YOGA good or bad?

[prusu83]

I never tried yoga, i don't have a clue what is it about.
I heard that it helps you discipline yourself and makes you more powerfull, you can concentrate better, faster. A famous actress said yoga helps her such that at the end of the day she could start it again.
A Romanian writer, Mircea Eliade, managed to sleep 4h/day with yoga. He gained 28 precious h/week wich i would use for my hobbies for my work!

There one problem. Some christians (i have a great pastor friend who has this opinion) say that it is a devlish thing. It is related to the Devil and you should stay away from it by all means.
Anyone knows something concrete? Anyone knows somebody who tried it and got punished or on the contrary.. ?

[Credinta]

It's quite a good question. Since yoga is based on Hindu (polytheistic) principles, you should evaluate its benefits and the way it is taught very carefully. Yoga is used in hindu tradition as a way of "mind and body tuning" however I don't know if the meditations common in yoga are hindu prayers. If you are looking for a similar workout but feel that the connection to Hinduism is too great, try pilates, it is a hybridized form of stretching/calisthenic type exercises with similar benefits to yoga physically.

[moe2006]

you pick: yoga or Jesus??? hmmm that's 'sooo' hard!!! :laf: why don't we just focus on Jesus and let yoga for the hindus???

[moe2006]

yoga is a hindu meditation.. I guess that would be hard to knock into a HARD head... it ain't a romanian thing.... and if you're not proud to be romanian.. I suggest you get off royouth!!!

[y e s k a]

Ahh! YOGA IS EVIL!!!!! Trust me...people can become possessed by doing it, we had this one preacher come to our church and tell us his whole life story of how he was a yoga instructor and he became possessed. :eek:

[marius I]

Yoga is a satanic practice... and as yeska09 siad u can get possed by it.. u clear ur mind by medditating therefore opening doors to demonic forces... its ture many christians have written about it...

[Steven!]

I don't see the sin by it... It's stretches and stuff.

[y e s k a]

I don't see the sin by it... It's stretches and stuff.

ummmmm.....nooo. Look into it buddy, and you'll see its very evil and demonic.

[Moe]

ummmmm.....nooo. Look into it buddy, and you'll see its very evil and demonic.


well lets look into it if you only want to do the streching part you only do that...... you have the option of doing one or the other or both so if you strech thats ok but if you doing the other part then you are sinning because "te inchjni la idoli".....

[marius I]

...sorry but id have to disagre... here's some info...

Yoga in General

Different schools of yoga have different teachings and emphases, but in general they teach the following.

Body Positions: This is what non-practitioners of yoga often think of first. Yoga has many other points though.

Breathing: Yoga often emphasizes controlling the breath and being aware of the breathing process. Yoga is a means to prepare to die, to avoid future reincarnations.

Concentration and Meditation: The symbol of meditation is a lord (Isvara) which usually is one or more Hindu deities.

Isolation: From other people and things for periods of time.

Differentiate between consciousness (of self) and awareness (or surroundings and condition). Yoga is defined as "the cessation of the transformations of ordinary awareness." (Yogasutra (YS) 1:5-11)



Here is more info if u wana find out more...

http://www.biblequery.org/yoga.htm

[marius I]

http://www.geocities.com/johnkennedyzap/yoga.html

some more....

[arie]

here's a little something about yoga and christianity
http://www.probe.org/docs/yoga.html

[marius I]

thanks arie.. i belive that about clears it up...

[y e s k a]

ummmm i look at yoga as meditating and letting go of stress as well as getting some stretching exercise out of it..........you guys just always look at the worst of things don't you???? now that's a baaaad habit.

you should look at those websites Marius and Arie posted, maybe then you'll think differently ;)

[jeem]

you pick: yoga or Jesus??? hmmm that's 'sooo' hard!!! :laf: why don't we just focus on Jesus and let yoga for the hindus???


moe i think its fair to say you dont know a darn thing about yoga. i want you to back up what you mean by pick yoga or jesus. im sick of people saying things like that because they heard from someone that its bad. you need to do your research and then afterwards make your own conclusions and then you can come on here and back up what your saying. now go.

[marius I]

yes... research... make ur own conclusion and look at the websites me and arie have psoted up... also pray about its.. thats the key... Ask God for his guidance and SNOWBUNNY, if u really thinking of doing yoga.. iw ould seriously suggest u dont... and if u still dont wana listen pray about it and listen to what GOd has to say about it... u dont have to listen to me... Listen to God...

[jeem]

i think i agree that christians always try to find something evil in everything. im not saying yoga is ok but i need to do some of my own research on it and make my own conclusions on the topic.

theres even people at my church that think soccer and going to movies is bad. like come on....they cant back up what they are saying. i want to hear reasoning behind what they say.

[marius I]

Well what u see at the movies depends on if it is bad or good.. but ofcourse.. the garbage you let in.. u give out as well... just becareful of what u let go in that brain of urs... O_^

[jeem]

Well what u see at the movies depends on if it is bad or good.. but ofcourse.. the garbage you let in.. u give out as well... just becareful of what u let go in that brain of urs... O_^

i agree with that. but i dont go to movies to watch dirty things. plus im sick of being 21 and people still telling me what to do. i think i can make my own decisions. :p

http://www.brfwitness.org/Articles/1986v21n6.htm

Heres something i found to be pretty strait forward. read what it says. it makes it pretty clear that yoga isnt right with biblical quotes.

Although now im wondering if there are two different types of yoga practices: theres excersize and then theres the religion.

[marius I]

yay more proof of yoga being bad... thanks jeem... SNOWBUNNY i hope u change ur mind about doing yoga...

[moe2006]

moe i think its fair to say you dont know a darn thing about yoga. i want you to back up what you mean by pick yoga or jesus. im sick of people saying things like that because they heard from someone that its bad. you need to do your research and then afterwards make your own conclusions and then you can come on here and back up what your saying. now go.I know about yoga... I researched it too, but I just felt like saying something.... and if you think you know better, challenge me!!! :)

[Moe]

ok im going to merge this thread with the other yoga thread..... there is a thread about yoga.......

[CalinBisou]

Hm, I took a yoga and pilates class not long ago. It was good. Quite relaxing and makes your body more flexible, stronger, and tones. It's good as you age because it increases the circulation to all of your body. Only bad thing was, you need to maintain it, otherwise, the effects won't last....just like any exercise one does.

[Moe]

what do u guys think of yoga? its supposed to be relaxing and healthy, but are there negative things that affects us as christians? some christians think its harmless, what do u think? :need:


Ok merging is done.......... 2 threads in 1..........

[CalinBisou]

Ai ai. Well I never interrpreted Yoga =evil since I do it to improve my body. There are different degrees of yoga and the yoga Ive done is to merely improve my body's physique. There are stretches for your arms, legs, thighs, butt, back, neck, etc. and you learn how to properly stretch without hurting yourself as many people do. If you do it in this sense, there's nothing wrong, but if you practice yoga in the sense of meditating on "Vishnu" and say, "I worship the same cow I digested at burger king!" or something...DUH, that's bad. you could do the same thing munching on a hamburger.


Please. Go to your nearest gym and see what the yoga classes do and you'll see there's nothing "evil." about it there.

MANY of the exercises and warm-ups you do before your basketball, track meet, baseball, volleyball game, etc. is based on Yoga. So, are you going to stop doing those too just because they came from a Hindu background?? There are many things we adopt as our own but do not necessarily accept fully, if that makes sense.

For instance, asians use incense to pray for the dead. MANY people in the USA have taken these same incenses from asia for the relaxation the aroma gives them. What about those people? They don't use it to worship idols, they just like the scent.

If you are a strong Christian, and you practic yoga in a way that doesn't defile God, I see nothing wrong in that. Yes, if you start meditating and asking for karma, there's a problem. But I am talking about learning to improve the strength of your body. There's a huge difference.

[:::PAPARAZZI:::]

dude, as a chrisitan, its dangerous to COMPLETELY CLEAR your mind because it allows the possiblilty to be influenced by demonic influences. of course theyre not gonna be like "oh i'm an evil spirit, let me mess with you" the bible tells us to focus on things above, to think and meditate on all things good, holy and pure. plus...the positions used in yoga are hindu forms of worship...alot of people and christians are not familiar with this.

[:::PAPARAZZI:::]

calinbisou, dont trust the gym to tell you certain things, its better if you trust your christian brothers and sisters

Quick Definitions for 'yoga' Email This | About

noun: Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility that is achieved through the three paths of actions and knowledge and devotion
noun: a system of exercises practiced as part of the Hindu discipline to promote control of the body and mind

[moe2006]

For Those That Said They Do Yoga Because Of Stress:
why don't you just go fishing if you have stress??? I mean stress is not an excuse for yoga... I mean, I don't believe in stress, therefore I don't have stress, but when I need peace and quiet, I go fishing....... :)

[CalinBisou]

Yes, I see what you are saying, rorep, but as I said, MANY of the excerises and stretches you do on a daily basis are from yoga. So, are you going to go look up those and stop doing them because you think you are somehow worshipping someone other than God inadverntly??

We can take our eyes off of the Lord at ANY time, in any situation.

You look back far enough, and the origin of something will be used for another purpose. I don't sit there meditating and trying to clear out my mind...i have the Bible and God on my mind to do that.

Recall in 1 Cor. where it talks about food sacrificed to idols?....

"We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. ......but food does not bring us near to God; we are no wrose if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however,that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak." 8:5-9

In the same way, I know, YOU know that there is only one God. Obviously i am not going to go to a Hindu temple and start worshipping their gods. But neither is not practicing yoga or practicing it, make you better or worse. Be careful, yes, but in all honesty, I just do not see what you guys are seeing. We pick up cultural diversity from people all of the time. As I said, the original origins aren't the same now as they were before for their usage.

Think about this, many of us watched the Olympics, yes? Think about it guys, I am sure there were Christians who participated in the games. Where did the Olypmics originate?? Greece and what was the purpose??...originally, it was not just to celebrate strength, it was a major way to honor their gods. Do we look at it that way NOW??? No and i don't think many really do. So, all of you who watched the olympics, were in actuality, participating/supporting a pagan ritual by your same definition of the practice of yoga.

