YOGA...ooer!

[friardchips]

http://www.newagedeception.com/new

 

[christofirst]

http://www.newagedeception.com/new

Christians Practicing Yoga

CPY values and honors the intersections of yoga philosophy and Christian theology. Through study, embodied spiritual practices and spiritual friendship, CPY answers the longing of Christ-centered people to grow towards a contemplative life. We invite you to learn and discern through our offerings.

www.christianspracticingyoga.com

Its now a race against time to see who will get the last word on this thread, and thus close the debate on yoga once and for all

 

[friardchips]

Hi guys.
Ya’ll seem to be enjoying your debate, which I am assuming is cordial since I have had no complaints about it, and rarely even look at it.
You are coming to that magic 1000 mark though. When you get there, feel free to start another thread.
I’ll ignore that one too.

“Enjoying” is not exactly the word! But if there have been no complaints then at least something has been achieved, after all, the means does count, IMO! Thanks for the pointer!

 

[Bruised_Reed]

(…)
Your opinion was formed by your desire to practice - proved, by the fact that you are arguing as a Yoga d’ooer, and thus unable to remain objective.

I’m not really into yoga (yet) as I find Pilates is what works for me so you can’t say I have a bias.However, Michael Mayo and others have articulated well why yoga body work is not against Catholic teaching but you failed to show when or where the Church teaching says it’s wrong.

 

[friardchips]

http://www.christianspracticingyoga.com/



Its now a race against time to see who will get the last word on this thread, and thus close the debate on yoga once and for all

Just want to say thanks for all your (name removed by moderator)ut! And as the guests, you go for it!

 

[friardchips]

wholyfit.com/

praisemoves.com

pietrafitness.com/p-f-not-yoga/

The above links are for some exercise discplines (other than ballet and some other forms) which do not entail any Hindu belief incorporated in them and have been cut from all the heretical philosophies that Yoga is entangled in.

amazingcatechists.com/2012/02/yoga-it-stretches/:

• this link contains an article that speaks about the thousands of years of idol worship generating in today’s world into a kind of “cult of the Body”.

standupforthetruth.com/2014/02/response-holy-yoga/

• this article speaks about some of the difficulties encountered when trying to blend a Hindu belief system with our very specific Christian religion.

standupforthetruth.com/2011/12/warning-kundalini-yogas-highest-mantra-meditation/

• this article speaks about the dangers of the ‘Kundalini’ experience.

standupforthetruth.com/2013/07/233489/

• this article and video is by a person who was a Yogi Master. He warns about the danger of this practice which people so recklessly advertise as okay for people to do.

I would include some links to exorcists warning about the dangers of Yoga except that I know certain posters on here get riled by the opinions of Catholic priests ( especially exorcists). So, because I don’t wish to cause constellatory consternation, I will desist.

I do intend to highlight some of the information found in the following of some of these links, soon. They are all relevant to the thread.

 

[Picky_Picky]

Your posts point to you being disingenous in this matter. Because, you say you have no interest in the philosophical side of Yoga, and that practicing Yoga does not lead those who do Yoga further into Hinduism, when you, yourself, already know heaps about all these different Yoga philosophies, which in itself, is evidence of your already firmly-planted stance on the subject. IOW, you have a biased opinion formed by your appetite.

This is the difference. You are practicing Yoga and have researched deeper into Yoga therefore making your position on the matter of Yoga untrustworthily bias in favour of it.

Yep, I very much like the idea of demolishing someone’s arguments on the grounds that they know too much of what they are talking about.

 

[friardchips]

Yep, I very much like the idea of demolishing someone’s arguments on the grounds that they know too much of what they are talking about.

Nice try! Not quite.

My post was to that person. You could always go back and read it again for yourself to gauge the proper angle.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

**

url]http://www.wholyfit.com/**

praisemoves.com

pietrafitness.com/p-f-not-yoga/

The above links are for some exercise discplines (other than ballet and some other forms) which do not entail any Hindu belief incorporated in them and have been cut from all the heretical philosophies that Yoga is entangled in.

