religiously insane afraid of Yoga - not kidding

http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_930.shtml


Beware the Yoga Demon! The Christian Right’s fear of self-realization and spirituality


They’re still at it. Those paranoid Christian fundamentalists are again attacking yoga.

This is not the first time they’ve done so. On September 6, 2005, the Christian “news service” Agape Press carried an article titled “School Yoga Fitness Programs May Be Unhealthy Alternative, Author Warns.” The author cited was Dr. Walter Larimore, who wrote Alternative Medicine: A Christian Handbook. Dr. Larimore argued that because yoga has spiritual roots outside Christianity, the practice can be dangerous. He argued that “involvement with Eastern spiritual practices is known to cause psychological and emotional problems in some people.”

-snip-

Author Wants to Enlighten Christians About Yoga's Demonic Influence

Christian author Dave Hunt, co-founder of the Oregon-based ministry, The Berean Call, has written a new book called Yoga and the Body of Christ. In it, he contends that yoga is a spiritually dangerous practice designed to expose people to demonic influences.
-snip-
--------------------------------------------

ignorance is dreadful

haven't they dined on the body of christ enough?

man preaches. yoga quiets the ego so spirit can be heard. those that don't believe in christ, it allows quiet of ego so center can be found.

The Religious Right is very frightened of people's ability to judge for themselves (even though it's God-given according to their own beliefs?).

You couldn't hammer a 10 penny nail into their asshole with a sledgehammer. They're afraid if they relax one bit or meditate it might make them feel peace and happiness.

The very mention of Yoga or Alternative Spiritual Study, Mental Science, etc was enough to cause some folks to ostracize the practioner.

Today, you can go to the park and see individuals and groups practicing yoga and tai chi or sitting in mediation. Many religious leaders today have incorporated parts of mental science into their traditional bible teachings.

Those who have not accepted unlimited spirituality continue to threaten and warn their parishners because they want to keep them under control. "Religion is the opiate of the masses."

"Christian Karate" or "Christian Martial Arts" schools?

They afraid of "eastern mysticism" in non-Christian schools.

"Qi" is evidently really really evil.

:rofl:

My deviant mind always thinks, "Do they pray before or after they kick the cr@p out of their opponent? Do they say 'Dear god, please let my fists fly in your honor.' " duh.

whackadoodles every one.

their beginnings in eastern countries? Or like jazz, do they borrow it and then claim they created it?

I went on a big rant about this previously. You can probably find my links in the archives. Even though karate is from Japan/Okinawa, they are somehow claiming that their particular version of it came from Jesusland. Umm...okay. Sure.

Also, some of them are basically hate groups. They believe they're training warriors for God.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1024560

Christian "karate" schools are fucked up and scary. As a black belt, I feel those people are corrupting the martial arts.

advertises "Christian Yoga" classes. It's always puzzled me.

:shrug:

nt

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0849912709/103-6699371-9714235?v=glance&n=283155

Yoga for Christians : A Christ-Centered Approach to Physical and Spiritual Health through Yoga (Paperback)
by Susan Bordenkircher

Both are WRONG. Yoga is what it is - co-opting it is just WRONG.

They believe that once your mind is clear, the Devil slips in. In "Christian" yoga courses they have you meditate on some Bible verse instead.

Dave Hunt is a clueless dingleberry.

CAN'T SLEEP, CLOWNS WILL EAT ME!
CAN'T SLEEP, CLOWNS WILL EAT ME!
CAN'T SLEEP, CLOWNS WILL EAT ME!
CAN'T SLEEP, CLOWNS WILL EAT ME!
CAN'T SLEEP, CLOWNS WILL EAT ME!
CAN'T SLEEP, CLOWNS WILL EAT ME!
CAN'T SLEEP, CLOWNS WILL EAT ME!
CAN'T SLEEP, CLOWNS WILL EAT ME!
CAN'T SLEEP, CLOWNS WILL EAT ME!
CAN'T SLEEP, CLOWNS WILL EAT ME!

