Yoga And Christiaanity.The Danger !

[Sunstone]

The objective of yoga as a discipline is to lead a person to being merged with a superhuman spirit. Contrary to God’s direction, yoga involves stopping spontaneous thinking. (Romans 12:1, 2) Yoga can expose one to the dangers of spiritism and occultism. (Deuteronomy 18:10, 11)
To empty the mind goes further than merely organizing the mind or freeing it of unnecessary "clutter." the mind swept completely clean is easy prey to outside influence, possibly by unprincipled humans or superhuman demonic forces. Though practicing only the Yoga physical exercises might appear harmless, yet pursuing the Yoga discipline, even when combined with Christian prayers, could be fraught with dangers, as stated in 2 Corinthians 6:14-17. One risks trying to unite something clean with something God considers unclean.

Have you ever practiced yoga, May? I ask because I'm curious where your understanding of it comes from?

Just a quibble, but don't you think a person who is capable of "sweeping their mind clean" can "sweep their mind clean" of "outside influence by unprincipled humans or possibly superhuman demonic forces"? Or, in your view, are yogis at the mercy of every breeze? And could you offer us evidence for your view? Thank you!

 

[sojourner]

The objective of yoga as a discipline is to lead a person to being merged with a superhuman spirit. Contrary to God’s direction, yoga involves stopping spontaneous thinking. (Romans 12:1, 2) Yoga can expose one to the dangers of spiritism and occultism. (Deuteronomy 18:10, 11)
To empty the mind goes further than merely organizing the mind or freeing it of unnecessary "clutter." the mind swept completely clean is easy prey to outside influence, possibly by unprincipled humans or superhuman demonic forces. Though practicing only the Yoga physical exercises might appear harmless, yet pursuing the Yoga discipline, even when combined with Christian prayers, could be fraught with dangers, as stated in 2 Corinthians 6:14-17. One risks trying to unite something clean with something God considers unclean.

God is a superhuman Spirit...

Romans 12:2, which you cited here says, "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God..." In blue: could be interpreted to mean "get your mind off of worldly things." In red: Renewal of mind could come through the means of emptying one's head of the noise and clutter that builds up, so that one can hear God speaking. This reference does not prove your point.

II Cor. 6:14-17 talks about the mismatch of believers with unbelievers ... has nothing to do with engaging in spiritual exercises.

Yes, there is a danger when one frees the mind. That's why spiritual exercise such as this must be carried out with purpose, focus, and discipline. Personally, I don't think yoga is suitable for simple physical exercise. The spiritual dimension is too prominent. Yoga seeks to marry the physical with the spiritual. therefore, the spiritual dimension must be addressed in the practice of yoga.

But -- in order to converse with God, one has to free the mind! That's why the religious cloister themselves and practice contemplation.

I don't think that God considers yoga "unclean." I think that there is more than one way in which God may be encountered -- yoga is one of them. But, again, one must be careful with it!

 

[may]

God is a superhuman Spirit...

Romans 12:2, which you cited here says, "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God..." In blue: could be interpreted to mean "get your mind off of worldly things." In red: Renewal of mind could come through the means of emptying one's head of the noise and clutter that builds up, so that one can hear God speaking. This reference does not prove your point.

yes i can see what you mean here, but for a christian who wants to follow and listen to Gods word, the pratice of yoga steams from other religious beliefs, so we have to make our minds up not to take part in any thing that involves other ways of worship. our worship should be pure worship ,not contaminated
The Hindus claim that the figures sitting in yoga positions are images of the god Siva, lord of the animals and lord of yoga, who is often worshiped through the lingam, a phallic symbol. Thus, the book Hindu World calls yoga "a code of ascetic practices, mainly pre-Aryan in origin, containing relics of many primitive conceptions and observances.

 

[may]

Have you ever practiced yoga, May? I ask because I'm curious where your understanding of it comes from?

Just a quibble, but don't you think a person who is capable of "sweeping their mind clean" can "sweep their mind clean" of "outside influence by unprincipled humans or possibly superhuman demonic forces"? Or, in your view, are yogis at the mercy of every breeze? And could you offer us evidence for your view? Thank you!

In Hindu World, author Benjamin Walker says of yoga: "It may have been an early system of magical ritualism, and yoga still retains in its meaning an overtone of occultism and sorcery." Hindu philosophers admit that the practice of yoga can give supernatural powers, even though they usually claim that this is not the ultimate goal of yoga.
The Hindu deity Shiva is called the "lord of Yogis." And Shiva is said to be the creator of the 84 bodily postures in Yoga. Therefore, the entire thinking behind Yoga is deeply rooted in non-Christian religion and Eastern gods.

 

[sojourner]

the pratice of yoga steams from other religious beliefs, so we have to make our minds up not to take part in any thing that involves other ways of worship. our worship should be pure worship ,not contaminated

Why? God belongs to the world, not just to Christianity.

Who is to say that yoga isn't a pure form of worship, and a worthy way to worship God?