Ohoh...yoga is not..."christian"...

By José Blanco

Take a look at the link...I am in trouble with Jesus! I love yoga so much. It quiets my mind, and it allows me to go to silence. It keeps away so much stuff. It takes away my bed kinks in the morning. It helps me stretch my office-seat-and-quads, which do not allow me to stand straight after sitting for at least 2 hours per round. 

It makes me think of the prayer of silence, what they used to call 'adoration'. It seems to take me to the 'door', just short of knocking on it. And now, not any old WASP - White Anglo Saxon Protestant, but!...how about the Southern Baptist Seminary President ...Albert Mohler!

Táquiti!

Mr. Seminary President says “the stretching and meditative discipline derived from Eastern religions is not a Christian pathway to God.” Mohler said he objects to "the idea that the body is a vehicle for reaching consciousness with the divine."
"That's just not Christianity," Mohler told The Associated Press.

Of course  that I agree with his statement that “that stretching and meditative (gulp!) discipline – from Eastern religions – is not a Christian pathway…he just said it: it is from eastern culture, eastern wisdom, eastern tradition, and by the way, not religion,  and of course, not German nor Scottish, nor Anglo Saxon, being so foreign (eastern!) it is definitely not “Christian”, as in using the label of the possessiveness of “salvation truths’ – ‘tune’ so tired and old – privy of these born again sages.  Did he forget that Jesus was born in …was it the Middle East? So he was an EAST – erner…?

Also, maybe Pastor Mohler never read that passage in Mathew…the one that goes something like…”when you want to pray, go to your closet and close the door and in silence, ‘check me out’”. That is not from Jesus, isn’t it not?

Also, can I not say that Jesus’ body was THE vehicle thru which the mysteries of Incarnation,  AND Resurrection,  AND the Trinity came thru: was it not? So, how did consciousness with the divine come about for Jesus? What was praying at night, in the Mount, in the Cross?

So, what’s Mr. Mohler’s problem?

Or, better yet,  I should go check out my Catechism again, in case I missed something: I don’t want “You-know-who” writing me up at this stage of the game. It might be too late for me.

…btw,

“namasté!”

Comments

  1. RickOctober 8, 2010 at 7:15 AM

    Just another narrow-minded diatribe by someone blinded by religious legalism. Check out Luke 17:11-19. If Mr. Mohler objects to "non-Christian" practices perhaps we should ask him where he puts his Christmas tree.

    ReplyDelete
  2. RickOctober 8, 2010 at 7:19 AM

    Just another narrow-minded diatribe by a "Christian" blinded by legalism. Check out Luke 17:11-19. If Mr. Mohler is so offended by "non-Christian" practices, perhaps we should ask him where he places his Christmas tree.

    Yoga is a beautiful way for a Christian to open her or his spirit.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownOctober 8, 2010 at 8:09 AM

    My name is Catherine Carrigan, president of www.totalfitness.net. I have taught yoga at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Atlanta for 12 years.
    Over the years, I have seen yoga work many miracles.
    One of my students fell off a horse 2 years and broke her right arm in half. She loved yoga so much, she would come to classes of yin yoga and enjoy the relaxation while her arm was healing. Today, if you came to my yoga class, you would not be able to tell whose arm was completely broken.
    Another woman had osteopenia. Her doctor kept a close watch on her but was pleasantly surprised last week to discover that her bones are actually improving!
    Yet another student had suffered from anxiety, depression and eating disorders. Yoga became her lifeline. Then one day an attractive man came to class and they started dating. They are now married in the Catholic church and have a baby, all because they met in yoga class.
    As a teacher, I see many miracles in every class. People who arrive stressed, tired and discouraged leave the class feeling uplifted.
    In this day and age when so many people are extremely stressed, giving people a tool that helps them alleviate the pressure they are carrying is, in my mind, essential.
    Our prayers, scripture readings and going to church are part of nourishing our souls, but so is developing a healthy relationship with our body.
    I have studied many forms of exercise, including tai chi, qi gong, weight lifting, running, aerobics classes, swimming, Pilates and spinning, and in my mind yoga provides the most complete system for men and women to achieve not just physical fitness but also peace of mind, which we are all craving.
    I have taught yoga to several Catholic priests, and they have each seen the wisdom of it.
    Another woman told me I had helped her more than 22 cardiologists and all her years in Sunday school. She had high blood pressure and was not able to understand it or alleviate it until she learned yoga breathing and started practicing the postures on a regular basis.
    I do all my work very prayerfully and invite all Christians to join me.
    Catherine Carrigan
    www.totalfitness.net

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousOctober 8, 2010 at 4:46 PM

    O.K., if someone says that Yoga is not Christianity, or that Buddhism is not Islam, or that any "true" teaching is not any other "true" teaching, an appropriate response (if any is even nesessary at all) may be, "Yes, O.K., if you say so, but "who" actually cares after all... and whichever God you believe in, may he/ she/ it bless you." Since ALL religions, philosophies, teaching are not Truth, but merely point to (indicate/ symbolicly - linguistically) represent Truth, as Truth cannot be expressed, but only "experienced via being Truth". There is but one Truth and countless expressions of Truth, granted some more accurate than others... so why argue about the countless expressions? If one devotes their efforts to realizing the Truth that they are they may come to be far more interested in living/ being Truth than entangeling themselves in the many concepts pertaining to Truth. But all of this is just a concept too. And the concept here is that it's ALL as it should be, so if one feels compelled - inclined - interested to debate the details, then by all means, debate away and may it bring you ever closer to your goal with God's speed. All true pointers point truly and to the same One Truth. May we all find our true path and pointers and follow with much love, compassion, mutual respect and harmony. Namaste back at you brother, friend, Self.'

    ReplyDelete

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