:crazy:

People build their own hells on earth to live in. I'm sorry they do but they get what they ask for. I think the xian leaders fear losing power and that's why they say these things. I really believe religion is all about power and control. Some want the power and control and others want to be controlled and lead.

see the following:

IMMANUEL KANT

An Answer to the Question: "What is Enlightenment?"

Konigsberg in Prussia, 30th September, 1784.


Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-incurred immaturity. Immaturity
is the inability to use one's own understanding without the guidance of another.
This immaturity is self-incurred if its cause is not lack of understanding, but
lack of resolution and courage to use it without the guidance of another. The
motto of enlightenment is therefore: Sapere aude! Have courage to use your own
understanding!

Laziness and cowardice are the reasons why such a large proportion of men, even
when nature has long emancipated them from alien guidance (naturaliter
maiorennes), nevertheless gladly remain immature for life. For the same
reasons, it is all too easy for others to set themselves up as their guardians.
It is so convenient to be immature! If I have a book to have understanding in
place of me, a spiritual adviser to have a conscience for me, a doctor to judge
my diet for me, and so on, I need not make any efforts at all. I need not think,
so long as I can pay; others will soon enough take the tiresome job over for me.
The guardians who have kindly taken upon themselves the work of supervision will
soon see to it that by far the largest part of mankind (including the entire
fair sex) should consider the step forward to maturity not only as difficult but
also as highly dangerous. Having first infatuated their domesticated animals,
and carefully prevented the docile creatures from daring to take a single step
without the leading-strings to which they are tied, they next show them the
danger which threatens them if they try to walk unaided. Now this danger is not
in fact so very great, for they would certainly learn to walk eventually after a
few falls. But an example of this kind is intimidating, and usually frightens
them off from further attempts.

Thus it is difficult for each separate individual to work his way out of the
immaturity which has become almost second nature to him. He has even grown fond
of it and is really incapable for the time being of using his own understanding,
because he was never allowed to make the attempt. Dogmas and formulas, those
mechanical instruments for rational use (or rather misuse) of his natural
endowments, are the ball and chain of his permanent immaturity. And if anyone
did throw them off, he would still be uncertain about jumping over even the
narrowest of trenches, for he would be unaccustomed to free movement of this
kind. Thus only a few, by cultivating the;r own minds, have succeeded in freeing
themselves from immaturity and in continuing boldly on their way.

more:

http://philosophy.eserver.org/kant/what-is-enlightenment.txt

Thanks for posting that. I've never seen that particular quote of Kant's. It's pretty spot on - and I'm not just talking about religion - but about "bucking the system" - whatever system that may be (like homeschooling or being a vegetarian . . . ).

I'm a Christian, and I've done yoga (got out of practice awhile ago and need to get back into it). When they chant, I chant along if it sounds and feels right and do my own prayer if not. So what? The power of breath is something we can all agree on (theologically, the Holy Spirit is often called the Pneumos, the breath), so there's nothing bad there.

Honestly, it's like they're searching for an enemy when there's enough to deal with already. They really need to get their heads out of their butts.

Because they've been giving away a Yoga DVD:
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/ganomcdonaldsarticle.htm

They probably think the Asian Chicken Salad is a dangerous Eastern conspiracy too. Being a fundie Christian is like having bees living inside your head.

"Being a fundie Christian is like having bees living inside your head."

That image will be with me forever! :rofl:

For Christmas this year, I got my wife yoga classes at the city's best yoga school. She has MS and the classes have increased her quality of life considerably.

Mr. Hunt may have bitten off more than he can chew... :evilgrin:

tai chi in the part -
got the "it's demonic" that
kundalini devils snake in your
spine will come up and bite you.
no shit.

in a bunch, the fundies undies must be

or at least it reads like him.


