I was told as an adult by some Christian leaders that yoga was of the Devil, but they never explained why. When I left Christianity for a while, I tried yoga as exercise. It wasn't bad but it made me overly-relaxed and zoned-out. God wants us to be alert and sharp and focused on Him and His truth, and yoga works against that.
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YOGA is evil now?!
Also, first.
Edit: could we shy away from the "first!" comments please? i like to believe fstdt is populated by more intelligent people.
I'd rather see someone calling firsties than have a board mommy.
Also, I don't recall seeing HazelHolly posting before, so perhaps we could cut her a little slack??
Maybe God wants you to be alert and sharp, but His spokespersons want the exact opposite, so that you won't notice what nonsense they're spouting. I've been to fundy services, and they're organized to turn off rational thought and put people into either an emotional frenzy or a zoned-out state.
#1036323: "could we shy away from the "first!" comments please? i like to believe fstdt is populated by more intelligent people."
Wow! Someone got up on the wrong side of bed this morning (and apparently too late to be first)! What's so unintelligent or annoying about declaring firsties? I like to believe that fstdt is populated by more fun-loving people than to criticize others for something so innocent and harmless.
God wants us to be alert and sharp and focused on Him and His truth, and yoga works against that.
So does sleeping. Is that of the devil, too?
Yes.
That's why religious services often take place in a poorly lit space, and some even employ smoke and/or incense to make sure the CO2 levels are up. Everything is done ritualistically to quell any tendency to inject independent thought into the proceedings. Worshipers are commanded to stand and/or sit and/or kneel and/or bow and/or sing on cue like a bunch of marionettes. God wants you to be alert and not automatically reach for the wallet when the plate is passed.
Oh wait....
So... being relaxed is evil? God wants you to constantly be anxious or paranoid?
That reminds me of a fundie once telling me that it's not good to be content because when you're content you let your guard down and the devil can make you do evil.
And yet, I'd bet dollars to dead leaves you "zone-out" in front of the TV every night. Well, as long as you're not doing it in a healthful way, I guess God will forgive you.
It wasn't bad but it made me overly-relaxed and zoned-out. God wants us to be alert and sharp and focused on Him and His truth, and yoga works against that.
And this is in the bible where exactly?
Nice. That's an angle i never saw before.
Well, seeing the number of times i broke down over fundie ideology, it makes a ton of sense they want you vigilant.
Twenty-fifth.
EDIT Tewnty-eigth.
Christians hate yoga because yoga's spiritualist aspects -- which, in my mind, are the least attractive parts of it -- disagree on certain points with Christianity's claims.
In other words, it's a competing religion of sorts. And if there's one thing Christianity cannot stand, it's competition.
@1036323: Jealous much? Let us have our fun. Also, if you're going to say something annoying like that, name yourself, don't hide behind the number...
@Nathan/John/Knotilus/EvoPagan/Prof: u have my undying lolz...
Of course, any other philosophy that is not of the cult is of satan.
Just remember, whenyou are in Heaven with your Lord he will want 110% of your attention and worship. He will want your thoughts to be about ONLY him...and after a few days of giving your Lord 110% you will then realize that you are actually in Hell, and that an eternity of worshipping your Lord is punishment in and of itself.
At least in Hell I can think whatever I want.
Are you sure it was the yoga that made you feel so relaxed? Maybe your relaxation was caused by being distant from a mindset that tells you that you were born evil and that you should spend every waking moment on your knees thanking an intangible, invisible savior for not sending you to eternal agony in hell, despite the fact that you obviously deserve it
So I guess Frankie's going to hell instead of Hollywood because he says "Relax"?
Well, time to go throw that hit single in the garbage can...be right back.
My grandmother does yoga. With only a few years to her eightieth birthday, she's still as sharp and focussed as ever, and we regularly get into scientific, historical and medical discussions.
@JohnTheAtheist: That's why I go to yoga 3 times a week :)
Forty seventh!!
@HazelHolly, it's just for fun, really. I've never been first, but if I ever am, believe me I will be announcing it.
Relaxation is evil?
"God wants us to be alert and sharp and focused on Him and His truth, "
Is god against sleep as well?
Of all the weird, crazy, insane, fucked up crap that happens in this big world of ours some actually waste time on beating down Yoga? YOGA!?
Go feed some starving children looser!
Actually, the purpose of yoga is to make you relaxed, flexible, and focused. If you're zoning out, you're doing it wrong.
alert and sharp and focused on Him and His Truth = We shouldn't be relaxed and enjoy ourselves. We should give every waking minute praising God regardless if we're unhappy. If you dream about Yoga you will go to Hell. You need to have your leaders give you reasons for their comments. If they can't then you need to flip them off and get on with your life.
I must say there are plenty of Yoga studios down here in the Bible Belt and that includes the hills of the N.C. Mountains.
More and more and more, the Bible's God seems to be all four of the Chaos Gods rolled into one.
meh, nothing new here.
I joined Tai Chi for a while, unfortunately there was a mass exodus out of the class over bowing. Yes, bowing to your instructor is evil.
Yoga is evil
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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