly simple is obviously not something that can be attributed to yoga only and so it is ridiculous for yoga practitioners to even pretend that these every day positions belong in their little me-me sessions.
 
Lost_Wanderer said:
No. I just have a twisted imagination. One that I’ve firmly copyrighted to me so Satan can just jump in his Lake of Fire if he tries to claim any rights to it.
Click to expand...
I think to be firm and resolute in faith against Satan is positive and maybe thinking about him too much can be a bit foolhardy but then again this is a thread to do with yoga so it can’t be that surprising when you hear talk of him whether or not you are a supporter of yoga being good for people?! But Satan does influence our imaginations. Was just watching a youtube vid about exorcisms. It is pretty stupid to be honest to do this kind of thing - spending time thinking about Satan - too much, and get caught up in it, but occasionally I guess it is sensible to remind ourselves who the enemy is. But sure, as this exorcist says, “don’t give him more due than he deserves!”
 
friardchips said:
A pose like standing up or sitting down or something stupidly simple is obviously not something that can be attributed to yoga only and so it is ridiculous for yoga practitioners to even pretend that these every day positions belong in their little me-me sessions.
Click to expand...
“Me-Me Sessions”, well tell that to the AIDS HIV and chemical dependent persons, Father Joe has helped in India, that they are “me-me sessions”, the words do not seem very kind. For all we know, people have improved their health using these sessions.

By the way, if Father Amorth, the world’s top Exorcist claims Vatican Police were involved in the abduction of Emanuela Orlandi, that doesn’t mean we have to believe that nor must we believe the Masons are involved in the Vatican.

Oh dear, it appears Father Amorth furthermore does not believe the Consecration for Our Lady of Fatima was not properly done either.

catholicchampion.blogspot.com/2013/09/father-amorth-our-lady-of-fatima.html
Father Gabriele Amorth, the famous exorcist of Rome, claims Saint John Paul II was pressured not to name Russia in his consecration of the world and Russia as requested during the historic Fatima apparitions.
Click to expand...
“We don’t have time to analyze this subject, but I do hold it very dear,” he said of the consecration to an outlet called Fatima TV. "Sister Lucia always said Our Lady requested the consecration of Russia and only the consecration of Russia. She also asked the consecration of the world to another great and young Portuguese saint, Alexandrina Maria da Costa. But these two things are very different and very separate. Now Our Lady requested a consecration of Russia in a very solemn and public ceremony to be performed by the Pope with all the bishops of the world. This was specified in detail by Our Lord Jesus, Who continued to appear to Sister Lucy, as Our Lady also did. He wanted this consecration to be recognized as the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary so that she would be honored together with His Sacred Heart. These are the words of Our Lord, but the time has passed and the consecration not done and Our Lord is deeply offended. You see, with our free will we can affect world events.
Click to expand...
“Our Lady said the consecration would be done, but that it would be too late. I feel shivers run down my spine when I remember the words ‘it will be too late,’” the exorcist said in a 2012 interview that only now has come to our attention.
Click to expand...
“Unfortunately, they didn’t open the secret up in 1960 and Russia spread her errors all over the world. The conversion of Russia would have been a triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,” the priest, now in his eighties, added.
Click to expand...
spiritdaily.net/amorthfatima.htm
Click to expand...
In fairness, a number of people do not believe the Consecration was done properly.
 
Path_Finder said:
“Me-Me Sessions”, well tell that to the AIDS HIV and chemical dependent persons, Father Joe has helped in India, that they are “me-me sessions”, the words do not seem very kind. For all we know, people have improved their health using these sessions.

By the way, if Father Amorth, the world’s top Exorcist claims Vatican Police were involved in the abduction of Emanuela Orlandi, that doesn’t mean we have to believe that nor must we believe the Masons are involved in the Vatican.

Oh dear, it appears Father Amorth furthermore does not believe the Consecration for Our Lady of Fatima was not properly done either.

catholicchampion.blogspot.com/2013/09/father-amorth-our-lady-of-fatima.html

In fairness, a number of people do not believe the Consecration was done properly.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this post. I find the whole subject to do with the Consecration interesting. But I read recently that the Consecration was said to have been done properly although originally I’ve had doubts that it was.

If people have been helped then good. And so the next thing is to pray these people stay helped.

I was arguing in another dialogue building up to the intention behind doing things but am getting tired of arguments with Satan in them. I prefer to look at the cross. It starts smelling a bit stagnant.