I have been saying all these many pages is that the exercises or positions CAN be disentangled, separated, 'cut off from" from the philosophy but you cannot seem to hear me. And now you say the same thing.

 

[cjforJesus]

I have been saying all these many pages is that the exercises or positions CAN be disentangled, separated, 'cut off from" from the philosophy but you cannot seem to hear me. And now you say the same thing.

If you “disentangle” the philosophy from the exercises then it is not yoga,it is stretching. Why call it yoga if it is not?

I am wondering if this thread will reach 1000 posts with no general consensus of how yoga differs from stretching exercises.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

If you “disentangle” the philosophy from the exercises then it is not yoga,it is stretching. Why call it yoga if it is not?

I am wondering if this thread will reach 1000 posts with no general consensus of how yoga differs from stretching exercises.

Because yoga movement isn’t just stretching. Yoga can tone and strengthen (the latter minimully) muscles. The postures, when held, can relieve pain. I don’t do the kind of yoga that everyone is talking about but I use one variation called mudras.

Enough of the idea that yoga is just “stretching” or another type of exercise can be substituted (Pilates, which I do is the most common suggestion) for yoga. They are different exercises with different goals and approaches.

 

[agnes_therese]

Friardchips,

If you would just say that you personally are not comfortable with anything having to do with a religion other than Catholicism, I would happily accept that. You can give the various reasons for your personal belief, some of which are indeed backed up by individual members of the Church (certain clergy and* Women of Grace*, for example).

It is when you try to make blanket statements or draw conclusions as though it is the official teaching of the Church which we all must follow - **when in fact it is not **- this is when I must take issue with some of the things you post here.

I appreciate that you mean well, but you occasionally overstep your authority where our relationship with other religions (in general) and Christians practicing yoga (specifically) are concerned. Is it possible for you to agree that your position is one,** but not the only one**, allowed by the Church?

That does not seem possible for him.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

If you “disentangle” the philosophy from the exercises then it is not yoga,it is stretching. Why call it yoga if it is not?

Because the stretches are specific, categorized and well known in yoga terminology.

There is consensus on these terms. If one hears a term like “Bālāsana” there is no doubt about what is being talked about.

It is only a name. Not a philosophy.

 

[friardchips]

I have been saying all these many pages is that the exercises or positions CAN be disentangled, separated, 'cut off from" from the philosophy but you cannot seem to hear me. And now you say the same thing.

True. Good point. I did use the wrong phrasing there. Not sure about it being cut exactly but some positions might correspond. Thank you for pointing out the mistake.

Off-topic, have you looked at any of those particular links? Maybe, seeing as you have some experience of doing exercise and trying to make it appropriate for pre-prayer relaxation, you might be in a position to see if any of the links do actually help the individual to prepare, as a viable alternative, for those who don’t feel comfortable doing Yoga?

 

[cheezey]

Hi guys.
Ya’ll seem to be enjoying your debate, which I am assuming is cordial since I have had no complaints about it, and rarely even look at it.
You are coming to that magic 1000 mark though. When you get there, feel free to start another thread.
I’ll ignore that one too.

 

[friardchips]

Because the stretches are specific, categorized and well known in yoga terminology.

There is consensus on these terms. If one hears a term like “Bālāsana” there is no doubt about what is being talked about.

It is only a name. Not a philosophy.

I think I’ve given the idea that I don’t understand what you mean.

Names do means things and they have associations. The problem is, that I can see, Michael, is that we just don’t know what inspired these names. You may be right, in one way, because if the names are simply just names, then of course there is not an issue, the things the name stand for are nothing. Although for a Christian it is important we are certai about what represents what. And this is sensible deduction; except, that we don’t really know. We don’t really know how this religion came about, who are what they are connecting with, or who thought of them even, and why - the philosophies, the avatars etc, etc…- and I am concerned about the dangers to do with the physicality of the practice itself. Either way, it is up to you of you do it, as you know. But until the practice stops producing complaints by people, which can be read all over the internet - and I’m not making it up by any means - then I don’t think it is an advisable thing to recommend.