[dosescud]

haven't tried yoga... from the looks of this thread i sould keep away from it. However when i hit the gym i dont think it matters how i stretch as long as im not meditating on something other than God or his Word. But im sure yoga does work. If anyone is familiar with mind over matter. People who have reached the point where they can ignore pain through meditation and concentration. But we should as rorep said, meditate on the Lord.

[DANIZX9]

:nono: Yoga is power from the devil.

[Pull and Twist]

Wow, do people here realize that meditation is not necessarily a bad thing?? Yes yoga is a form of meditation that those of the Hindu religion use to meditate on their beliefs and gods, but it can easily be used to meditate on any religious beliefs and practices including Christianity. Furthermore, there is a form of meditation that Christians share with many other religions that by many of your standards should not be practiced due to the fact that other religions practice it. That common form of meditation is known as prayer, prayer can be good and bad depending on who you are praying too or meditating on, this holds the same for yoga.

[EuG3N]

its bad...... i kno someone who commited suicide 'cause of yoga!

[y e s k a]

Man people yoga is just bad...forget about all that garbage of "oh it clears my mind" and "its so relaxing" its just wrong!!

[EuG3N]

yoga takes control of ur body sometimes (i hear) and its makes u do weird stuff... lol

[Pull and Twist]

I'm convinced beyond a doubt that all significant signs of intelligence and understanding have left our society of today. It amazes me how people make completely unintelligent accusations based on no evidence and on stories they heard from a friends friend that are either grossly embellished or have no truth value what so ever.

I'm going to repost my prior comment in bold because it seems that people have been so dumbed down and their attention spans warped to miniscule proportions that we have to constantly repeat ourselves in order to knock sense into people.

Wow, do people here realize that meditation is not necessarily a bad thing?? Yes yoga is a form of meditation that those of the Hindu religion use to meditate on their beliefs and gods, but it can easily be used to meditate on any religious beliefs and practices including Christianity. Furthermore, there is a form of meditation that Christians share with many other religions that by many of your standards should not be practiced due to the fact that other religions practice it. That common form of meditation is known as prayer, prayer can be good and bad depending on whom you are praying too or meditating on, this holds the same for yoga.

[yacko]

I am not familiar with yoga, but I am familar with some of the rituals common in Eastern religions. Meditation, whether directed toward an idol, the homework due the next day, or God, has the exact same form. To imply that a certain ritual is reserved for the Hindus and if practiced by Christians is sinful, is absurd.

A long time ago I practiced Shodokan, which is a Japanese martial art. The rituals and the philosophy of this martial art were derived from the Shinto religion. While too simple to accomodate complicated theological concepts, Shinto is a belief that recognizes simple life forces, or spirits, as we may call them. As Americans, we understood that these rituals are nothing more than pure convention. Just like when during a business meeting one shakes the other person's hand, the same way before sparring we would bow to each other. Just before the beginning of the session, while stretching, one had to be silent and meditate. I am not sure if the Japanese practitioners meditate about the sacred places on Mount Fuji, but I was just visualizing the moves to the next kata or sometimes, think about some nasty little physics problem that I had missed on the previous exam!

I understand that many people feel that their faith is threatened if any activity they engage in is somehow loosely associated with another religion. Perhaps they need to concentrate on the Lord, and make sure that their beliefs are strong. However, most temptations come from obvious places and people. I have heard of many Christian people engaging in illicit sexual behavior, substabce abuse, and even criminal activity. However, I still do not know anybody who gave up Christianity after a Yoga class!

[Iuli]

dangggggggg u yacko boy.. u sure know a lot ... and i agree that yoga is not good

[supergirl]

Having first gained cult popularity in the West during the 1960s, yoga is now mainstream. About 11 million Americans practice yoga at least once a week, according to a Roper poll commissioned by the Yoga Journal. Yoga studios and yoga classes are available in health and fitness centers throughout the country. And a few health insurers now cover yoga therapy in certain cases.

[V!p3r21]

what i think ....:

if you really wanna exercise , and wanna say it in another way ... you say YOGA ...

Well .. Yoga ... is considered as something more than exercising ... reason ( it has parts with meditation ... etc... )

and it is mostly considered an art ... than a sport ... or fitness ...

still ... for me ... Yoga .. is just another thing... that if you wanna do it ... you do it ... if not .. same as good ...

but if you wanna lean more on the health side .. make sure ... you consider (some 'burn' )

[supergirl]

The term "spirituality" is popular in media and secular culture as well as in religious circles. People are fascinated by angels, near-death experiences, and Shirley MacLaine-type New Age philosophy. New Agers proclaim that we are all gods. Others suggest we can claim the prerogatives of the divine through such experiences as channeling, transcendental meditation, martial arts, yoga, drugs, hypnosis, contact with the deceased, and higher consciousness. Recently Native American and Eastern religions have also enthralled many with their pantheistic overtones, promising human fulfillment and the attainment of godhood and eternal bliss.

... Is this somehow related to God ? :screwy:

[u-ne-corn]

yoga is not good... it evil and demonic and nobody should bother with that garbage

[supergirl]

related to yoga:

Hinduism had its beginnings some 5,000 years ago among the Dravidian inhabitants of the Indian peninsula. Their religion was polytheistic and superstitious. They had images of their gods, but no temples. This is known as the pre-Vedic period.

Vedic Period
Aryans from central Asia, who worshiped the powers of nature, invaded northern India (1500 B.C.) and pushed their way south, imposing their Vedic religion on the local people. Gradually the invaders absorbed the Dravidian gods into their religion, and by 600 B.C. they had developed an elaborate system of sacrifices, leading to the formation of a priesthood (the Brahmans).

Upanishadic Period
The Upanishads were sacred books that reinterpreted the Vedic religion and combined all the gods into a single principle, the absolute universal soul, called Brahman.

The Hindu concept of salvation began to emphasize an escape from life and was centered in doctrines of karma and samsara. The law of karma is a law of cause and effect. A person can build good or evil karma depending on their deeds. The doctrine of samsara teaches that all life goes through an endless succession of rebirths. Every living thing is on the wheel of life, and each new birth depends on the karma built up in its past lives. Salvation is escape from the wheel by uniting with the universal soul and reaching nirvana, a state of passionless peace.

Salvation may be acquired by listening to the sages, reading scriptures, practicing meditation, and realizing the Atman-Brahman identity. Yoga is one form of meditation involving control over the body, breathing, and the thoughts. The main goal of yoga meditation is union with the absolute. Salvation may also be achieved through ceremonies, sacrifices, pilgrimages, and other good deeds.

Reform Movements
Two of the most prominent reform movements were Buddhism and Jainism. Another movement led to a triad of more personal Hindu gods that were used to represent the impersonal and absolute Brahma: Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer).

One sect of Hinduism (the Vaishnavites) worships the god Vishnu and his 10 incarnations: a fish, an amphibian, a boar, a man-lion, a dwarf, Parasurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, and Kalkin. Kalkin has not yet come.

The Shaivite sect worships the god Shiva and his wife, who is variously represented as Durga, Kali, Sati, Parvati, and Devi. Some of these representations, especially Kali, are quite sinister, bloodthirsty, and immoral. One cult from this group follows temple prostitution.

Hindu Worldview
Hinduism views the world as a training ground for the soul. A person has many lives to work out their salvation. There are innumerable galaxies and other worlds like our own, and the moral law of karma pervades all. There is no recognition of sin and moral guilt. Sin is an illusion. Therefore there is no need for forgiveness. In an ultimate sense humanity is God.

Popular Hinduism
Popular Hinduism emphasizes the observance of the caste system. The four original castes were: the Brahmans (priests); the Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers); the Vaisyas (farmers, artisans); and the Sudras (laborers and servants). Below these are the outcasts or untouchables.

Another element of popular Hinduism is worship of the images of many gods. There are several levels of gods and goddesses ranging from the supreme triad of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva down to a host of village gods and demons. Visits to temples, shrines, and holy pilgrimages are a part of popular Hinduism. Numerous festivals throughout the year celebrate the deeds of the various gods and goddesses with feasting, processions, and ceremonies.

[supergirl]

So, if we can achieve salvation by ourselves, what do we need Jesus for ?
Yoga is not good! When someone else [the devil] takes control over your mind then you're lost.

[NoemiRuth]

I'm not familiar with a lot of aspects of yoga, although I scanned over some of the informaton put up on this thread.. As any other romanian christian was probably told, I was also told that yoga is bad for christians.. But I wanted to experience it in order to believe it..

I signed up at a gym this summer and I found out there was a yoga class offered at about 6:30 or so (I don't remember the exact time). I decided to try it out since I was already on the lower floor where it was offered.. I do believe in God's Holy Spirit guiding you and I do believe that His guidance can be manifested through feelings.. Well, when they started playing the music, an eerie feeling came over me.. like goose bumps.. It was really weird!..

But I decided to stick it out and do whatever the instructor told us to do (we didn't do much except lie on the floor in 3 positions for approx 10 min each). I felt weird throughout, but the weird feeling kind of lost its intensity as the class went on.. I realized it wasn't a big deal.. but at the same time, I couldn't entirely shake off that eerie feeling..

If you were to ask me what I would do if I was put in the same position, I honestly couldn't tell you. I know there's great benefits to yoga: physical (who wouldn't want to have a yoga body now? lol) and mental (decrease in the level of stress). Many times, as girls, we are attracted to it because we read magazines where the most beautiful women credit their awesome body to yoga training. That's why I personally tried the class!

But, I'm not exactly sure if I'm totally comfortable with the whole "be one with the Universe idea." I think the meditation is just a way for people who don't believe in Jesus Christ (and therefore don't pray) to do something that closely resembles prayer. As human beings we were created to have fellowship with God to be fulfilled and at peace; if we don't have that type of fellowship (and therefore aren't fulfilled or at peace) because we don't believe in the ONLY one who we're supposed to have fellowship with, we find other alternatives to fill that void that cannot be filled by prayer. Many people who practice yoga do admit to the fact that it brings them peace and inner harmony.

Through prayer we actually meditate, but in a safe form, because we have the only one and true God to meditate upon. With yoga, the concentration is on us and the Universe, and we all know that this world is controlled by Satan. Therefore, I don't think we should strive to have fellowship with him.

[NoemiRuth]

Actually, after reading my post, I realized that I answered my own question. If put in the same situation, I don't think I should do the class anymore..

