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cali

(114,904 posts)
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 06:10 AM Jun 2013

Virginia GOP Candidate E.W. Jackson Says Yoga Will Make Satan Possess You

Down with Downward Dog!

E.W. Jackson is the Republican candidate for Virginia lieutenant governor, and he's a pretty interesting guy with a lot of opinions. Some of these opinions — especially on gays, like that they are "ikky" — have made him more famous than most candidates for lieutenant governor. On Wednesday, we learned that Jackson has some interesting ideas on a new topic: yoga. As The National Review's Betsy Woodruff reports, Jackson warns that yoga can put you at risk for satanic possession in his 2008 book, Ten Commandments to an Extraordinary Life: Making Your Dreams Come True.

When one hears the word meditation, it conjures an image of Maharishi Yoga talking about finding a mantra and striving for nirvana... The purpose of such meditation is to empty oneself... [Satan] is happy to invade the empty vacuum of your soul and possess it. That is why people serve Satan without ever knowing it or deciding to, but no one can be a child of God without making a decision to surrender to him. Beware of systems of spirituality which tell you to empty yourself. You will end up filled with something you probably do not want.


<snip>

In her longer profile of Jackson, Woodruff notes his interesting take on charitable giving. In his book, Jackson says, "While giving to the poor is important, the most powerful giving for wealth building is upward giving." What's upward giving? Giving money to E.W. Jackson.

For example, as you read this book, you may feel a deep spiritual affinity for the things I am teaching and therefore a profound spiritual kinship with me. We may never meet in person, but you can draw on the anointing which God has placed on my life by sowing into my ministry. That opens a spiritual door for you to partake at a deeper level and for me to impart to you as one in Covenant with me. That is how I have come to support other ministries. Wherever you are moved to give, do it consistently and generously. This will start a flow of prosperity in your life which will enhance all the other principles you have learned.

<snip>

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/06/virginia-gop-candidate-ew-jackson-yoga-satan/65925/

36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Virginia GOP Candidate E.W. Jackson Says Yoga Will Make Satan Possess You (Original Post) cali Jun 2013 OP
I wonder what he did to get possessed by stupidity? hobbit709 Jun 2013 #1
His empty skull Aerows Jun 2013 #25
You go, E.W.! Buns_of_Fire Jun 2013 #2
What an F'n LOON! n/t LeftofObama Jun 2013 #3
He never heard of Christoga? pinboy3niner Jun 2013 #4
I had wondered; greiner3 Jun 2013 #6
She got the Stepford treatment. tanyev Jun 2013 #14
DUzy nt longship Jun 2013 #33
She used to be so beautiful. ellie Jun 2013 #18
all of these crazy things we hear from right-wing preachers are common currency among Douglas Carpenter Jun 2013 #5
Chuckin' a big old gnarly Yoga Moon at the Jabbering Jackster (R) Berlum Jun 2013 #7
What happens if you chant "OM" backwards"? brooklynite Jun 2013 #8
It's best if you amend your chant to say kentauros Jun 2013 #20
You get poked in the eyes and smacked in the face. Moe! Moe! Moe! Kennah Jun 2013 #34
Fundies have been railing against yoga for years Cirque du So-What Jun 2013 #9
sure, but to my knowledge, candidates for statewide office, haven't. cali Jun 2013 #10
Point taken Cirque du So-What Jun 2013 #11
I would guess their unspoken problem with kundalini yoga kentauros Jun 2013 #19
Oh, it goes deeper than that Cirque du So-What Jun 2013 #21
Oh, I know that. kentauros Jun 2013 #23
I'll take your word for it Cirque du So-What Jun 2013 #24
Well, kundalini yoga isn't about weird stretching poses. kentauros Jun 2013 #27
obviously if their thing was so great and working ThomThom Jun 2013 #12
My Wife owns a Yoga Studio and we drink the blood of the faithful everyday for Breakfast Burma Jones Jun 2013 #13
I'd rather do Yoga in hell than read EW Jackson's F'd up words... hue Jun 2013 #15
Right. So, we are now at the stage of "Giving me your money makes you a better person"... sibelian Jun 2013 #16
He does *not* believe in the Christ I know. mwooldri Jun 2013 #17
What about Yoda? Puzzledtraveller Jun 2013 #22
To doing Yoda I say no thank you. ;) n/t woodsprite Jun 2013 #29
Might be some truth to it. Look at how Vader went bad after getting mixed up with Yoda. Kennah Jun 2013 #35
meh, give her a few more years... Javaman Jun 2013 #26
Oh. My. God. IdaBriggs Jun 2013 #28
"The purpose of such meditation is to empty oneself..." It's clear Jackson RKP5637 Jun 2013 #30
I want this guy to keep talking until he's blue in the face. Arkana Jun 2013 #31
E.W. Jackson is just the gift who keeps on giving. Paladin Jun 2013 #32
I must apologize. This is all my fault. Kennah Jun 2013 #36

Buns_of_Fire

(17,188 posts)
2. You go, E.W.!
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 06:15 AM
Jun 2013

The more he opens his mouth, the less chance Virginia will be saddled with The Kooch as governor.

