Yoga and Christianity

[Mickey]

Well, now you know a someone that was a non-practicing Catholic that is now a practicing Catholic that includes various stretches in his exercise routine that some people call “yoga.”

I pray that the evil one does not decieve you.

Be watchful.

 

[Pleroma]

Nor is there consensus among religions in regards to the nature of reality.

You’re badly mistaken there.

There is a strong consensus among the major religions of the world.

"The Buddhist scholar B. Alan Wallace has also indicated (as shown above) that saying that Buddhism as a whole is “non-theistic” may be an over-simplification. Wallace discerns similarities between some forms of Vajrayana Buddhism and notions of a divine “ground of being” and creation. He writes: “a careful analysis of Vajrayana Buddhist cosmogony, specifically as presented in the Atiyoga tradition of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, which presents itself as the culmination of all Buddhist teachings, reveals a theory of a transcendent ground of being and a process of creation that bear remarkable similarities with views presented in Vedanta and Neoplatonic Western Christian theories of creation."[39] In fact, Wallace sees these views as so similar that they seem almost to be different manifestations of the same theory. He further comments: "Vajrayana Buddhism, Vedanta, and Neoplatonic Christianity have so much in common that they could almost be regarded as varying interpretations of a single theory.”

 

[TheWarriorMonk]

I pray that the evil one does not decieve you.

Be watchful.

30+ years and counting.

I don’t take the pessimist view and try to find evil in everything. On the contrary, I assume that the Truth will reveal itself with the help of God’s guidance.

Stretching is not Satanic, as much as people think it is.

 

[TheWarriorMonk]

"The Buddhist scholar B. Alan Wallace has also indicated (as shown above) that saying that Buddhism as a whole is “non-theistic” may be an over-simplification. Wallace discerns similarities between some forms of Vajrayana Buddhism and notions of a divine “ground of being” and creation. He writes: “a careful analysis of Vajrayana Buddhist cosmogony, specifically as presented in the Atiyoga tradition of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, which presents itself as the culmination of all Buddhist teachings, reveals a theory of a transcendent ground of being and a process of creation that bear remarkable similarities with views presented in Vedanta and Neoplatonic Western Christian theories of creation."[39] In fact, Wallace sees these views as so similar that they seem almost to be different manifestations of the same theory. He further comments: "Vajrayana Buddhism, Vedanta, and Neoplatonic Christianity have so much in common that they could almost be regarded as varying interpretations of a single theory.”

Buddhism is actually interesting because it can viewed (by today’s standards) as a science rather than a religion.

 

[Pleroma]

So, indeed, you are confirming that you never put your hands in a prayer, i.e., mudra, position.

If one prays to Christ holding his hands in that position then as a Christian it is not offensive in any way but by performing and adopting yogic exercises you’re implicitly worshipping the eastern gods.

 

[Mickey]

30+ years and counting.

The devil will keep trying.

I don’t take the pessimist view and try to find evil in everything.

Neither do I.

Stretching is not Satanic

Yoga is.

 

[Pleroma]

30+ years and counting.

I don’t take the pessimist view and try to find evil in everything. On the contrary, I assume that the Truth will reveal itself with the help of God’s guidance.

Stretching is not Satanic, as much as people think it is.

Its a straw man, what you’re doing is not simply stretching but implicitly worshipping the eastern gods. Its not Satanic and not Catholic either so stop calling yourself a Catholic. If you’re a Catholic please kindly adhere and abide yourself to the core beliefs of that religion.

 

[Pleroma]

Buddhism is actually interesting because it can viewed (by today’s standards) as a science rather than a religion.

Buddhism has hundred peaceful and wrathful deities and western secular Buddhists are infants when compared to the knowledge that locals have. I guess your country seriously needs to educate people on religion if one needs to stop the mess that you guys have created for yourself. How can you accept the existence of these hundred peaceful and wrathful deities and yet maintain that you’re a catholic?

 

[TheWarriorMonk]

If one prays to Christ holding his hands in that position then as a Christian it is not offensive in any way but by performing and adopting yogic exercises you’re implicitly worshipping the eastern gods.

The only way this is possible is if the posture and the spirituality can be separated, which means you are contracting yourself.

 

[TheWarriorMonk]

Its a straw man, what you’re doing is not simply stretching but implicitly worshipping the eastern gods. Its not Satanic and not Catholic either so stop calling yourself a Catholic. If you’re a Catholic please kindly adhere and abide yourself to the core beliefs of that religion.

Please state an official Catholic Church position that states I may not stretch or work out in certain ways, or kindly stop bearing false witness.

 

[TheWarriorMonk]

The devil will keep trying.

And obviously will fail. The Church does not teach exercise is evil.

Neither do I.

You are finding evil where evil does not exist.

Yoga is.

