Is Yoga compatible with Christianity? Will demons take you over as you attempt the Lotus position?

I see the old chestnut about church halls banning Yoga as a pagan exercise has cropped up again lately.  When two churches banned yoga classes in the UK, there was outrage among the Hindu community and letters to the Archbishop.  Meanwhile,   a Catholic priest and teacher in india protested that  British clergy who describe yoga as a “sham,” a “false philosophy” and “un-Christian” are uninformed about the practice - reports  the 'Christian Today' evangelical webse .
“They know nothing about yoga,” commented Father John Ferreira, the principal of St Peter's College in Agra, one of India's oldest educational institutions.) during a recent interview ().
     Those wishing to stretch, bend and explore the topic further can try the Christian  pro-Yoga site here or an grumpily anti-Yoga (but informative) one on biblequery. This offers the analogy of a married woman who hangs out with a man friend who criticizes her husband. It places Yoga as definitely more un-Christian than - er - basketball - because it is concerned with spirtual energy. Which is Church business. It also cites a yoga site saying "those of you who may have suffered from Christianization in past centuries may prefer a more moderate approach to God outside a church or religion, which is certainly fine and perfect. God never has been attached to any church or religion…." and rather meanly adds "Some yoga gurus do quite well financially."  Yep, well so do some US evangelists..
   But if you want a really anti-Yoga stance try Jesusblogger, who reckons it opens the door to possession by demonic spirits.  Which may come as a shock to those mild kind souls down on the mats on the Church hall floor...

Comments

[J Pearce]

It is a well known Christian Fact*, that if you take an old Judas Priest record and play it backwards at half normal speed, you can clearly hear Satan calling you to join him.

Therefore, no-one should be surprised that Yoga is the doorway to the Devil. To any Christian Fact Finder*, the similarities between aeging heavy metal records and aerobic exercise is blindingly obvious.

NB:

* Christian Fact - uninformed, irrational and highly prejudiced speculation based on a total lack of understanding of how the world works and an unhealthy obsession with the Bible.

* Christian Fact Finder - uninformed, irrational and highly prejudiced speculator, normally to be found in small rooms for most of their lives, obsessively reading the Bible - except on Sundays, the only day its safe to let them out in public.

[yati]

One should, of course, realize that "Christ is not THE way" but A way. With that sad commentary said, the Christians are correct in saying yoga and Christianity do not mix...no two religions should be uprooted and intertwinend. One can be fully devoted to their choosen religion and still respect other religions without degrading them. Below are some YOGA FACTS:
Yati
San'skrit n. The ancient language of the Hindus ... [From: Webster's Dictionary]
yo'ga n. [Sanskrit lit. union]
Hinduism ... [From Webster's]
yo'ga: oneness of Atman and Brahman. [From: A Dictionary of Sanskrit Names published by the Integral Yoga Institute]
at'man n. (Skr. atman breath, self) Hinduism ... [From Webster's]
Brah'ma n. Hindu Religion ... [From Webster's]
Yoga (yo'ga) (Skt.,=union) general term for spiritual disciplines in Hinduism ... [From Columbia Encyclopedia Sixth Edition 2000]
"The Yoga System: [one of] The Six Acceptable Systems of Hindu Philosophy" [From a secular book on comparative religions: "Religions of Man" Macmillan Co.]
The first recorded evidence of the word "yoga" is found in the Vedas: "Seers of the vast illumined Seer yogically control their minds and intelligence." Rig Veda V.81.
Ve'da n. (Skr. knowledge, sacred lore.) The most ancient sacred literature of the Hindus. [From: Webster]

[Dr. Irene Lancaster FRSA]

Here is my own blog on the question:

http://irenelancaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/08/is-yoga-idolatrous.html

[JesusBlogger]

Libby,

I would stand by the view that Yoga is not compatible with Biblical Christianity.

Someone who is aware of the teachings of the Bible against dabbling with the occult - and with a familiarity of the occult/eastern mystical traditions around Yoga would choose to give it a miss.

Obviously, someone who holds to another belief system, or none at all, would see no problem with Yoga.

[iain rae]

I recently attended a yoga class and fear i have been taken over by evil spirits.Could Fr Davies peform a basic exorcism,and have the prices gone up this year?

[yati]

Jesusblogger; The problem is not in an individual of any or no religion studying Yoga/Hinduism. The problem is when the student and teacher do not acknowledge that "yoga" is Hinduism...ethically a teacher of a religion must be of the religion and qualified to teach. The prevalent New Age "yoga" out there today, misrepresents and degrades Hinduism...neither student of spurious "Yoga" or phoney teacher should partake in this immoral exploitation. No one should "look another way" or contribute when a religion is being defiled...we should not uproot two religions and mix them together at our convienance. Tthere is no "Christian Yoga" or any yoga to be taken out of Hinduism, as some are trying to do(steal.)
Yati