Some Things a Christian Might Want to Know About Yoga.
Woman delivered of yoga spirit by Catholic priest: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/mamaneedscoffee/2017/04/yoga-a-cautionary-tale/
Yoga (yoga means “yoke”)
Yoga is considered one of the six branches of classical Hindu philosophy. Its goal is to reach “Kaivalya” (ultimate freedom) by releasing the soul from the chains of cause and effect (karma) which tie the person to continual reincarnation. Yoga uses physical exercises, powers of concentration and breathing techniques as well as meditation to achieve these ends and attain union with Brahman. From: http://www.womenofgrace.com/blog/?cat=11
http://www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2005/march/truth-about-yoga.html?start=2
http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/09/20/the-subtle-body-should-christians-practice-yoga/
When Christians practice yoga, they must either deny the reality of what yoga represents or fail to see the contradictions between their Christian commitments and their embrace of yoga.
Nevertheless, a significant number of American Christians either experiment with yoga or become adherents of some yoga discipline. Most seem unaware that yoga cannot be neatly separated into physical and spiritual dimensions. The physical is the spiritual in yoga, and the exercises and disciplines of yoga are meant to connect with the divine.
Proceed with Caution from http://www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2005/march/truth-about-yoga.html?start=5
There's a new practice popping up at churches and fitness clubs around the country. Dubbed "Christian yoga" or "yoga for Christians," these programs supposedly offer the physical benefits of yoga along with Christian spirituality. But is it really possible for yoga to be transformed into a practice for Christians?
Hindu’s ultimate goal of life is release from the cycle of reincarnation. Yoga, one way of doing that-thru
-realization of one’s unity with God
-realization of one’s eternal relationship with God
-realization of one’s unity of all existence
One way to achieve this is through yoga
Doug Groothuis, author of Confronting the New Age and a professor of philosophy at Denver Seminary, says proponents of "Christian yoga" are misled—and are misleading others.
"'Christian yoga' is an oxymoron. Yoga is rooted in Hinduism and cannot be separated from it," he says. "There's nothing wrong with stretching and calming down one's breathing. But yoga isn't really about that; it's aimed at transforming human consciousness to experience the Hindu god, which is a false god."
TCW found several "Christian yoga" instructors who are affiliated with secular yoga organizations that have a Hindu or New Age bent.
When investigating a Christian yoga class, be on the lookout for:
Sanskrit language. Many words commonly used in yoga pay homage to Hindu deities.
Metaphysical jargon. Phrases such as "breathing in positive energy and breathing out negative energy," "focusing on the third eye," and "getting in touch with the divinity within you" have New Age implications.
Projection. Beware being told to empty your mind or to step outside your body.
Feelings of discomfort. Pay attention to those feelings. Even if you can't pinpoint why you're uncomfortable, this may be the Holy Spirit's way of letting you know the class isn't for you. —H.V.R.
__________________________________________________________________________
Yoga beliefs that are not Christian:
#1: Empty your mind. Christians are not called to “empty their minds” they are to have the mind of Christ. We are also called to know His Word and to have our minds transformed. If Christ is not filling it, either Satan or your own spirit is filling in…and our own spirits are not Christ’s spirit.
#2: Step outside your mind. This leads to astral travel which is trying to get out of your body.
The following is excerpted from: https://www.gotquestions.org/out-of-body-experience.html
“A person trying to achieve an out-of-body experience in order to connect with spirits or the spirit world is practicing the occult. There are two forms of this. The first is called the “phasing” model, in which the person tries to find new spiritual truth by accessing a part of the mind that is "shut off" during everyday life. This practice is connected to Buddhism or postmodernism and the belief that enlightenment is achieved from looking within oneself. The other form, called the “mystical” model, is when the person tries to exit the body entirely, his/her spirit traveling to another plane that is not connected to the physical world at all.
The Bible explicitly warns against occult practice, or sorcery, in Galatians 5:19-20, saying that those who practice it will not inherit God's kingdom. God's commands are always for our good, and He commands us to stay far away from occult practices because there is great potential, when trying to access the spiritual world, of opening oneself up to demons who can tell us lies about God and confuse our minds. …It is futile to search for infinite wisdom inside the finite mind of man.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SAMPLE EMAIL TO FRIENDS
Just reviewing the yoga online articles for you. This first one is excellent and answers your question about why there is spiritual danger with yoga, even if you don't believe in Hinduism. The author was delivered from yoga by a Catholic priest: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/mamaneedscoffee/2017/04/yoga-a-cautionary-tale/
Here's a first hand story from some one who also practiced and taught it:
http://www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2005/march/truth-about-yoga.html?start=2
Here's another great link, that seems to be a book review of Stefanie Syman's The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America. The author of the article is very succinct in defining the nonChristian beliefs of yoga.