Now you say you can split Yoga apart. But if still calling it Yoga and using the moves associated with Yoga according to Yoga training, then it is Yoga. The name by association does have a meaning.

Now say that Hindus and Buddhists who practice Yoga said that they believed and accepted basic the tenets of Christianity and found a way for all the parts of Hinduism and Buddhism to correspond then we could say: why not! But they haven’t succeeded and won’t. The link between peoples’ is compassion, loving example. The belief systems though differ radically. The reaching for the divine is also to be respected, of course. Religion is good as it gives people a clue that there is more to life than just tangible reality. Inter-faith dialogue is good. To understand other religions is to build bridges of faith, love and hope. But Yoga does not seem to be able to be split from its roots because its roots are what make it Yoga. Is it not better to form exercises that begin in creation from Christian discovery and let it grow from there. THEN compare to Yoga for inter-religious dialogue. I think otherwise one is doing one thing while wearing a badge that states something else. We have had this conversation before but I thought I wouldn’t keep saying to go back and look yourself as that wasn’t helpful.

 

[friardchips]

That does not seem possible for him.

It is possible, Agnes-Therese. I’m not an inflexible person.

I have no authority though. This is a discussion thread. A meeting point for people to discuss. I have got a bit high-handed at times, for sure, and certainly not adverse to inter-faith dialogue - I love this - and definitely not against exercise, or meditation - both are great, vital actually - but I am genuinely and sincerely concerned for the safety of people who practice it. Maybe, just maybe, the odd person could do Yoga and know what they are doing, enough to separate, if that is even possible, the various elements away from Hinduism, but I can’t see how this can be achieved without tearing down the whole thing and having to just start again (growing?) a completely new routine from Christian-based beginnings (which is what people have tried to do)?!

 

[Michael_Mayo]

True. Good point. I did use the wrong phrasing there. Not sure about it being cut exactly but some positions might correspond. Thank you for pointing out the mistake.

Off-topic, have you looked at any of those particular links? Maybe, seeing as you have some experience of doing exercise and trying to make it appropriate for pre-prayer relaxation, you might be in a position to see if any of the links do actually help the individual to prepare, as a viable alternative, for those who don’t feel comfortable doing Yoga?

Forget yoga if you can’t get past it.

Just stretch as it feels best and hold for a few seconds ( or minutes).
Touch your toes, straighten your back, take some deep breaths, etc.
Nevermind that all that has a name.

Call it athletic stretching, therapeutic stretching, or anything you like.
It’s only a name change.

 

[cjforJesus]

Forget yoga if you can’t get past it.

Just stretch as it feels best and hold for a few seconds ( or minutes).
Touch your toes, straighten your back, take some deep breaths, etc.
Nevermind that all that has a name.

Call it athletic stretching, therapeutic stretching, or anything you like.
It’s only a name change.

Yes,but as you said the name yoga is used because it is a specific category and progression of stretches. How these stretches unite one with God is beyond me though.

One thing I have noticed in my research though is that many people when following the physical path of yoga of DO eventually begin to delve into the philosophy and religious studies. These studies and writings in essence involve the promotion of virtue yet the theological tenets are VERY incompatible with Christianity

 

[friardchips]

I think Allah is the Arabic word for ‘God’. Seemingly no issue except that as Christians we don’t use that term because we always bear in mind the Holy Trinity and the personal names we have been given via divine revelation - Father, Son and Holy Sprit. If we say Allah, except maybe in Saudi Arabia, we might be mistaken for believing in Islam, which is a different religion. To keep things clear, it is best to keep what our Creator has revealed to us personally, at heart.