Southern Baptist leader says Christians should avoid yoga

[Wandered Off]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Southern Baptist leader who is calling for Christians to avoid yoga and its spiritual attachments is getting plenty of pushback from enthusiasts who defend the ancient practice.

Southern Baptist Seminary President Albert Mohler 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.

...

Mohler argued in his online essay last month that Christians who practice yoga "must either deny the reality of what yoga represents or fail to see the contradictions between their Christian commitments and their embrace of yoga."

He said his view is "not an eccentric Christian position."

Other Christian leaders have said practicing yoga is incompatible with the teachings of Jesus. Pat Robertson has called the chanting and other spiritual components that go along with yoga "really spooky." California megachurch pastor John MacArthur called yoga a "false religion." Muslim clerics have banned Muslims from practicing yoga in Egypt, Malaysia and Indonesia, citing similar concerns.

...

Mohler said many people have written him to say they're simply doing exercises and forgoing yoga's eastern mysticism and meditation.

"My response to that would be simple and straightforward: You're just not doing yoga," Mohler said.

Southern Baptist leader on yoga: Not Christianity - Yahoo! News

I remember the Baptist preacher in the church I attended as a youth said pretty much the same thing back in the day. Any Christians or Muslims who practice yoga here, or any others who agree?

 

[angellous_evangellous]

:biglaugh:

 

[angellous_evangellous]

This guy is an idiot and a liar anyway. Who cares.

 

[Engyo]

Dunno about that, but I have been seeing ads for "Praise Movement - a Christian alternative to Yoga".

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I think he's got a point... to a point. Yoga definitely does have religious roots.

However, I think that the form of "yoga" that's practiced by many people in the US today is simply stretching and maybe a bit of relaxation with the aspects of worship stripped out of it. So... as far as that form of yoga goes, I think he's getting hung up on the word.

 

[Wandered Off]

I think he's getting hung up on the word.

From what I remember, that's pretty common for SB leaders.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Jeez - it's like you have to be a cetifiable moron to be interviewed in the news as a religious figure.

We get bin Laden, Phelps, and these lower ya-hoos.

 

[LuisDantas]

Are Christians even supposed to avoid something because it is "non-Christian"?

How exactly would that work? And why are the faithful expected to take pains to insulate themselves from others simply because they are not Christian - particularly when even the Gospel of Luke makes a point of spelling out that such an attitude is pointless and denies the encompassing love that Christians are expected to have?

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Are Christians even supposed to avoid something because it is "non-Christian"?

How exactly would that work? And why are the faithful expected to take pains to insulate themselves from others simply because they are not Christian - particularly when even the Gospel of Luke makes a point of spelling out that such an attitude is pointless and denies the encompassing love that Christians are expected to have?

Many fundamentalist churches do this. In fact, most modern denomenations were started in a church split over who is more "Christian" than the other.

 

[LuisDantas]

Many fundamentalist churches do this. In fact, most modern denomenations were started in a church split over who is more "Christian" than the other.

That I can undestand and respect. But still, I just don't understand how or why Christians would make a point of avoiding contact with other people just out of faith differences.

 

[waitasec]

Are Christians even supposed to avoid something because it is "non-Christian"?

How exactly would that work? And why are the faithful expected to take pains to insulate themselves from others simply because they are not Christian - particularly when even the Gospel of Luke makes a point of spelling out that such an attitude is pointless and denies the encompassing love that Christians are expected to have?

it as a threat to their income (tithe) and this is an obvious abuse of power

 

[angellous_evangellous]

That I can undestand and respect. But still, I just don't understand how or why Christians would make a point of avoiding contact with other people just out of faith differences.

It's a matter of holiness. They think that any inter-mingling brings sin into the congregational fellowship and brings down the whole ship.

It's pretty sad when churches refuse to help even eachother, much less efforts within the community.

 

[Zadok]

Southern Baptist leader on yoga: Not Christianity - Yahoo! News

I remember the Baptist preacher in the church I attended as a youth said pretty much the same thing back in the day. Any Christians or Muslims who practice yoga here, or any others who agree?

My opinion:

A Christian is someone that considers the teachings of Jesus Christ. Among the teachings of Jesus is a most interesting parable called the Good Samaritan. The parable was given both to teach a principle and to dispel a possible false notion. Because the two are given in unison we learn something of Christ from understanding what was going on.

Samaritans were despised because of their “false” religion and false practices. On the other hand the Levite and the Priest were honored because of their “true” religion and divinely inspired practices. However, Jesus taught – and thus we can identify his followers – that the way of Christians are not the advertized practices we normally associate with religion but our compassion and the manner we compassionately respect those that despise us.

In short yoga has nothing to do with being a Christian – but despising someone that practices yoga and excluding them from your circle of friends and neighbors is very un-Christian.

Zadok

 

[angellous_evangellous]

it as a threat to their income (tithe) and this is an obvious abuse of power

Now this works both ways.

The Southern Baptist Convention refuses to accept money from Southern Baptist Churches who have women pastors or if they ordain gay people. If you're on their black list, they will send the money back.

Likewise, churches will refuse donations from charatible causes that do not hold to their values.

 

[Just_me_Mike]

I suppose we are discussing ideas here, I mean the whole notion presupposes that a practitioner of certain types of Yoga will get wooed to the dark side, and lose their faith in Jesus etc...

Bottom line is people will do just about anything for air time theses days, as competition for the all mighty dollar is fierce! If you have an idea and can write it up, you might be able to promote yourself just a bit. That is all that this article is for. :yes:

 

[Wotan]

Now this works both ways.

The Southern Baptist Convention refuses to accept money from Southern Baptist Churches who have women pastors or if they ordain gay people. If you're on their black list, they will send the money back.

Likewise, churches will refuse donations from charatible causes that do not hold to their values.

While I have no use or respect for WHAT these kooks believe I have always respected THIS consistency on their part. They believe this crap and they ACT like they believe it. Even to the point of acting against self-interest.

Gotta respect that.:bow:

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

That I can undestand and respect. But still, I just don't understand how or why Christians would make a point of avoiding contact with other people just out of faith differences.

On this issue, I don't think it's so much a matter of avoiding non-Christian things in general as it is about not engaging in non-Christian worship.

Traditionally, yoga was worship of the Hindu gods (in fact, the term "yoga", IIRC, means something like "union"... as in union with the gods). What we call "yoga" today has largely lost this aspect, but that's still its source.

 

[Smoke]

I kind of agree with him. People who practice yoga should probably avoid getting involved in the Southern Baptist religion.

 

[ninerbuff]

This is another reason why being an Atheist is great. We don't have "moral" issues about things like yoga. Just from a health standpoint alone yoga benefits include increased flexibility, increased correct posture, and relief from stress.

 

[averageJOE]

I wonder if he feels the same way about Kung-fu.