[CanaryGood]

ive had an eerie feeling when i heard some peple speak in tongues... is it that im very discerning? or is that im just unused to it?
its only bad if you meditate while doing the yoga.
like when i jog i pray i essentially talk to god... i just started instensive dance aerobics and i really beat myself up mentally. when i did yoga i breathed and thanked god after every breath.... i didnt take a class for it, i just learned the positions. while doing yoga other people talk to their inner beings. (and if they dont have christ then they really dont have an inner being so its not good im sure you can deduce why)

[CanaryGood]

So, if we can achieve salvation by ourselves, what do we need Jesus for ?
Yoga is not good! When someone else [the devil] takes control over your mind then you're lost.

its not the excersise thats bad... its what we think of when or if we do it.

just like everything else in life that takes mass concentration... you can get lost.

[:::PAPARAZZI:::]

meditation is not wrong, on the contrary! the bible teaches us to meditate, even the Apostle Paul meditated while he had a vision.....BUT there is a MAJOR difference between the Christian meditation and the Eastern meditation, we need to recognize and make the distinction in order to protect ourselves from outside infulences.

[gabi_m]

if you talk about disciplining....the best discipline is given by the Word of God...this is all that you need in life...... forget yoga and take up the Bible...i have a friend in romania that was influenced by one of his teachers in high school..to start yoga...and now...he's mind is distorted and he has a different perception of life...and i don't know what to do to get him back on track...he even ran away from home..and lived with his teacher for months and years...and his parents were crying to God to have him back...think about y'all folks here...

i'm sure there might be some that would not give up their christianity after a yoga class...but remember...God doesn't share his glory with no one...if you think you can have them both you are deceived and fall into a compromise...

[Tupi]

hmm Yoga....to me atleast...is a form of excersize....do i do it? no..its boring. i guess there are two sides to yoga though...there is the discipline..(excersize part) and then there is the meditation part (mind part). i guess it all depends "who" you are meditating on :D

[livin_4_Christ1]

hmmmm....good question..umm...i have tried it and i was really calm afterwards...but i like pilates better...lol

[juventus024]

yago is good for u ...trust me i..i do it at school once a week..b/c i am on the swim team,
Its very relaxing,and the streching helps u alot ,it hurts in the beginning, untill u get used to it!

[volosencowboy]

It all depends on moderation guys. If you take yoga as an exercise and use it as a tool to learn to concentrate better the more power to you. The only problem is if you start believing the mantra and start losing yourself. Get a buddy if your curious about yoga. I've been thinking about doing yoga because of my ultra flexibility (I have what doctors call, "Rubber Man Syndrome") and I need to learn to concentrate on school matters(not to mention lose a few pounds). Yes, the Bible is good, and yoga is deffinatly not better, but you don't exercise much when reading it.

[Delia16]

Yogai Is a Poisson Wrapped Up In A Beautiful Ambalage :help:

[Delia16]

yago is good for u ...trust me i..i do it at school once a week..b/c i am on the swim team,
Its very relaxing,and the streching helps u alot ,it hurts in the beginning, untill u get used to it!

BAD ADVICES ! I Know the Steaua's adepts are much more inteligent . :rofl:Trust me I..I saw them.You are surely an exception.

[Daniel M.]

Wow, do people here realize that meditation is not necessarily a bad thing?? Yes yoga is a form of meditation that those of the Hindu religion use to meditate on their beliefs and gods, but it can easily be used to meditate on any religious beliefs and practices including Christianity. Furthermore, there is a form of meditation that Christians share with many other religions that by many of your standards should not be practiced due to the fact that other religions practice it. That common form of meditation is known as prayer, prayer can be good and bad depending on who you are praying too or meditating on, this holds the same for yoga.





NO it's not the same !!!!!!!!!! I guess you got your prayer definition wrong this time. I consider prayer a time alone with God, when you can talk to your Father and praise him for what He's done in my life , and also a time when you can do Spiritual warefare . Prayer is a battle !!!! Meditating in the Word of God is not the same as yoga!!! :twak: :tut:

[Debbie_A]

i think that yoga is bad because some people depend on it for relaxation and stuff but god wants u to turn to him for that

[st3lliano]

Why cant you use the meditation techniques to open your mind to God?? Why must it always be demonic forces which possess you when you medidate, and why not heavenly ones??

just some thoughts....

[Pull and Twist]

Why cant you use the meditation techniques to open your mind to God?? Why must it always be demonic forces which possess you when you medidate, and why not heavenly ones??

just some thoughts....

It doesn't, but people like to associate it with that. Prayer seems to be the only form of meditation, yes it's a form of meditation, that people will associate with God. Ofcourse, like yoga, even prayer can be used to medditate on demonic forces. Does this mean we should stop praying? No, we should just be wary of who we are praying too, the same holds true for yoga.

[moe2006]

It doesn't, but people like to associate it with that. Prayer seems to be the only form of meditation, yes it's a form of meditation, that people will associate with God. Ofcourse, like yoga, even prayer can be used to medditate on demonic forces. Does this mean we should stop praying? No, we should just be wary of who we are praying too, the same holds true for yoga.
I think you're a little confused... prayer is NOT meditation... prayer is my personal conversation with God... I think you got that a little mixed up with meditation...

[Pull and Twist]

I think you're a little confused... prayer is NOT meditation... prayer is my personal conversation with God... I think you got that a little mixed up with meditation...

But i can be, just as meditiation can be prayer solely depending on what your focus is. The essence of the deity or communication with a deity.

But that wasn't the point, you got stuck on the technicality and you failed to see the big picture. The form of meditation or prayer does not matter, the person you meditate or pray too does.

[sYphon]

I don't see the sin by it... It's stretches and stuff.

lol no its not :lol2: but thats funny

[sOmEoNeLiKeYoU]

i think that yoga is bad i know people see it as a good way to be more flexible but i dont like the idea of meditation and depending on it for relaxation and it seems to be kinda wrong in my opinion

[moe2006]

some ppl say it's a form of exercise... too bad... they must've never heard of pus-ups, sit-ups, chin-ups... etc. yoga and prayer are two totally different subjects... let's focus on why yoga is bad now instead of mixing it up by saying prayer is meditation....

[SaintJoe69]

NO it's not the same !!!!!!!!!! I guess you got your prayer definition wrong this time. I consider prayer a time alone with God, when you can talk to your Father and praise him for what He's done in my life , and also a time when you can do Spiritual warefare . Prayer is a battle !!!! Meditating in the Word of God is not the same as yoga!!! :twak: :tut:
I am guessing that you are considering prayer as "meditating in the Word of God"? If so, then prayer is a form of meditation, as you have just said. So, is meditation wrong or right in your personal opinion? :scratch:

[DANIZX9]

> Yoga is develish power. :twak:

[volosencowboy]

I never tried yoga, i don't have a clue what is it about.
I heard that it helps you discipline yourself and makes you more powerfull, you can concentrate better, faster. A famous actress said yoga helps her such that at the end of the day she could start it again.
A Romanian writer, Mircea Eliade, managed to sleep 4h/day with yoga. He gained 28 precious h/week wich i would use for my hobbies for my work!

There one problem. Some christians (i have a great pastor friend who has this opinion) say that it is a devlish thing. It is related to the Devil and you should stay away from it by all means.
Anyone knows something concrete? Anyone knows somebody who tried it and got punished or on the contrary.. ?

to moe2005: see this? This was the first post, dude. It wasn't asking for the negative beliefs of yoga. So silly.

Now, to all those who think that prayer isn't some form of meditation I decided to pull dictionary.com our way. It says,

"n. A contemplative discourse, usually on a religious or philosophical subject."

Isn't prayer a discourse with the one most high?

[juventus024]

Yoga is not bad ..i do it . First yoga is not meditation, its relaxation...it helps u clear ur mind up ! and forget about the trobles u have...its relaxing . U guys r very foolish if u think yoga is bad!

the meaning of Yoga is :control of breathing , prescribed posture


P. S it dosen't have nothing with God ,or meditaiton ....its completly diffrent!

[moe2006]

to moe2005: see this? This was the first post, dude. It wasn't asking for the negative beliefs of yoga. So silly.

Now, to all those who think that prayer isn't some form of meditation I decided to pull dictionary.com our way. It says,

"n. A contemplative discourse, usually on a religious or philosophical subject."

Isn't prayer a discourse with the one most high?
Which should I follow, a dictionary or the bible??? :scratch:
and something else, I find it pitiful that a GUY does yoga :nono: you need mass, not yoga... if someone on the street would come to beat u up, what would you say? 'I do yoga'??? :laf: they'd be off with ur wallet.... :laf:

[moe2006]

Yoga is not bad ..i do it . First yoga is not meditation, its relaxation...it helps u clear ur mind up ! and forget about the trobles u have...its relaxing . U guys r very foolish if u think yoga is bad!

the meaning of Yoga is :control of breathing , prescribed posture


P. S it dosen't have nothing with God ,or meditaiton ....its completly diffrent!
dude... make up your mind!!! first you say that yoga is NOT meditation, but then you go on and say that yoga is:control of breathing, prescribed posture... uhhh what's the difference??? :screwy:

P.S. it DOESN'T have nothing to do with God... that's why I don't do it!!!

[SaintJoe69]

Which should I follow, a dictionary or the bible??? :scratch:
and something else, I find it pitiful that a GUY does yoga :nono: you need mass, not yoga... if someone on the street would come to beat u up, what would you say? 'I do yoga'??? :laf: they'd be off with ur wallet.... :laf:
Hmmm... the Bible does not mention yoga, so how would one know what yoga even is without the meaning from the dictionary in which it was adapted? :scratch:

You want to say that yoga is useless because you would rather have muscles to fight on the streets? Hmmm... if one had brains, rather than muscles, they might be able to get themself out of the same scenario that you have given... but I guess you forgot about the intellectual part, huh? :nono:

That seems like your solution for everything... brute force. Well, you know that saying... "mind over matter". :D

[FBI]

Hmmm... the Bible does not mention yoga, so how would one know what yoga even is without the meaning from the dictionary in which it was adapted? :scratch:

You want to say that yoga is useless because you would rather have muscles to fight on the streets? Hmmm... if one had brains, rather than muscles, they might be able to get themself out of the same scenario that you have given... but I guess you forgot about the intellectual part, huh? :nono:

That seems like your solution for everything... brute force. Well, you know that saying... "mind over matter". :D


yoga is bad it is not for christians

[st3lliano]

Like all things that are questionable... things must be done in moderation.