Some essences of these articles:
-In yoga, the physical is the spiritual and you can't separate the two. In other words, you can't say you are just doing physical exercises because yoga comes with a spiritual set.
-Christians are called to have the mind of Christ and to renew their minds. Yoga teaches to empty it or to become "numb" as one teacher put it.
-In yoga, the body is trained to connect with the divine. Christians are called to look to the divine, Christ and His word, for our needs/connections.
-Yoga teaches to "leave your body", which is an occult practice that opens one up to the demonic. We are specifically told in the bible to not practice sorcery.
Hope you find these articles helpful...I sure did in reading them again. It sure shows how we have been brainwashed and need to get back in line with God's word so we can live in His ways.
About acupuncture
http://www.gotquestions.org/acupuncture-Christian.html
The origin of acupuncture is Chinese Taoism. Taoism is the philosophical system evolved by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu that advocates a life of complete simplicity, naturalness, and non-interference with the course of natural events in order to attain an existence in harmony with the Tao, or life-force. It is closely related to Hsuan Chaio, which is a popular Chinese religion that purports to be based on the doctrines of Lao-tzu, but which is actually highly eclectic in nature and characterized by a pantheon of many gods, superstitions, and the practice of alchemy, divination, and magic.
In this Chinese philosophy/religion there are two principles. The first is the "yin," which is negative, dark, and feminine, and the second is "yang," which is positive, bright, and masculine. The interaction of these two forces is thought to be the guiding influence for the destinies of all creatures and things. One’s fate is under the power of the balance or imbalance of these two forces. Acupuncture is a mechanism practiced by adherents of Taoism that is used to bring the "yin and yang" of the body into harmony with Tao.
1. Most article site people get relief from acupuncture, but is that a reason to use a false religion’s gods for healing when we have a Savior in which “by His stripes we are healed”? Many things in the occult seem to work for “a while” and/or give immediate relief…Satan does imitate God but then there is a backlash which is not seen at the onset.
2. Acupuncture’s harmony based on yin and yang while we have our peace through Christ? Why are we not seeking Christ?
3. Acupuncture is based on meridians that cannot be proved and are not based on Christian philosophy but driven by a religion with a pantheon of many gods. How can you separate the two?
4. Why are Christians not going to Christian healing ministries?
Woman delivered of yoga spirit by Catholic priest: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/mamaneedscoffee/2017/04/yoga-a-cautionary-tale/
Yoga (yoga means “yoke”)
Yoga is considered one of the six branches of classical Hindu philosophy. Its goal is to reach “Kaivalya” (ultimate freedom) by releasing the soul from the chains of cause and effect (karma) which tie the person to continual reincarnation. Yoga uses physical exercises, powers of concentration and breathing techniques as well as meditation to achieve these ends and attain union with Brahman. From: http://www.womenofgrace.com/blog/?cat=11
http://www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2005/march/truth-about-yoga.html?start=2
http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/09/20/the-subtle-body-should-christians-practice-yoga/
When Christians practice yoga, they must either deny the reality of what yoga represents or fail to see the contradictions between their Christian commitments and their embrace of yoga.
Nevertheless, a significant number of American Christians either experiment with yoga or become adherents of some yoga discipline. Most seem unaware that yoga cannot be neatly separated into physical and spiritual dimensions. The physical is the spiritual in yoga, and the exercises and disciplines of yoga are meant to connect with the divine.
Proceed with Caution from http://www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2005/march/truth-about-yoga.html?start=5
There's a new practice popping up at churches and fitness clubs around the country. Dubbed "Christian yoga" or "yoga for Christians," these programs supposedly offer the physical benefits of yoga along with Christian spirituality. But is it really possible for yoga to be transformed into a practice for Christians?
Hindu’s ultimate goal of life is release from the cycle of reincarnation. Yoga, one way of doing that-thru
-realization of one’s unity with God
-realization of one’s eternal relationship with God
-realization of one’s unity of all existence
One way to achieve this is through yoga
Doug Groothuis, author of Confronting the New Age and a professor of philosophy at Denver Seminary, says proponents of "Christian yoga" are misled—and are misleading others.
"'Christian yoga' is an oxymoron. Yoga is rooted in Hinduism and cannot be separated from it," he says. "There's nothing wrong with stretching and calming down one's breathing. But yoga isn't really about that; it's aimed at transforming human consciousness to experience the Hindu god, which is a false god."
TCW found several "Christian yoga" instructors who are affiliated with secular yoga organizations that have a Hindu or New Age bent.
