Fear the dark art of yoga! Why conservative Christians are freaking out after yoga ‘miracle’

[AtheistCrusader]

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/fear-the-dark-art-of-yoga-why-conservative-christians-are-freaking-out-after-yoga-miracle/

When Mike took his first wobbly but unassisted steps, all involved were thrilled and thanked God for a miracle that to their minds was modeled on the ministry of Jesus. But not everyone in Mike and John’s Abundant Living Las Vegas congregation felt the same. When friends set up a GoFundMe page to help Mitch cover income lost during the time he was working with Mike, most parishioners refused to contribute. And when Abundant Living’s pastor blessed the therapy, members (and money) poured out of the church.

Many biblical literalists, and charismatic or Pentecostal Christians in particular, are deeply suspicious of yoga, which they see less as a healing or wellness practice and more as a seductive point of entry into the Hindu religion. Open, inquiring forms of Christianity may teach that “all truth is God’s truth,” or even that there are many paths to God, and even Evangelicals who take a narrower view of Christianity may see yoga as beneficial. But a more common posture among conservative biblical literalists is wariness and suspicion, or outright condemnation. One Christian website, Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, quotes from Yoga Journal and then adds their own commentary:

“’Your body will most likely become much more flexible by doing yoga, and so will your mind [Yoga Journal].’ As one can see, Yoga is more than just a physical exercise. We as Christians do not want to make our mind more flexible. We do not want to leave our mind open to false teaching.”

Ooga booga, yoga pants are the work of the devil.

[xfundy]

1. "We as Christians do not want to make our mind more flexible."

"We want them to atrophy and get rock-hard so the sheep don't have to exercise them by thinking."

And they wonder why people are leaving in droves.

[Yorktown]

2. Religious crackpots unite! Muslim clerics issue fatwa against yoga

In Malaysia.

Allah akbar, yoga not akbar.

Malaysia's top Islamic body fresh from banning tomboys has issued an edict that prohibits Muslims from practicing yoga, saying that elements of Hinduism in the ancient Indian exercise could corrupt them.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/muslim-clerics-issue-fatwa-against-yoga-1032372.html

[morningglory]

3. The whole "namaste" bit terrifies them.

The whole "namaste" bit terrifies them. A part of yoga is recognizing the light that is in others. The divine within us all is a light. We say I worship the light that is in you. Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the light". It is a huge conflict.

[nil desperandum]

4. Hmm

knowing that yoga upsets the fragile religious mind makes practicing yoga all the more attractive.

[Angry Dragon]

5. I like yoga pants

[Lordquinton]

6. it's funny because people also use the "have an open mind" line in respect to god

Then seal theirs tight to the idea they might be wrong.

[LostOne4Ever]

7. "yoga pants are the work of the devil."

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]More proof that Lucifer was the good guy![/font]

[cbayer]

8. This whole fundamentalist fear of yoga is pretty damn funny.

There have been some schools where parents objected to it being a part of PE because they think it's a weird religion.