For some, yoga is just another way of working out... and for the extreme.... yoga is for ritualistic worship of another deity other than the true God.

my only take is that you guard your heart if you perform, and dont follow the trend to "meditate with the ohms... and uhms..... If you work out, then fine, just dont make your younger sister work out with you if she does not understand it because of the potential for it to open up wrong desires within her (i use the sister analogy to suggest a higher meaning.... dont do yoga if your a kid who has alternate reasons for doing yoga such as to practice Hindu....)

[moe2006]

Hmmm... the Bible does not mention yoga, so how would one know what yoga even is without the meaning from the dictionary in which it was adapted? :scratch:

You want to say that yoga is useless because you would rather have muscles to fight on the streets? Hmmm... if one had brains, rather than muscles, they might be able to get themself out of the same scenario that you have given... but I guess you forgot about the intellectual part, huh? :nono:

That seems like your solution for everything... brute force. Well, you know that saying... "mind over matter". :D
saintjoe: did I say that... cuz I don't remember saying that... :scratch:... I just said I would rather listen to the way the bible describes prayer than the dictionary.....

[Pull and Twist]

dude... make up your mind!!! first you say that yoga is NOT meditation, but then you go on and say that yoga is:control of breathing, prescribed posture... uhhh what's the difference??? :screwy:

P.S. it DOESN'T have nothing to do with God... that's why I don't do it!!!

Neither does boasting about how you can beat a VW with your Honda. But you seem very capable of doing that. Maybe you should rethink the "if it doesn't have anything to do with God, I don't do it" phrase.

[moe2006]

Neither does boasting about how you can beat a VW with your Honda. But you seem very capable of doing that. Maybe you should rethink the "if it doesn't have anything to do with God, I don't do it" phrase.
where are you trying to get??? I pray before I drive.... but yoga and hondas are two different things... hondas get you around... yoga doesn't (it just makes people think that it relaxes them....) GOD relaxes me, not some hindu exercize!!!


and BTW: I could beat a VW any day!!!

[Pull and Twist]

where are you trying to get??? I pray before I drive.... but yoga and hondas are two different things... hondas get you around... yoga doesn't (it just makes people think that it relaxes them....) GOD relaxes me, not some hindu exercize!!!


and BTW: I could beat a VW any day!!!

Racing doesn't promote anything, period. Furthermore, Yoga can be used for meditating on God and as a physical exercise. Therefore it can be influential to both spirit and body.

[Daniel M.]

I am guessing that you are considering prayer as "meditating in the Word of God"? If so, then prayer is a form of meditation, as you have just said. So, is meditation wrong or right in your personal opinion? :scratch:


Read the post that you quoted me from and you will see what I mean and if you dont understand then i will try to explain it beter for you!!! :D

[cammie25]

oh my gosh!!! ok not to offend any one... but i cant belive how pathetic these threads are getting!!!...

prusu83... u said u dont know exactly what yoga is... its like an exercise... except u dont move around too much... and u gain strength in your muscles because u have to maintain a certain position for a while...

and marius and yeska... YOGA IS NOT SATANIC!!!... meditation and opening your mind up is the same as laying your head down and just day dreaming... just cuz your sitting crissed crossed doesnt make a diff...

maybe when some meditate they make themselves feel like its spiritual... but its not... its still your own thougths and stuff going through your head... and if the thoughts are evil thoughts and you begin to belive that that is the truth... then that would be your own fault...

yoga is ment for you to stretch and physically balance and sit and be calm and think or "clear your mind up" as they wanna call it... so it could help you forgot about stress and relieve it for at least a couple mins or an hour or for how ever long u do that... you know... helping your health...

AND IF U THINK YOGA IS EVIL BECAUSE OF MEDITATION... YESKA AND MARIUS... AND WHO EVER ELSE IS SAYING SO... THATS YOUR OWN OPINION... BUT YOGA... THE "SPORT" OR THE STRETCHING AND BALANCING PART OF IT... IS SIMPLY TO RELIVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRESS...

WHICH IS GOOD... NOT BAD...

YOU GUYS ARE BEING LED ASTREY MAN... AND THATS SAD..

and moise iovescu... please tell me... when meditating... exactly la ce idol te inchini ??? really... i wanna know... is there something specific your worshiping??? and is this talking from experience???

you guys know there are many ways of meditation... like when u cliose your eyes and meditate on what God has done in this world and how perfectly he created everything... the way all the plannets are carefully aligned... how everything just is... we're appreciating what he's done... we are silently prasing him... in a form of prayer if u wanna put it that way... thats a form of meditation

then theres meditaion that u meditate on your own life and what you've accomplished and what your goals are... just taking some time off and u just set some things streight... thats a form of meditation...

MEDITATION IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT PPL ... AND IF U DONT KNOW ANYTHING CONCRETE ABOUT IT... DONT GO AROUND SAYING ITS BAD...

BECAUSE WHEN PASTORS SAY TO TAKE A MOMENT AND MEDITATE ON GOD AND HIS GLORY... PPL THAT HEARD FROM U ITS BAD WOULD NOW BE CONFUSED AND WOULDNT KNOW WHICH IS RIGHT....

FOR THE SAKE OF JUDGEMENT DAY... WATCH OUT WHAT IS COMMING OUTTA YOUR MOUTH!!! AND FINGER TIPS !!!

[Yao_Ming2005]

YOGA IS WEIRD, I ONLY THINK YALL SOULD LET YOGA TO THE AMERICANS AND DO THE OLD FASHION WAY EITHER WORK AROUND THE HOUSE OR PUMP IRON.. ROMANIAN STYLE.. so that incase its bad us romanian can still visit each other in heaven were we dont have to worry about our bodies..
said by a tru texan ME haha or u can herd cowz if u have any..

[Yao_Ming2005]

YOGA IS WEIRD, I ONLY THINK YALL SOULD LET YOGA TO THE AMERICANS AND DO THE OLD FASHION WAY EITHER WORK AROUND THE HOUSE OR PUMP IRON.. ROMANIAN STYLE.. so that incase its bad us romanian can still visit each other in heaven were we dont have to worry about our bodies..
said by a tru texan ME haha or u can herd cowz if u have any..


or pray it helps u relax forgot that 1 Yao

[moe2006]

Racing doesn't promote anything, period. Furthermore, Yoga can be used for meditating on God and as a physical exercise. Therefore it can be influential to both spirit and body.
yes it does brotha... if you can't race, don't hate on ppl that can.... :D

[Steven!]

Why in all of heck would yoga be bad? Goodness, I can't believe people nowadays.

[volosencowboy]

moe2005: doesn't the Bible tell us not to boast and to be humble to others? Especially with your brothers and sisters in christ? And where does it say in the Bible to race with other cars? Especially you, he who does nothing what the Bible doens't say within it, should find this particulary hard to back up.

And doens't the Bible tell us that our bodies are like temples? To treat it right by eating healthy and have a healthy life style? Isn't exercising just that? Plus, YaoMing, You say the only way to exercise is too pump iron. I've seen plenty of guys do both. Why can't you? (I'm texan through and through, too.)

[Yao_Ming2005]

moe2005: doesn't the Bible tell us not to boast and to be humble to others? Especially with your brothers and sisters in christ? And where does it say in the Bible to race with other cars? Especially you, he who does nothing what the Bible doens't say within it, should find this particulary hard to back up.

And doens't the Bible tell us that our bodies are like temples? To treat it right by eating healthy and have a healthy life style? Isn't exercising just that? Plus, YaoMing, You say the only way to exercise is too pump iron. I've seen plenty of guys do both. Why can't you? (I'm texan through and through, too.)

Hey DudE
The guys who do both r GirlyMen HAHA
SAID BY A TRU BLOODED TEXAN :D
and i didnt just say the only way to exercise is pumpin iron i also said doin stuff around the house tooo.. welll since ur a fellow Texan ill let it pass LOL
and why do i need 2 do yoga?

[moe2006]

moe2005: doesn't the Bible tell us not to boast and to be humble to others? Especially with your brothers and sisters in christ? And where does it say in the Bible to race with other cars? Especially you, he who does nothing what the Bible doens't say within it, should find this particulary hard to back up.

And doens't the Bible tell us that our bodies are like temples? To treat it right by eating healthy and have a healthy life style? Isn't exercising just that? Plus, YaoMing, You say the only way to exercise is too pump iron. I've seen plenty of guys do both. Why can't you? (I'm texan through and through, too.)
If I wanted someone to tell me everything that's in the bible, I wouldn't read it, but then I read it... and Especially you, he who does nothing what the Bible doens't say within it, should find this particulary hard to back up.I don't get that... what were you trying to say??? and something else... I don't see nothing wrong with racing cuz I don't breath in, do some gay little stretches , and then breath out, or whatever the heck y'all do with yoga... me, I pump iron, run, do chin-ups, push-ups, sit-ups...etc. and I don't know ANY men and actually never heard of any men doing yoga... I heard about business women under a lot of stress doing it, but un om in toata firea??? :screwy: I think I'll stick to my exercizes and racing ppl on the streets... I'd rather warn somebody who's tryna mess with me that I work out and will beat him than bust out saying 'I do yoga'.... I might as well slap my chest and say 'uh hurt uh hurt' too... :nono:

real men DON'T do yoga!!!

[Daniel M.]

oh my gosh!!! ok not to offend any one... but i cant belive how pathetic these threads are getting!!!...

prusu83... u said u dont know exactly what yoga is... its like an exercise... except u dont move around too much... and u gain strength in your muscles because u have to maintain a certain position for a while...

and marius and yeska... YOGA IS NOT SATANIC!!!... meditation and opening your mind up is the same as laying your head down and just day dreaming... just cuz your sitting crissed crossed doesnt make a diff...

maybe when some meditate they make themselves feel like its spiritual... but its not... its still your own thougths and stuff going through your head... and if the thoughts are evil thoughts and you begin to belive that that is the truth... then that would be your own fault...

yoga is ment for you to stretch and physically balance and sit and be calm and think or "clear your mind up" as they wanna call it... so it could help you forgot about stress and relieve it for at least a couple mins or an hour or for how ever long u do that... you know... helping your health...