My gut feeling is that all is not right with yoga practice. How much people are affected by it to some degree, as Michael was arguing, comes down to intention, but I think the more complex physical bodily expressions that further the intention, that also involves the danger of emptying one’s mind when in relaxation mode - considering its origin - is not worth the risk. I think it is dangerous. As someone pointed out, the devil can make people seem well only to cause more disaster in the long run. I do hope to find out more and don’t doubt that God will find a way to bring all to Him - inter-faith dialogue is the way forward to be honest, and to make bridges not canyons while seeing the good in others. Moderation is also good practice and discipline. I’ll stick to running for exercise though. For now anyway! God bless.
 
friardchips said:
A person can open themselves up to demonic attacks by opening their minds, and this can be to material that one might think is harmless.
Click to expand...
If by “opening their minds” you mean accepting thoughts and suggestions uncritically, yes, it can be dangerous. Nazism was a good example.
friardchips said:
Pope B even suggested that Harry Potter is to be avoided. This is apparently harmless and so it would seem that a curse or attack can happen without even one’s intention to worship Satan. And yet, the choice to act upon even a seemingly innocent intention, can draw in Satan - otherwise Pope B would not have said this.
Click to expand...
Was he referring to demonic attack or growing interest and commitment to magic?
friardchips said:
Also, if one is watching TV for example, might one see this as a kind of modern day ceremony? You said that you didn’t think ceremonies are enough to bring a curse to an object? I don’t think it can be denied, that the ceremony surrounding the watching of a film, if stated as dangerous (or the internet!!), could invite a curse which could be brought into a house (or demon), right?
Click to expand...
I don’t think so. What if the tv is on and no one is watching it? Still bring a curse? I don’t think so.
friardchips said:
So if there is no more significance of a person using their whole body in an action than ringing a bell and yet when one is doing an action we are at the very least using our minds and bodies to make that action happen, then surely one is putting more of their mind if their whole body is used to make a position than if they are just ringing a bell? The position takes focus and concentration, but ringing a bell takes how much effort? (Not involving intention yet).

We haven’t got to that bit yet specifically yet but it is significant, as you have said!
Click to expand...
I think focus and concentration are all about intentionaity.
 
friardchips said:
My gut feeling is that all is not right with yoga practice. How much people are affected by it to some degree, as Michael was arguing, comes down to intention, but I think the more complex physical bodily expressions that further the intention, that also involves the danger of emptying one’s mind when in relaxation mode - considering its origin - is not worth the risk. I think it is dangerous. As someone pointed out, the devil can make people seem well only to cause more disaster in the long run. I do hope to find out more and don’t doubt that God will find a way to bring all to Him - inter-faith dialogue is the way forward to be honest, and to make bridges not canyons while seeing the good in others. Moderation is also good practice and discipline. I’ll stick to running for exercise though. For now anyway! God bless.
Click to expand...
This “danger of emptying the mind” is much over stated. Please check out the thread on John of the Cross, a Doctor of the Church.
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=894914

It is through the mind and its thoughts that we are most vulnerable.

When you say, " the devil can make people seem well only to cause more disaster in the long run." You would need to do a long term study since you would not accept short term results.

In post #62 I had evidence based research indicating that yoga helps relieve anxiety and depression, rather than leading to it through demonic oppression.

Millions of people do yoga. No doubt some of them come to it with mental and spiritual problems. Research indicates improvements not more oppressions. Can you provide objective evidence on yoga making a person worse? The few anecdotal accounts given on the thread so far assume a correlation but do not demonstrate or prove it.

Also see another thread on stretching:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=893310

If you don’t like “Yoga” call it something else.

Instead of supta virasana or lying down hero pose call it what it is “Extension of the hip while seated on the heals”

Instead of Marichyasana call it “sitting knee up rotation”

But God gave us a body. It is a gift and we need to take care of it…
 
Hi. I’ve opted out of this thread Michael because it is going to take too long getting anywhere with this. I have written questions and didn’t see anyone properly responding before we started our debate from scratch so if you believe you are doing something that you think is okay and has helped then I can’t stop you and am pleased that so far you have apparently been kept safe in God’s hands but I would encourage you to look at both sides always and be careful. This is one of the reasons we are to discern.

It is good to see God in people and that includes people from other religions but to adopt their practices is dubious ground until Rome ever said we could do that. If there are exercises that are not yoga then why can’t people just do those instead? Simple stretches before a run or something just to relax the muscles. There are Christian mantras you can do instead of yoga which invite the Holy Spirit and Jesus into your day to give you peace by just sitting still in quiet. We don’t need to put our bodies into funny positions and no need to purposefully clear the mind, just invite God in, instead. God speaks in the gentle breeze not the storm - the gentler the better. Wishing you the best. God bless. 👍🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top