Douglas Carpenter

(20,226 posts)
5. all of these crazy things we hear from right-wing preachers are common currency among
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 06:37 AM
Jun 2013

Last edited Thu Jun 6, 2013, 02:06 PM - Edit history (1)

fundamentalist Evangelical Protestants. They are not the beliefs of some tiny fringe of these groups. They are mainstream beliefs in the world of fundamentalist Evangelical Protestants.

Cirque du So-What

(25,965 posts)
11. Point taken
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 07:44 AM
Jun 2013

However, we've seen other tenets of fundamentalism espoused by even national candidates already, so it's hardly surprising to see religious opposition to yoga from a teahadist.

kentauros

(29,414 posts)
19. I would guess their unspoken problem with kundalini yoga
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 08:37 AM
Jun 2013

is that you gotta be in great physical condition to do it! I have a DVD of it, and couldn't even make it through half the session.

Cirque du So-What

(25,965 posts)
21. Oh, it goes deeper than that
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 08:41 AM
Jun 2013

They believe it summons the power of satan himself - the red guy with horns, cloven hooves, a pointy tail & pitchfork - yeah, that guy.

kentauros

(29,414 posts)
23. Oh, I know that.
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 08:45 AM
Jun 2013

That's why I said "unspoken" complaint. It's hard, physically, to accomplish a session of kundalini yoga

Cirque du So-What

(25,965 posts)
24. I'll take your word for it
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 08:47 AM
Jun 2013

I'm way too ossified to attempt anything that requires physical contortion to that extent.

kentauros

(29,414 posts)
27. Well, kundalini yoga isn't about weird stretching poses.
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 08:51 AM
Jun 2013

It's a grueling exercise regimen. From what friends have told me of some of those "extreme" workout programs, kundalini yoga is easily on par with them.

Maybe see if there are any demonstration vids on YouTube to get a better idea

ThomThom

(1,486 posts)
12. obviously if their thing was so great and working
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 07:50 AM
Jun 2013

why would they fear all others
the ignorance is astounding

Burma Jones

(11,760 posts)
13. My Wife owns a Yoga Studio and we drink the blood of the faithful everyday for Breakfast
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 07:56 AM
Jun 2013

You can get it from Lululemon........

hue

(4,949 posts)
15. I'd rather do Yoga in hell than read EW Jackson's F'd up words...
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 08:14 AM
Jun 2013

"For example, as you read this book, you may feel a deep spiritual affinity for the things I am teaching and therefore a profound spiritual kinship with me."---->I feel nothing but a deep repulsion w/accompanying nausea from him.

sibelian

(7,804 posts)
16. Right. So, we are now at the stage of "Giving me your money makes you a better person"...
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 08:18 AM
Jun 2013

...stated openly.

I think it's time to start considering a push to treat these people as con-men, straight up. With laws and stuff.

mwooldri

(10,303 posts)
17. He does *not* believe in the Christ I know.
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 08:28 AM
Jun 2013

For some, meditation == prayer. It is the invitation for God to come into your life. Obviously E.W. Jackson is not a mainstream Christian.

RKP5637

(67,112 posts)
30. "The purpose of such meditation is to empty oneself..." It's clear Jackson
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 09:00 AM
Jun 2013

emptied himself of his brains!

Arkana

(24,347 posts)
31. I want this guy to keep talking until he's blue in the face.
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 09:10 AM
Jun 2013

Keep talking about how yoga is a tool of Satan and about how homosexuality is equivalent to devil worship and about how you should only give your money to rich people. I hope he drags Cooch down like an anchor. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Kennah

(14,299 posts)
36. I must apologize. This is all my fault.
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 10:06 PM
Jun 2013

I remember last year, after President Obama won re-election, I said, "Well, the GOP will now start to move back towards normal because they cannot get any crazier." It happened during Yoga class, so I guess Satan took his cue and ...

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