AND IF U THINK YOGA IS EVIL BECAUSE OF MEDITATION... YESKA AND MARIUS... AND WHO EVER ELSE IS SAYING SO... THATS YOUR OWN OPINION... BUT YOGA... THE "SPORT" OR THE STRETCHING AND BALANCING PART OF IT... IS SIMPLY TO RELIVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRESS...

WHICH IS GOOD... NOT BAD...

YOU GUYS ARE BEING LED ASTREY MAN... AND THATS SAD..

and moise iovescu... please tell me... when meditating... exactly la ce idol te inchini ??? really... i wanna know... is there something specific your worshiping??? and is this talking from experience???

you guys know there are many ways of meditation... like when u cliose your eyes and meditate on what God has done in this world and how perfectly he created everything... the way all the plannets are carefully aligned... how everything just is... we're appreciating what he's done... we are silently prasing him... in a form of prayer if u wanna put it that way... thats a form of meditation

then theres meditaion that u meditate on your own life and what you've accomplished and what your goals are... just taking some time off and u just set some things streight... thats a form of meditation...

MEDITATION IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT PPL ... AND IF U DONT KNOW ANYTHING CONCRETE ABOUT IT... DONT GO AROUND SAYING ITS BAD...

BECAUSE WHEN PASTORS SAY TO TAKE A MOMENT AND MEDITATE ON GOD AND HIS GLORY... PPL THAT HEARD FROM U ITS BAD WOULD NOW BE CONFUSED AND WOULDNT KNOW WHICH IS RIGHT....

FOR THE SAKE OF JUDGEMENT DAY... WATCH OUT WHAT IS COMMING OUTTA YOUR MOUTH!!! AND FINGER TIPS !!!


Sience it looks that you know about yoga pls teach us about it. :rofl: :rofl:

Do you practice yoga?? Tell me how did Jesus meditate??

[Steven!]

Hey DudE
The guys who do both r GirlyMen HAHA
SAID BY A TRU BLOODED TEXAN :D
and i didnt just say the only way to exercise is pumpin iron i also said doin stuff around the house tooo.. welll since ur a fellow Texan ill let it pass LOL
and why do i need 2 do yoga?


Because it keeps you flexible and keeps you from pulling muscles as often. Girly men? No. Yoga is ingenius.

And someone tell me how meditating is worshipping something.

[Pull and Twist]

If I wanted someone to tell me everything that's in the bible, I wouldn't read it, but then I read it... and I don't get that... what were you trying to say??? and something else... I don't see nothing wrong with racing cuz I don't breath in, do some gay little stretches , and then breath out, or whatever the heck y'all do with yoga... me, I pump iron, run, do chin-ups, push-ups, sit-ups...etc. and I don't know ANY men and actually never heard of any men doing yoga... I heard about business women under a lot of stress doing it, but un om in toata firea??? :screwy: I think I'll stick to my exercizes and racing ppl on the streets... I'd rather warn somebody who's tryna mess with me that I work out and will beat him than bust out saying 'I do yoga'.... I might as well slap my chest and say 'uh hurt uh hurt' too... :nono:

real men DON'T do yoga!!!

I want to do yoga but I have time constraints that wouldn't allow it. But real men do indeed do yoga. I know many that do yoga and lift weights. I myself enjoy midnight swimming at 24hour fitness to stay in shape and trying to eat a healthy diet.

Regardless, I'm quite the pacifist, as was Jesus. So when someone comes to beat me up, which has never happened because I don't often make enemies, I do not fight or attempt to provoke the situation. "Turn thy other cheek" my friend. :rolleyes:

[moe2006]

I want to do yoga but I have time constraints that wouldn't allow it. But real men do indeed do yoga. I know many that do yoga and lift weights. I myself enjoy midnight swimming at 24hour fitness to stay in shape and trying to eat a healthy diet.

Regardless, I'm quite the pacifist, as was Jesus. So when someone comes to beat me up, which has never happened because I don't often make enemies, I do not fight or attempt to provoke the situation. "Turn thy other cheek" my friend. :rolleyes:
I do turn my other cheek brutha, but when I get both cheeks slapped, Lord have mercy, cuz I won't have none... lol but anyways, I don't think yoga is for real men, I lift weights, and I would swim every night, but we don't have a 24hour fitness here. But about yoga.... I don't understand: ppl told me it's a bunch of stretches and stuff.... but why do you need to stretch??? I already posted earlier about why we don't just stick to our good old-fashioned push-ups, sit-ups...etc. and has anyone ever heard of Tae-Bo??? that's all right too.

[Pull and Twist]

"Muscles shrink and weaken if they are not used. Flexibility is an exercise. People don't realize that. When you stretch, it actually induces a metabolic response. So stretching is extremely important. If your muscles are not flexible you are at risk for painful muscle pulls or tears. Gentle stretching feels good, helps you maintain good posture, and keeps your joints functional. The whole yoga idea is a good one."

From BestDoctors.com

[moe2006]

"Muscles shrink and weaken if they are not used. Flexibility is an exercise. People don't realize that. When you stretch, it actually induces a metabolic response. So stretching is extremely important. If your muscles are not flexible you are at risk for painful muscle pulls or tears. Gentle stretching feels good, helps you maintain good posture, and keeps your joints functional. The whole yoga idea is a good one."

From BestDoctors.com
O.k. but can't I stretch without doing "yoga"??? :scratch:

cuz I do.....

[Pull and Twist]

O.k. but can't I stretch without doing "yoga"??? :scratch:

cuz I do.....

Yes you can. Yoga is just a more intense method of stretching.

[Steven!]

Moe you're the kind of guy that gives other guys bad names.

Yoga is extremely good for you. Weight lifting can only build you muscles. Yoga helps you to be able to use those muscles to their best.

[CalinBisou]

Hmm.... as I said before, there are MANY stretches that you do without realizing they come from yoga. In fact, many things that surround us today are of origins that simply aren't associated with what they once were.

For instance, I'll repeat myself. We all (if not most) cheered for teams during the Olympics, yes? Well, originally, the Olympics weren't just to celebrate athletic victory but was in honor of their greek gods. I don't see a lot of people not watch the olympics nowadays eh? Nor is any Christian watching or participating in the Olympics thinking, "I'm doing this for Zeus!"

In the same manner, yoga is similar. Yes, there are some people who use yoga to meditate on something other than Christ but aren't we all guilty of that at some point of our lives to some degree?? You can take your eyes off of God at any time, under any circumstance. And the point that some say satan took over their body during that time...my friends, Satan can do that at anytime if you are spiritually weak.

If you are doing yoga, chanting or whatnot, yeah, that's bad. I just don't honestly see what you all are saying. What about people who "meditate" on sports, video games, girls, boys, money, their job, gossip, lying, and so forth?? There again, you are being like everyone else in the world.

The point is, MANY of the things we use/do/eat today have come from origins other than what they were originally intended.

[moe2006]

Hmm.... as I said before, there are MANY stretches that you do without realizing they come from yoga. In fact, many things that surround us today are of origins that simply aren't associated with what they once were.

For instance, I'll repeat myself. We all (if not most) cheered for teams during the Olympics, yes? Well, originally, the Olympics weren't just to celebrate athletic victory but was in honor of their greek gods. I don't see a lot of people not watch the olympics nowadays eh? Nor is any Christian watching or participating in the Olympics thinking, "I'm doing this for Zeus!"

In the same manner, yoga is similar. Yes, there are some people who use yoga to meditate on something other than Christ but aren't we all guilty of that at some point of our lives to some degree?? You can take your eyes off of God at any time, under any circumstance. And the point that some say satan took over their body during that time...my friends, Satan can do that at anytime if you are spiritually weak.

If you are doing yoga, chanting or whatnot, yeah, that's bad. I just don't honestly see what you all are saying. What about people who "meditate" on sports, video games, girls, boys, money, their job, gossip, lying, and so forth?? There again, you are being like everyone else in the world.

The point is, MANY of the things we use/do/eat today have come from origins other than what they were originally intended.
hmmmmm.... I never saw it that way... but thanx for the info... I won't be doing yoga, but I guess this info will give me a different view of it...

[yacko]

It seems that CalinBisou has some strange power of persuasion over moe... I wonder what kind of yoga exercises does she do... :scratch:

[CalinBisou]

hmmmmm.... I never saw it that way... but thanx for the info... I won't be doing yoga, but I guess this info will give me a different view of it...


That's fine, no one is trying to make you do it. If you believe it is something you should stay away from...then by all means do so. Satan lurks around every corner, even the nearest gas station.

Yacko, hahaha. I have no strange power. My mother had this yoga book with all of these different stretches. Some of them are as simple as spreading your feet apart and reaching to both sides. Others are similar to leg lifts and some are just touching your toes. So, you see, MANY athletes and ordinary people practice this before they exercise and most are probably not aware of it.

I think the danger is when you start participating in yoga which involves chanting Hindu doctrine and the like. That's bad. So what's so wrong about merely stretching? Have anyone considered that you can meditate about God during that time? Or how about all the times you listen in on gossip, complain instead of pray, read His Word instead of playing that video game??...the point is, we become so engrossed with the LITTLE things in life...we tend to forget the major issues that need to be dealt with in our daily lives.

You can be "sucked" into anything ungodly these days and it doesn't have to be something obvious....most of the times, it isn't. Television, magazines, the Internet, certain philosophical works other than God's, science, the media slowly make you less aware of what you do and what you accept in your life. And as I said 2 other things, there are many things which took an origin other than what it was originally intended. So I'm going to continue touching my toes :D

[Pull and Twist]

That's fine, no one is trying to make you do it. If you believe it is something you should stay away from...then by all means do so. Satan lurks around every corner, even the nearest gas station.

Yacko, hahaha. I have no strange power. My mother had this yoga book with all of these different stretches. Some of them are as simple as spreading your feet apart and reaching to both sides. Others are similar to leg lifts and some are just touching your toes. So, you see, MANY athletes and ordinary people practice this before they exercise and most are probably not aware of it.

I think the danger is when you start participating in yoga which involves chanting Hindu doctrine and the like. That's bad. So what's so wrong about merely stretching? Have anyone considered that you can meditate about God during that time? Or how about all the times you listen in on gossip, complain instead of pray, read His Word instead of playing that video game??...the point is, we become so engrossed with the LITTLE things in life...we tend to forget the major issues that need to be dealt with in our daily lives.