When investigating a Christian yoga class, be on the lookout for:
Sanskrit language. Many words commonly used in yoga pay homage to Hindu deities.
Metaphysical jargon. Phrases such as "breathing in positive energy and breathing out negative energy," "focusing on the third eye," and "getting in touch with the divinity within you" have New Age implications.
Projection. Beware being told to empty your mind or to step outside your body.
Feelings of discomfort. Pay attention to those feelings. Even if you can't pinpoint why you're uncomfortable, this may be the Holy Spirit's way of letting you know the class isn't for you. —H.V.R.
__________________________________________________________________________
Yoga beliefs that are not Christian:
#1: Empty your mind. Christians are not called to “empty their minds” they are to have the mind of Christ. We are also called to know His Word and to have our minds transformed. If Christ is not filling it, either Satan or your own spirit is filling in…and our own spirits are not Christ’s spirit.
#2: Step outside your mind. This leads to astral travel which is trying to get out of your body.
The following is excerpted from: https://www.gotquestions.org/out-of-body-experience.html
“A person trying to achieve an out-of-body experience in order to connect with spirits or the spirit world is practicing the occult. There are two forms of this. The first is called the “phasing” model, in which the person tries to find new spiritual truth by accessing a part of the mind that is "shut off" during everyday life. This practice is connected to Buddhism or postmodernism and the belief that enlightenment is achieved from looking within oneself. The other form, called the “mystical” model, is when the person tries to exit the body entirely, his/her spirit traveling to another plane that is not connected to the physical world at all.
The Bible explicitly warns against occult practice, or sorcery, in Galatians 5:19-20, saying that those who practice it will not inherit God's kingdom. God's commands are always for our good, and He commands us to stay far away from occult practices because there is great potential, when trying to access the spiritual world, of opening oneself up to demons who can tell us lies about God and confuse our minds. …It is futile to search for infinite wisdom inside the finite mind of man.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SAMPLE EMAIL TO FRIENDS
Just reviewing the yoga online articles for you. This first one is excellent and answers your question about why there is spiritual danger with yoga, even if you don't believe in Hinduism. The author was delivered from yoga by a Catholic priest: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/mamaneedscoffee/2017/04/yoga-a-cautionary-tale/
Here's a first hand story from some one who also practiced and taught it:
http://www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2005/march/truth-about-yoga.html?start=2
Here's another great link, that seems to be a book review of Stefanie Syman's The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America. The author of the article is very succinct in defining the nonChristian beliefs of yoga.
Some essences of these articles:
-In yoga, the physical is the spiritual and you can't separate the two. In other words, you can't say you are just doing physical exercises because yoga comes with a spiritual set.
-Christians are called to have the mind of Christ and to renew their minds. Yoga teaches to empty it or to become "numb" as one teacher put it.
-In yoga, the body is trained to connect with the divine. Christians are called to look to the divine, Christ and His word, for our needs/connections.
-Yoga teaches to "leave your body", which is an occult practice that opens one up to the demonic. We are specifically told in the bible to not practice sorcery.
Hope you find these articles helpful...I sure did in reading them again. It sure shows how we have been brainwashed and need to get back in line with God's word so we can live in His ways.
About acupuncture
http://www.gotquestions.org/acupuncture-Christian.html
The origin of acupuncture is Chinese Taoism. Taoism is the philosophical system evolved by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu that advocates a life of complete simplicity, naturalness, and non-interference with the course of natural events in order to attain an existence in harmony with the Tao, or life-force. It is closely related to Hsuan Chaio, which is a popular Chinese religion that purports to be based on the doctrines of Lao-tzu, but which is actually highly eclectic in nature and characterized by a pantheon of many gods, superstitions, and the practice of alchemy, divination, and magic.
In this Chinese philosophy/religion there are two principles. The first is the "yin," which is negative, dark, and feminine, and the second is "yang," which is positive, bright, and masculine. The interaction of these two forces is thought to be the guiding influence for the destinies of all creatures and things. One’s fate is under the power of the balance or imbalance of these two forces. Acupuncture is a mechanism practiced by adherents of Taoism that is used to bring the "yin and yang" of the body into harmony with Tao.
1. Most article site people get relief from acupuncture, but is that a reason to use a false religion’s gods for healing when we have a Savior in which “by His stripes we are healed”? Many things in the occult seem to work for “a while” and/or give immediate relief…Satan does imitate God but then there is a backlash which is not seen at the onset.
2. Acupuncture’s harmony based on yin and yang while we have our peace through Christ? Why are we not seeking Christ?
3. Acupuncture is based on meridians that cannot be proved and are not based on Christian philosophy but driven by a religion with a pantheon of many gods. How can you separate the two?
4. Why are Christians not going to Christian healing ministries?
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