Southern Baptist leader says Christians should avoid yoga

[9-10ths_Penguin]

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

And there's a fair bit of watered-down Shinto in my kendo.

 

[sojourner]

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.

Perhaps we'd do just as well to avoid Mohler, Robertson and MacArthur since their teachings are not a Christian pathway to God, either...

 

[AuroraWillow]

I wonder if he feels the same way about Christmas, or other Pagan traditions that Christianity borrowed?

 

[Kathryn]

...

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

Pat Robertson has called the chanting and other spiritual components that go along with yoga "really spooky."

I think Pat Robertson is really spooky.

California megachurch pastor John MacArthur called yoga a "false religion."

I think that most megachurches teach a false religion.

Muslim clerics have banned Muslims from practicing yoga in Egypt, Malaysia and Indonesia, citing similar concerns.

Why does this not surprise me?

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

My response is simple and straightforward: Keep your fundamentalism off my yoga mat.

 

[ButTheCatCameBack]

pfft what next is he going to say avoid.......Harry Potter or Ouija Boards?!....oh wait

 

[Smoke]

I think that most megachurches teach a false religion.

Just "most"?

 

[ButTheCatCameBack]

Just "most"?

*raises hand* As someone who used to live right near and went to a megachurch on my occasions. Those places are nuts. Sure lots of nice people...but pod people nice.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

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?

surprise surprise.

 

[Smoke]

*raises hand* As someone who used to live right near and went to a megachurch on my occasions. Those places are nuts. Sure lots of nice people...but pod people nice.

I just meant that "most" is an understatement.

 

[dawny0826]

Yoga is different things to different people. To me...it strengthens and lengthens my muscles and helps me forget my hectic work day.

Mohler can talk to my hand.

 

[ButTheCatCameBack]

I just meant that "most" is an understatement.

And I'm agreeing with you.

 

[uu_sage]

I have done Yoga as a spiritual discipline and exercise for six years. Yoga relaxes me, deepens my breathing, expands my flexibility and it deepens my relationship to God. Yoga enriches my life as a Christian. Al Mohler, the Southern Baptists and other fundamentalists are an embarrassment to the body of Christ, the Baptist tradition and people of all faith traditions and none at all. They know not what they're talking about.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

Many of us Hindu see Hatha Yoga as prep work for spiritual practice. It helps you to set for a long time. It helps for you not to focus on you body so you can put you mind on "God".
Some Hindu's use it as their main spiritual practice. Each Asana has mantras that go along with it. Along with other practices.

 

[stlekee]

millions and millions of christians on the planet...might be some goofs in the bunch..ya think?

Making broad statements about christians avoiding contact with the world is streatching it a lot. Let's be real on these boards, please. If your just going to make up stuff to defend your opposition to religion, christianity, that's on you not, christians.

The point about the OP is that there are fundies who are out of touch and 'goofs'. But then this thread runs wild with nonsense about christians in general...

 

[Smoke]

millions and millions of christians on the planet...might be some goofs in the bunch..ya think?

I really don't think his position is any more goofy than being Southern Baptist in the first place. If all these people are doing is stretching exercises, why are they calling it yoga? And if they're actually open to ideas and practices outside of narrow Christian fundamentalism, why do they belong to a denomination as backwards as the Southern Baptist Convention?

 

[no-body]

The idea of any type of Mysticism drives the fundamentalist up the wall. It puts a threat on their middle-man to God status. Why bother listening to the church when you can set up a direct connection and experience god for yourself?

Ha ha ha ha at Pat Robertson calling yoga and chanting "spooky" when he used to host speaking in tongues and faith healing on his program.

 

[Wingless]

Practicing yoga may detoxify the body, increase flexibility, tone muscles, and may eventually lead to eating healthy foods. All of which are detrimental to those who prefer their faith southern fried .

 

[stlekee]

Original post by Smoke
And if they're actually open to ideas and practices outside of narrow Christian fundamentalism, why do they belong to a denomination as backwards as the Southern Baptist Convention?

Maybe not all Southern Baptists are all that backwards. Maybe those folks are open to some new idea like yoga because it has physical and mental benefits.

Who knows why people don't conform to the stereotypes we create for them.

 

[Smoke]

Maybe not all Southern Baptists are all that backwards.

I didn't say they were. I said the denomination is backwards, and I implied that people who can't go along with all that should probably belong to a better church. (If they must belong to a church, that is.)

 

[budha3]

These people do not want you to practice Meditation and Yoga, because they are afraid that you would no longer need them, because they will see truth for themselves.