Damn, I'm so observant

help it, I can't

Hell, I grew up Missouri Synod Lutheran and this kind of crap never occured to me.
I was at a party many years ago and a woman was carrying on (literally hysterical--having trouble breathing) because her adolescent son's school was teaching some basic meditation to help kids pull themselves together, focus and concentrate. She was out for blood because an adolescent boy might gain some personal tools to keep himself pulled together and find a little self control. jeebus! I thought it was a stroke of genius on the teacher's part.

if she had witnessed my religion class in freshman year of Catholic school -- we meditated for the first 15 minutes of each period to Seals & Crofts albums. :) On particularly stressful days, we'd spend the entire period watching a lit candle and listening to music. It got us calm, contemplative, and primed for discussions on religion.

Sounds like your teacher had the right idea. Calm and contemplative---what hs student couldn't use a bit of that?

Be so damned afraid that someone might accidentally change their minds?

Closed-minded ignorance seems to be the attitude d'jour anymore.

n'est pas?

That Christianity has spiritual roots outside of Christianity. Roots from such diverse sources as Mithras, Celtic paganism, Roman paganism, Zororastianism, Nordic paganism, etc. etc ad infinitum(almost).

Talk about pot and kettle:eyes: I really wish that these so called Christians would learn more about their own religion.

:rofl:

if you're not careful!



BWAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAAAA!!!

with reciting Bible verses in order to relax. God's word can sometimes be very soothing.

However, I can't for the life of me see anything harmful with indulging in Eastern/Asian relaxation techniques.

I swear, I only wish I had as much empty time on my hands as some of these people...

If they don't eat, drink and breath Christianity every waking moment they might stray from the path and end up in Satan's clutches. That's why they have to protest anything and everything that doesn't sing the praises of Jebus. Independent thought is perilous indeed. :sarcasm:

Or Karate, or Kung Fu. Not that its spiritual..they want to learn how to "Kill" just incase their God asks them to. These are the insane ones for sure. I hope every DOJO in the country turns them away.

I prefer my martial arts without the Jesus personally.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1024560
Check out my posts in this thread on christian martial arts. Freak show city.

Punch, kick and kill for Jesus...oooooooooooh ok.
Do CHRISTIAN NINJAS WEAR WHITE??

Apparently, there's Shiho Karahan martial arts, which are very bizarre. They basically bastardized various forms of martial arts in order to reclaim them from the "enemy" for Jesus. Some stuff from Whole Armor Martial Arts:

"Unfortunately, the martial arts have been incorrectly judged by many in the Christian community as a direct hot line to hell via Zen Buddhism. This is usually brought about by the common belief that the martial arts originated in the Orient, and therefore are rooted in Oriental philosophy and occult practices.

This brings to light such scriptures as Psalm 144:1 where David says "Blessed be the Lord my strength, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight". This account of King David's own martial arts system shows us that in all reality God's people had the martial arts long before the world polluted them with it's own errant philosophies.

Indeed, we as God's people had them first and it's definitely possible (and probably a very good idea...), to take the martial arts back from the enemy, using them to build character and discipline, bringing glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ."

The enemy they're referring to is Buddha, a dangerous character. Some further research onto the style they teach ("Shiho Karano Karate") is that it's some made up "Christian-based" karate. It's all really bizarre. Although on normal martial arts forums/sites, apparently these guys are viewed with the same "freakshow" opinion I have on them.

My dojo has a branch in a Catholic Church, but we have no ties to religion, we just rent their hall a couple times a week. Our students are almost all Catholic or Jewish. We all follow the standard creeds & history in Isshinryu karate, some of which can have some Shinto or Buddhist base. It's not a big deal. The more I research these Christian karate guys, the weirder it gets.