You can be "sucked" into anything ungodly these days and it doesn't have to be something obvious....most of the times, it isn't. Television, magazines, the Internet, certain philosophical works other than God's, science, the media slowly make you less aware of what you do and what you accept in your life. And as I said 2 other things, there are many things which took an origin other than what it was originally intended. So I'm going to continue touching my toes :D

God wrote philosophical works??

[moe2006]

God wrote philosophical works??
you tell me... aren't you the little philosopher here??? (dUh)

[CalinBisou]

God wrote philosophical works??


Sure. There are a lot of people that see it as philosophy. Philosophy is, defined as: "the study of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct. a system of doctrine of a particular philosopher. A system of principles for guidance in practical affairs."

And did you not say in one of your posts that God's word is a work of literature. So, why does me saying it has philosophical concepts surprise you??

[Pull and Twist]

Sure. There are a lot of people that see it as philosophy. Philosophy is, defined as: "the study of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct. a system of doctrine of a particular philosopher. A system of principles for guidance in practical affairs."

And did you not say in one of your posts that God's word is a work of literature. So, why does me saying it has philosophical concepts surprise you??

No, you didn't get it. The comment was drenched in sarcasm because we have nothing in our possesion at this date that was penned by God. With the exception of the Ten Commandments if those are ever to be found again. So yes, it can be said that God has never written any philosophical works. On the other hand, the authors of the Bible were inspired by God to write literature that has philosophical sentiments.

[moe2006]

No, you didn't get it. The comment was drenched in sarcasm because we have nothing in our possesion at this date that was penned by God. With the exception of the Ten Commandments if those are ever to be found again. So yes, it can be said that God has never written any philosophical works. On the other hand, the authors of the Bible were inspired by God to write literature that has philosophical sentiments.
although 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that ALL of the scripture is God-breathed.... I don't think God actually had to write it all out.. He gave the people who wrote the books wisdom to do so...

[CalinBisou]

No, you didn't get it. The comment was drenched in sarcasm because we have nothing in our possesion at this date that was penned by God. With the exception of the Ten Commandments if those are ever to be found again. So yes, it can be said that God has never written any philosophical works. On the other hand, the authors of the Bible were inspired by God to write literature that has philosophical sentiments.

I see. Nope, I didn't catch it, but the virtual world is a difficult place to evoke sarcasm and to realize it unless I knew you well...then it wouldn't of been an issue :thfro:

[CalinBisou]

although 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that ALL of the scripture is God-breathed.... I don't think God actually had to write it all out.. He gave the people who wrote the books wisdom to do so...


Hmm. Interesting though, isn't it. God could of easily wrote the entire Bible not requiring the disciples, yet this is how He chose to do it. Would it make much of a difference if God has perhaps etched the entire Bible in stone by His own?? I don't know, but I wouldn't imagine so. So many reject the 10 Commandments as it is.

Seems to me, by having man write it through God-inspired spirits, it gives us fellow men and woman the availability to have a more relational aspect of God; to realize that men actually witnessed to it, and perhaps it is one way to test our faith in the Lord. :scratch:

[gabi_m]

Yes, the Bible is good, and yoga is deffinatly not better, but you don't exercise much when reading it. you ought to "meditate" on the heavenly things not on the earthly things..if you need relaxation let Jesus give it to you..He's the price of peace after all...isn't He?!...you chase wind you foolish doods...

[SaintJoe69]

It all depends on moderation guys. If you take yoga as an exercise and use it as a tool to learn to concentrate better the more power to you. The only problem is if you start believing the mantra and start losing yourself. Get a buddy if your curious about yoga. I've been thinking about doing yoga because of my ultra flexibility (I have what doctors call, "Rubber Man Syndrome") and I need to learn to concentrate on school matters(not to mention lose a few pounds). Yes, the Bible is good, and yoga is deffinatly not better, but you don't exercise much when reading it.Well, if you get the Bible on tapes (audio version), then you can listen to it while working out. I guess not as many people listen to the Bible on tape, like I do on occasion? :scratch:

although 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that ALL of the scripture is God-breathed.... I don't think God actually had to write it all out.. He gave the people who wrote the books wisdom to do so...Ummm... this could be said about any fool who writes a book these days, then? :scratch:

I mean, there are many books published these days, and I would imagine that it would take a little bit of wisdom to write one, and then have it published. Could we then consider the current authors of the best seller lists to be people who have written these books based upon inspiration from God? What about Tim LaHaye and his "Left Behind" series? Are these books inspired by God? Maybe C.S. Lewis books? Or J.R.R. Tolkein's LOTR trilogy? :scratch:

Yes, the Bible may tell us that all scripture is God-breathed, but I don't think that your statement about God giving "the people who wrote the books the wisdom to do so" has anything to do with that verse. :rolleyes:

[Slowly_Disolved]

isnt yoga an ancinet exercise tecqnique of the hindu times, that some people still practice.... ???

[Andy]

I hear swimming is a great muscle workout.

[moe2006]

Ummm... this could be said about any fool who writes a book these days, then? :scratch:

I mean, there are many books published these days, and I would imagine that it would take a little bit of wisdom to write one, and then have it published. Could we then consider the current authors of the best seller lists to be people who have written these books based upon inspiration from God? What about Tim LaHaye and his "Left Behind" series? Are these books inspired by God? Maybe C.S. Lewis books? Or J.R.R. Tolkein's LOTR trilogy? :scratch:

Yes, the Bible may tell us that all scripture is God-breathed, but I don't think that your statement about God giving "the people who wrote the books the wisdom to do so" has anything to do with that verse. :rolleyes:
saintjoe69.... do you doubt that the scriptures are God-breathed??? The Left Behind series are interesting, but no one knows how the world is gonna end and they're just giving an idea, but there are a lot of books out there that are inspired by God... try reading some of Henry Malones books... they're good.

[SaintJoe69]

saintjoe69.... do you doubt that the scriptures are God-breathed??? The Left Behind series are interesting, but no one knows how the world is gonna end and they're just giving an idea, but there are a lot of books out there that are inspired by God... try reading some of Henry Malones books... they're good.
No, that is simply what you intepreted. I am saying that you made a general statement about God giving wisdom to people who write books, or the fact that simply because people write books, they are inspired by God. You confirmed this generalized statement by the above quote. Thanks. :rolleyes:

[Pull and Twist]

No, that is simply what you intepreted. I am saying that you made a general statement about God giving wisdom to people who write books, or the fact that simply because people write books, they are inspired by God. You confirmed this generalized statement by the above quote. Thanks. :rolleyes:

Wait a min, people who simply write books are inspired by God?? Hitler, Charles Darwin and Anton LaVey all wrote books. :rolleyes:

[moe2006]

Wait a min, people who simply write books are inspired by God?? Hitler, Charles Darwin and Anton LaVey all wrote books. :rolleyes:
He meant... or better yet, I meant that there ARE books that inspired by God... and I'm sure there are....

[Pull and Twist]

He meant... or better yet, I meant that there ARE books that inspired by God... and I'm sure there are....

Lol, I know that's what you implied. I was just being really sarcastic.

[SaintJoe69]

He meant... or better yet, I meant that there ARE books that inspired by God... and I'm sure there are....
I would imagine the a large majority of "christian" books are inspired by God, and not simply for the money that the author may possibly make. Should we be reading all of these other God-breathed books, too? :scratch:

[moe2006]

I would imagine the a large majority of "christian" books are inspired by God, and not simply for the money that the author may possibly make. Should we be reading all of these other God-breathed books, too? :scratch:
there are a bunch of books written that the money they make on those books go to Africa and other countries in need... and they're very interesting... like 'Know Your Enemy' by Michael Yussef....

and another thing: ppl make money selling bibles too, so we can't take that the bad way.....

[moe2006]

hey guys (and gals)... check out what I found at www.dictionary.com
Yoga:
1. Yoga: A Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquillity.
2. A system of exercises practiced as part of this discipline to promote control of the body and mind.

the way I see it, the exercises are part of this 'body and mind control'.... so I'm still confused about yoga.... :scratch:

[juventus024]

Check this out what i found
Yoga-wellness from the body and soul;relaxation

[moe2006]

Check this out what i found
Yoga-wellness from the body and soul;relaxation
not Jesus??? to me, Jesus is the welness from the body and soul;relaxation...

[Steven!]

Moe, give me 1 good reason why I shouldn't do yoga.

[moe2006]

you could do it... I don't care, but I (me... myself) won't do it... I don't see no reason. what does yoga benefit you that regular exercise doesn't??? I pump iron and the other good stuff... but I won't do yoga, and I think yoga is bad, but like I said... I think.... so it's my opinion... :)

[volosencowboy]

hey guys (and gals)... check out what I found at www.dictionary.com
Yoga:
2. A system of exercises practiced as part of this discipline to promote control of the body and mind.

the way I see it, the exercises are part of this 'body and mind control'.... so I'm still confused about yoga.... :scratch:

Oh goodness gracious. Hey, moe, I want you to do something really quick. Read. Whoa! Let's try it again.... geez! Now... move your fingers.... you're exercising control over your mind and muscles (body). So... the best way, by your reckoning, the best way to obey God and follow him is to.... die. :scratch:

[moe2006]

Oh goodness gracious. Hey, moe, I want you to do something really quick. Read. Whoa! Let's try it again.... geez! Now... move your fingers.... you're exercising control over your mind and muscles (body). So... the best way, by your reckoning, the best way to obey God and follow him is to.... die. :scratch:
ok... now I'm really confused... what are u saying???

[CalinBisou]

Blah as I said before, there are many simple stretches that you do that come from yoga origin, whether you like it or not. These forums try TOO much to figure out what is a sin or not...keep it up and we'll become just like the Pharisee's in Jesus' time who were going around telling people what is and isn't a sin. there's that verse that says, "whatever you do, whatever you eat or drink, do it all for God." (it goes something like that) In the same token, keep that in mind when you live your life. If you think it wil cause you to fall and sin, then don't do yoga but to those who are strong in their beliefs, I see no harm in it. There are different degrees of yoga so I think that is where the confusion is coming from. I have gone to classes that combine yoga and pilates and there was none of the "Hindu"-ness that you all are speaking of...just a bunch of strength and flexibilty exercises.