Incorrect. The Church does not teach that the major religions are evil or Satanic. Obviously, Catholics are not to practice them. However, the Church does not teach exercise, or any inherent posture used in exercise, is evil. That’s a pure concoction utilized to justify one’s on person opinion.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Vedic deities are anthropomorphic Gods who literally exist inside your body. All eastern religions are based on this.

By definition Yoga is a pagan practice and irrespective of it is true or not you’re worshipping the eastern gods and I don’t know how you can worship eastern gods and at the same time maintain that you’re a Catholic.

If you believe these gods exist inside your body then you yourself accept the eastern gods myth more than I do and by fearing this discipline (yoga) you acknowled thier power over you.

I do not believe any anthropomorphic deities exist inside my body. They are mythical symbols, nothing more and I certainly will not let fear of them dictate my discipline.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Normal physical exercises is not Yoga and everyone can do that but once you start doing physical breathing exercises by referring to a yoga book or under the guidance of a Yogic master then you’re doing Yoga and for these exercises the physical and the spiritual elements are all intertwined and cannot be separated.

You say the difference between normal physical exercises and Yoga is “referring to a Yoga book or under the guidance of a Yogic master”.

So then it is not the action of the exercise itself but how one learns it?

Yet earlier you said the physical & spiritual cannot be separated. Here you just did.

 

[Pleroma]

The only way this is possible is if the posture and the spirituality can be separated, which means you are contracting yourself.

Not really, Christians should worship Christ and not the eastern gods. Its fine if you worship Christ with that basic mudra but going too far into the yogic exercises is not fine at all then you’re indeed worshipping the eastern gods.

 

[Pleroma]

You say the difference between normal physical exercises and Yoga is “referring to a Yoga book or under the guidance of a Yogic master”.

So then it is not the action of the exercise itself but how one learns it?

Yet earlier you said the physical & spiritual cannot be separated. Here you just did.

It all depends on how you stretch, casually or with intense breathing techniques? That’s all.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Pleroma, do you really believe eastern gods exist? And in your body?

 

[Pleroma]

Pleroma, do you really believe eastern gods exist? And in your body?

“Gods are real.
And these gods are everywhere, in all aspects of
existence, all aspects of human life.”

• James Hillman

That’s an affirmative yes. The ontology of these gods are different and they are made of divine light rays. There are people who have seen them and have dialogue with them.

 

[Gary_Sheldrake]

You’re badly mistaken there.

There is a strong consensus among the major religions of the world.

"The Buddhist scholar B. Alan Wallace has also indicated (as shown above) that saying that Buddhism as a whole is “non-theistic” may be an over-simplification. Wallace discerns similarities between some forms of Vajrayana Buddhism and notions of a divine “ground of being” and creation. He writes: “a careful analysis of Vajrayana Buddhist cosmogony, specifically as presented in the Atiyoga tradition of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, which presents itself as the culmination of all Buddhist teachings, reveals a theory of a transcendent ground of being and a process of creation that bear remarkable similarities with views presented in Vedanta and Neoplatonic Western Christian theories of creation."[39] In fact, Wallace sees these views as so similar that they seem almost to be different manifestations of the same theory. He further comments: "Vajrayana Buddhism, Vedanta, and Neoplatonic Christianity have so much in common that they could almost be regarded as varying interpretations of a single theory.”

In that case, it would seem to me that your reasoning supports the idea that since there is a strong consensus among the world’s major religions, there should be no problem with a person from one religion doing stretches from another religion.

 

[Gary_Sheldrake]

Not really, Christians should worship Christ and not the eastern gods. Its fine if you worship Christ with that basic mudra but going too far into the yogic exercises is not fine at all then you’re indeed worshipping the eastern gods.

Then you should be able to so a Sun Salutation and call it a Son Salutation.

 

[jerry_joseph]

Ive heard Christians say all the time that Yoga and Buddhist meditation can lead to demonic possesion, which begs the question…

If Yoga and meditation cause possesion, why isnt India and the far East overrun by demons and possesed people?

How many ordinary people practices yoga in India and Buddhist countries?. Very few. Less than 1% of the society. Earlier time , it was not familiar to ordinary people. It was practiced by hindu and buddhist monks and very rarely by ordinary people. Now a days various agencies trying to teach these to ordinary people, what same they are trying to teach Westerners.

I believe we can do Yoga exercises , as all exercises are good for health. But going deeply into it is not suitable for Christians as it is based on eastern philosophies. There is tendency among some people to get over addicted to what they are interested. For eg: Some are craze with sports, Some are craze with Fashion, Some are craze with internet , drugs, alcohol etc. Here if anybody gets addicted to Yoga , it will lead them to Eastern religions. So use wisely.

I don’t know how many people are possessed. But you can see lot of yogis leading a life equal to demonic possession

This video will help you

youtube.com/watch?v=dXV7EzGI0DQ

youtube.com/watch?v=2uZ2N8SuFp0