God's Hammer
Apparently Aiki Ju Jitsu..."given the violent nature of the art, it is only offered to Christian Adults, military personnel and law officers!" Probably a shock to most instructors that it's for Christian Adults only.
Their philosophy is...(My comments)
1. Spiritual----reliance on Christian (not pagan) ethics; (Disagree but not too scary)
2. Mental---disciplining the mind and learning to control one's emotion; (Standard martial arts philosophy)
3. Physical---empty of reliance upon physical strength; (Standard martial arts philosophy)
4. Knowledge--ridding oneself of stinkin' thinkin' so one can be trained. (Normally, we're allowed to think and train...)
5. For Christians who misinterpret Gospel to "turn the other cheek":
Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war, My refuge and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, My shield, in whom I trust, who subdues people under me. Psalms 144:1 (Actually, the "pagan" martial arts teach us to "turn the other cheek" and to only fight, if we absolutely must)
8. Fides Via Vita et Veritas--Faith through strength and truth. (Not really scary, but probably their name is "God's Hammer." I go to a place called "Peaceful Valley." Also, what the hell happened to #6 & 7...they have 10 fingers!)

And now we have the laughable R.A.N.S.O.M. Ministry...they perform "hard hitting Martial arts demonstrations showing spiritual warfare against Satan's influence," under such awe-inspiring psuedonyms, as Fan Dancer, Bone Crusher, Demon Slayer, Frost Bite, Night Screamer, Artic Storm, Daero-Maven, The Bender, The General, Quiet Riot, and lastly Squeeker: the Glitter Mouse. I'm sorry, but I couldn't make this shit up if I tried (and I'm pretty damn creative). Unlike the other groups, they don't seem like they're going to overthrow a Buddhist temple or attack a gay pride parade anytime soon, they're just really fucking hilarious. Not only do they all have fake names that sound like rejected GI Joe names, but, judging by their pictures, I could probably take them all on. Actually, probably the average 12-year-old green belt at my school could take them all on.

Would you want to mess with this?

"Okay guys, get into your 'Power Rangers' stance!"

or this...


We're not trying to look all tough in fancy little "martial arts poses." (I hate that picture though because I'm fat in it).

You gotta be kidding. Ok I know there are martial arts developed all over the world, from
South America to the Spartans of Greece, however some of the deadliest forms were always in
The far east. Mostly because they believed in the energy of the bodies...Chakras..etc..and charting the nervous systems..which as far as "Chi" energy goes...I would guess they would call that "Satanic". (I suppose they could call that Christ energy...Jeeze) It still will not help them if they don't know the real deadly secrets of Asian martial arts.

I remember once being shocked by a fundy who was going into medical school. He thought Bio feed back was the work of the devil. I hope he never makes it as a doctor for some of those cures in pill form came from plants, some of which came from South America and discovered by certain tribes there as cures and remedies. All stuff that would be again labeled "Satanic". As we all know there are certain religious groups who think that getting blood from others is a total sin and a quick ticket to hell. One guy died because he refused blood after a car accident. Because of that the other driver was charged with several counts of manslaughter.

I am also always hearing how the great End Time War is coming where certain sects of Christians will rise up and slaughter those who are non christians for refusing to turn towards their God. Those Jews who do no convert or other sects of religion will be targeted as enemies of God. The problem is there are far more Chinese Buddhists in the world then Christians and they will not tolerate a Christian army marching to their borders. They would need more than prayers to win that war..

Back then they used to call it manic-depression.

Anyway, she got into TM (Transendental Meditation) and claimed that it helped her. Then she had to suffer through all sorts of grief from my aunt (her big sister and only sibling) who constantly told her that it was satanic and that she would go to hell if she didn't stop. Fortunately, my Mom didn't listen to her her sister much.

I had/have no opinion on TM. I didn't care. I just wanted my mom to feel better.

My aunt also believes that Halloween is satanic and hands out religious tracts (and a brief sermon) in liew of candy to the trick-or-treaters.

Then wonders why hooligans throw eggs at her house every year, not that I condone that either.