[tenazrael]

listen i've done yoga before... all it is really is stretching and breathing... and when they get to the meditation part... i meditate on the Lord and think about everything i'm thankful for... nothing wrong with meditating on the Lord is there... and the position that you sit in when you meditate... its supposed to be a position that helps you relax entirely... nothing more... nothing less... although i don't see how its supposed to be comfortable...

oh and um yoga is simply an exercise that focuses on the 'girlymen' muscles that well um... lets just say that when you get married... your wife will thank you later... ;)

[tenazrael]

hey guys (and gals)... check out what I found at www.dictionary.com
Yoga:
1. Yoga: A Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquillity.
2. A system of exercises practiced as part of this discipline to promote control of the body and mind.

the way I see it, the exercises are part of this 'body and mind control'.... so I'm still confused about yoga.... :scratch:

see there ya go... yoga has 2 separate definitions... if i'm correct... i think were discussing the exercise yoga as described in number 2... not the religion yoga is based upon as discussed in number 1!

[moe2006]

see there ya go... yoga has 2 separate definitions... if i'm correct... i think were discussing the exercise yoga as described in number 2... not the religion yoga is based upon as discussed in number 1!yes, but read number 2 again... it says A system of exercises practiced AS PART OF THIS DISCIPLINE... meaning hindu discipline... like it says in number 1... that's the part that confuses me... it doesn't say that it's just a bunch of stretches and breathing that would make your wife thank you... :p so I still don't understand...

[volosencowboy]

Ugh, I don't know if you, moe, are playing ignorant most of the time, stubburn, or just plain.... nevermind.

With my previous post, moe, I was talking about your avoidance and dislike of yoga because of "mind and body control" like it's supposed to control your body. It's you who are controlling it and extending it.

CalinBisou and Tenazrael: I agree wholeheartedly with both of you.

As to the discipline remark: Working out with weights for the sole purpose of building muscle was, if I'm not mistaken, a purely Roman Discipline until the world adopted it. The Romans were not great followers of the Almighty God. So, by your own logic moe2005 you shouldn't be doing wieghts. Go on and do housework.

[moe2006]

Ugh, I don't know if you, moe, are playing ignorant most of the time, stubburn, or just plain.... nevermind.

With my previous post, moe, I was talking about your avoidance and dislike of yoga because of "mind and body control" like it's supposed to control your body. It's you who are controlling it and extending it.

CalinBisou and Tenazrael: I agree wholeheartedly with both of you.

As to the discipline remark: Working out with weights for the sole purpose of building muscle was, if I'm not mistaken, a purely Roman Discipline until the world adopted it. The Romans were not great followers of the Almighty God. So, by your own logic moe2005 you shouldn't be doing wieghts. Go on and do housework.
although they didn't do it to their gods, bro... Now, first off... I always thought yoga was a girl thing... second... I don't CARE about yoga... u want to do it... DO IT, I'm not stopping you, but I said I'm not doing it... for all I know, Kerry does it too... :laf:....

[Pull and Twist]

although they didn't do it to their gods, bro... Now, first off... I always thought yoga was a girl thing... second... I don't CARE about yoga... u want to do it... DO IT, I'm not stopping you, but I said I'm not doing it... for all I know, Kerry does it too... :laf:....

No, I heard Kerry say that yoga was a girl thing and that he only lifts iron to imitate roman god worship. :rolleyes:

[tenazrael]

well moe2005... do you sleep in a bed... because if you do... you following in old pagan traditions...

the Phonecian people of Abraham's time believed they were god's and therefore would sleep in a bed (in one that wasn't simply a mat on the floor but one that was elevated such as modern beds today). now sleeping in a bed that was simply a mat on the floor was demeaning to themselves. so by our sleeping in a bed, one that isn't a mat on the floor... are we simply following in the pagan disciplines of the Phonecian's or are we simply sleeping in a freakin bed cause its freakin comfortable.

with that in mind... i only do yoga cause it stretches every muscle God ever gave me and keeps me from injury when i play sports...

[Pull and Twist]

well moe2005... do you sleep in a bed... because if you do... you following in old pagan traditions...

the Phonecian people of Abraham's time believed they were god's and therefore would sleep in a bed (in one that wasn't simply a mat on the floor but one that was elevated such as modern beds today). now sleeping in a bed that was simply a mat on the floor was demeaning to themselves. so by our sleeping in a bed, one that isn't a mat on the floor... are we simply following in the pagan disciplines of the Phonecian's or are we simply sleeping in a freakin bed cause its freakin comfortable.

with that in mind... i only do yoga cause it stretches every muscle God ever gave me and keeps me from injury when i play sports...

Lol, that's very good. I sleep in my elevated bed because it's semi comfortable, I'm still holding out for that tempurpedic. :rolleyes:

[Steven!]

I sleep in an elevated bed because I can hide the bodies under it.

[moe2006]

well moe2005... do you sleep in a bed... because if you do... you following in old pagan traditions...

the Phonecian people of Abraham's time believed they were god's and therefore would sleep in a bed (in one that wasn't simply a mat on the floor but one that was elevated such as modern beds today). now sleeping in a bed that was simply a mat on the floor was demeaning to themselves. so by our sleeping in a bed, one that isn't a mat on the floor... are we simply following in the pagan disciplines of the Phonecian's or are we simply sleeping in a freakin bed cause its freakin comfortable.

with that in mind... i only do yoga cause it stretches every muscle God ever gave me and keeps me from injury when i play sports...
Guess what... too bad, cuz i worship the Almighty God... and would NEVER think that I'm a God :nono:

[Pull and Twist]

Guess what... too bad, cuz i worship the Almighty God... and would NEVER think that I'm a God :nono:

That may be so, but it still doesn't change the fact that your taking part in a practice thats origins implied exactly that. So does that mean it's sinful??

According to you, yes. The situtation is similar to that of yoga. So if you think yoga is evil and sinful because it's origins are in paganism then so is sleeping in beds (which you do) because it's origins are also rooted in paganism as is decorating your christmas tree or even having a christmas tree and dyeing eggs on easter or the fact that we call easter, easter which is the name of a pagan goddess.

But you do all these freely even though your not focusing on there origins and your mentality about it is different. Are you sinning?

According to you, yes you are.

[eurospeed9]

What Does the Bible Say About Yoga?

by Michael Sharif

Yoga is pervasive. Yoga is in the east and the west. Yoga classes are offered in Central Africa, in Russia, in Australia. Flyers for yoga are on university bulletin boards, in health food stores, in the elevators of high rise apartment buildings in downtown Los Angeles, and even as part of some YMCA physical education programs. Is yoga merely a physical exercise?

Regarding the yoga asanas or physical postures Swami Vivekananda writes in his book Raja Yoga : "A series of exercises, physical and mental, is to be gone through every day until certain higher states are reached. Nerve currents will have to be dispatched and given a new channel. New sorts of vibrations will begin: the whole constitution will be remodeled, as it were."

In Yoga: The Method of Re-Intergation Alain Danielou, a French scholar on yoga, writes that the real import of yoga is as "a process of control of the gross body which aims at freeing the subtle body." The subtle body is regarded as extremely complex and consisting of 72,000 invisible psychic channels called nadis corresponding to the physical or gross body. The subtle body and the physical body are connected at seven primary points or chakras ranging from the top of the head to the base of the spine.

The charkas are believed to control the consciousness of an individual. Manipulating the spine through various yoga postures is believed to increase the energy flow from the subtle body altering the consciousness of the individual. Kundalini yoga and hatha yoga directly manipulate the charkas through their various postures and breathing exercises.

In a mind over body relationship mantra yoga also seeks to alter consciousness of an individual by the repetition of mantras, which Guru Dev, the guru of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, considered the "favorite names of the gods". Mantras are repeated silently or audibly up to several hours and produce altered states of consciousness.

Yoga is bound up in Eastern religious metaphysics and is not an innocent form of relaxing the body and the mind. The goal of yoga is the same as that of Hinduism, which is realizing that one is Brahman, the underlying impersonal God of the Universe in Hinduism. According to Psychic Forces and Occult Shock (Wilson and Weldon): "The physical exercises of yoga are designed to prepare the body for the psychospiritual change vital to inculcating this idea (the realization that one is Brahman) into the consciousness and being of the person. Hence talk of separating yoga practice from theory is meaningless. From a Christian perspective, whether the two can safely be divided is doubtful. 'I do yoga, but Hinduism isn't involved,' is an incorrect statement."

A Spiritual Counterfeits Project (Berkeley, California) publication on "Yoga" states: "For while it may suit the secular fancy to espouse only that selected aspect (the physical) of yoga which fits the bourgeois notion of what yoga is supposed to do (i.e. make a beautiful body), the fact still remains that even physical yoga is inextricably bound up in the whole of Eastern religious metaphysics. In fact, it is quite accurate to say that physical yoga and Indian metaphysics are mutually interdependent; you really can't have one without the other."

In the Shankara tradition, which pervades most of contemporary Hinduism, the raindrop is pictured as the symbol of the individual self and the ocean is the symbol of the universal soul (J.Isamu Yamamoto, SCP Newsletter). "The absorption of the raindrop into the ocean is symbolic of the absorption of the person into the impersonal universe. After people attain enlightenment, they lose their identities and become one with the all. Absorption is the goal of the monist Hindu" (J.Isamu Yamamoto, SCP Newsletter , March-April 1983).

"The candle flame is a Buddhist image of the individual; it is the light of life that flickers in the darkness of sorrow. The quest of each ardent Buddhist is to extinguish their own flame. They seek not merely a physical death but a death that will deliver them from both the physical and spiritual life. Extinction is the goal of the traditional Buddhist" (J. Isamu Yamamoto, SCP Newsletter , op.cit.).

For this author more persuasive than any authority is the author's personal experience in mantra yoga, hatha yoga, and kundalini yoga. Definite altered states of consciousness are produced by yoga. However, these states of consciousness while initially anesthetic became with constant yoga practice progressively more oppressive resulting in a disassociation from the external world. Sensory input was accentuated and produced an overreaction to external stimuli resulting in anxiety. On intensive asana-meditation courses the author experienced several blackouts during mantra meditation sessions which lasted up to an hour and a half. No consciousness of elapsed time and no memory of what had transpired during the blackout existed after such an experience.

Coping with these altered states of consciousness produced in the author mounting tension making him easily upset by trifles (slamming of a door, the screeching of a jet fighter plane, traffic). In many ways the meditation/yoga experience is the classic experience of anxiety disorder so well documented by the Australian doctor Claire Weekes in her classic book Hope and Help For Your Nerves , which also offers the best non clinical approach for curing anxiety disorder of which panic attacks are common symptoms.

Meditation and yoga in many instances cause anxiety disorder. This author's experience is that the techniques result in feelings of unreality, feelings of personality disintegration, and depression. It is the author's belief that many of the so-called "advanced states of consciousness" are no more than the result of extreme sensitization, a state in which our nerves react in an exaggerated way to stress induced by the yoga/meditation techniques, producing an overshadowing sensory unreality similar to those induced by consciousness altering drugs.

Yoga is marketed in the guise of an innocent, healthful technique, but it is far from it. H.Rieker warns: "Yoga is not a trifling jest if we consider that any misunderstanding in the practice of yoga can mean death or insanity," and that if the breath is "prematurely exhausted, there is immediate danger of death for the yogi" (Rieker, The Yoga of Light (Los Angeles: Dawn House) 1974, p. 135). Blackouts, strange trance states, or insanity are listed from even "the slightest mistake…" of practicing yoga. Swami Prabhavananda's Yoga and Mysticism lists brain injury, incurable disease, and insanity as potential hazards of wrong yoga practice.

If one is experiencing stress and needs to relax there are many ways to do this such as going for a walk, a picture show, playing sports, going out for dinner, taking a vacation than pursuing yoga. To strengthen one's body you can lift weights, run, swim etc… rather than doing yoga postures.

In Psychic Forces and Occult Shock Wilson and Weldon state, "Yoga is really pure occultism, as any number of yoga and occult texts prove (R.S Mishra's Yoga Sutras and Fundamentals of Yoga , J. Brennan's Astral Doorways and H. Chaudhuri's Philosophy of Meditation are footnoted). Occult abilities are very common from yoga practice, and the numerous dangers of occultism are evident from many studies (K. Koch's Christian Counseling and Occultism is footnoted). The yoga scholar and Sanskrit authority, Mishra, states: 'In conclusion, it may be said that behind every psychic investigation, behind mysticism, occultism, etc., knowingly or unknowingly, the yoga system is present. (Mishra, op.cit.)'" Kurt Koch in his various excellent books correlates delving with the occult with subsequent experiences of anxiety and depression sometimes resulting in suicide.

The Bible informs us that God created Adam of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). Man is a created, separate being. Man can have a relationship with the Living God by accepting His Son, God's physical incarnation, Jesus Christ. The Bible does not teach that through yoga man can attain progressive higher levels of consciousness so that man will realize he is one with God and merge with Brahman as Hinduism teaches or that man's personality can be extinguished as a flame is extinguished as Buddhism teaches. The Bible does not mention or recognize yoga or any system where man can become one with God.

God is so far above man that man cannot work his way up to God through his own actions. Because of the original sin of Adam and Eve man is fatally flawed. He is born in sin. But God so loved man that he provided a plan of redemption. God Himself became man (John 1:14) to provide the perfect sacrifice to atone for man's sin. The perfect sacrifice had to be God Himself as only God is without sin. Accepting God's provision for sin, his Son, gives man an eternal life in God's presence. The earthly body is shed and replaced with an eternal body at death. Man does not become nor does he merge with God. Salvation is a free gift given by grace, and not something which has to be worked for.

Both Hinduism and Buddhism believe in reincarnation, the transmigration of souls from one body to the next over time. One reincarnates to overcome one's karma or one's attachment to the material world and the recurring patterns which bind one to the material world. Only by elevating one's consciousness through yoga and piercing the "veil of illusion," which is the material world, can one transcend and merge with Brahman or snuff out one's flame and attain Nirvana.

The Bible teaches that man lives once and then comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27). For those who have accepted Christ there is no judgment as the decision has been made to spend eternity with the source of all goodness, joy, and purity, the personal God of the Universe. For those who never knew Christ God will judge with absolute fairness, but for those who have rejected Christ eternity will be spent in a horrible place where God does not exist, a place to which Jesus referred to more than anyone else in the Bible, a place of eternal agony … hell (Mark 9:48).

Yoga is not a panacea, it is a system where man tries to work his way to God. Yoga is not necessary and all of man's works are nothing but dirty rags before the righteousness of God. Why spend one's life in bondage chasing a mirage, spending countless hours doing yoga exercises and meditating, hoping to pull oneself off samsara, the wheel of reincarnation. Man can never become God. Because of the sin of Adam man dies. What mortal man can compare to even an angel of God? Daniel saw the angel Gabriel and here is his awesome description:

"I looked up and suddenly there before me stood a person robed in linen garments, with a belt of purest gold around his waist, and glowing lustrous skin! From his face came blinding flashes like lightning, and his eyes were pools of fire; his arms and feet shone like polished brass, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of people. I, Daniel, alone saw this great vision; the men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly filled with unreasoning terror and ran to hide and I was left alone. When I saw this frightening vision my strength left me, and I grew pale and weak with fright. (Daniel 10: 5-8, Living Bible)."

Man doesn't have to become God. God stretches forth His hand (Revelation 3:20) and all you have to do is take it by making a conscious decision to accept Jesus Christ. Ask him humbly to take charge of your life in simple words. Then the Holy Spirit will indwell you and you will have peace, joy, and certainty. Only then will you shed your old cocoon and experience God's metamorphosis.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Sherif practiced mantra yoga (meditated silently on a supposedly "meaningless" sound which was really the vehicle that drew him into a "Hindu" deity or really a demon from our Christian perspective). He was in bondage to this, in combination with hatha yoga for six years. According to his testimony this was a horrible experience for him. Yoga involvement is really an exercise in a demonic activity which is portrayed as "fun" and "healthy" that can lead to demonic possession. He experienced different states of sensory consciousness which were dark and sterile until Jesus set him free. You may read other articles that deal with witchcraft and New Age bondage at his website: www.earthharvest.org

I GOT THIS OFF A WEBSITE THIS EXPLINS IT BETTER THEN WE CAN THE WEBSIT IS http://www.bible.com/answers/ayoga.html

[tenazrael]

Guess what... too bad, cuz i worship the Almighty God... and would NEVER think that I'm a God :nono:

really....??? me too!!!...

i would never think i was a Hindu... even if i was stretching my pc muscles :D

ps. i made up everything i said about the bed... but well i guess you still don't get it... i'm gonna have to quote pull&twist's siggie on this one!

[st3lliano]

Many of these questions that are asked are either "yes or no" questions. But what people fail to see is the degrees with which we must answer these questions.

Like all things... we have to find what people are willing to accept and agree to.... it seems to save alot of time and hopefully will be less aggravating!

[emi2975]

I never tried yoga, i don't have a clue what is it about.
I heard that it helps you discipline yourself and makes you more powerfull, you can concentrate better, faster. A famous actress said yoga helps her such that at the end of the day she could start it again.
A Romanian writer, Mircea Eliade, managed to sleep 4h/day with yoga. He gained 28 precious h/week wich i would use for my hobbies for my work!

There one problem. Some christians (i have a great pastor friend who has this opinion) say that it is a devlish thing. It is related to the Devil and you should stay away from it by all means.
Anyone knows something concrete? Anyone knows somebody who tried it and got punished or on the contrary.. ?


to me yoga is just another type of exercise. its a type of workout some people enjoy doing

[alexdra9015]

theres even people at my church that think soccer and going to movies is bad. like come on....they cant back up what they are saying. i want to hear reasoning behind what they say.

and i always thought that romanians liked soccrer...

[alexdra9015]

err uh soccer*

[Canadian, eh?]

The theory behind yoga is polytheistic and should be avoided. Some of the positions in yoga also are ritualistic in hindu paganism. Like "greeting the sung god" positions and another, "awakening the snake goddess". Just do areobics instead or pilates. lol.

[suntaltfel]

i didnt' read what everybody wrote in here..but i wanna tell an experience i had w/ yoga...a couple of weeks ago a new gym opened up close to my house...so i checked it out and i decided to go to a yoga class...i heard it's good streching so i went to the class w/ the purpose of relaxing and having a good time...before i went to class i feel weird..i felt the Holy Spirit telling me i shouldn't go there...but i stil went...the class was k...but that night...i had a dream (i won't tell u the dream cuz it's probably too long)...but God told me that altough i didn't have bad intentions by going to that class...bad spirits are in there...trust me...don't even mess with this kind of stuff..the Devil is powerful and He'll try everything just to catch u in his net...so my opinion....yoga is an evil practice and us as christian shouldn't do it...Gb..:)

[corina]

Of course if your gonna go off and start to study it you'll find that it's evil but i've done yoga many times in my aerobics class and i am still a christian with many of god's blessings. I mean c'mon now lets stop making so much nonsence out of nothing. The origins of yoga are meant to be religious to the hindus but you don't have to do it for religious reasons. Try it and see if it helps your body.

NOTE: Aerobics is designed to enhance circulatory and respiratory efficiency. Yoga is a type of aerobic exercise.

[galileogalilei]

yoga is a hindu meditation.. I guess that would be hard to knock into a HARD head... it ain't a romanian thing.... and if you're not proud to be romanian.. I suggest you get off royouth!!!

proud to be romanian!!!! how proud are you? what does it mean to be a proud romanian?

[popa]

Yes Yoga is a sin...
Yoga is an ancient Indian(Hindu) practice. The word Yoga comes from the original languane meaning yoga-sutris, which means to yoke, to be tied together. The practice of yoga involves "releasing" yourself of any intellectual or spiritual ties that keep you stressed or opressed, and "yoking" with the object of your meditation....whatever it might be. the main essence of yoga is for one to try to reach union with God. This might sound innocent, but involves losing control of self, and allowing the deep meditations to let you bond with whatever you imagine you want to be, or become...etc..etc.....

In addition, yoga teaches self collectedness, self actualization, and self realization... and if you haven't noticed the emphasis is all on self doing something for self. There is no Christ, or God involved, its about truning your attention to whatever forces or desires you have within yourself, and taking yourself deep into meditiation until you become one with those thoughts or desires( obviuosly in a spiritual realm)...now the dangers of that are self explanatory.

So, the main reason this is wrong is because the Word of God tells us to be sober and awake at all times, seeing that our enemy desires to devour us, and that you can allow yourself to enter a spiritual realm in which you have no control.



Love in Christ

C.A.