This post is about yoga, and why we as Catholics cannot take part in this. I realise that some Catholics do not have a problem with yoga, and some may think we're "over reacting". Well, as far as I and my family are concerned; this is a very serious issue, and it is in direct contradiction to our Catholic faith. Period. The following excerpts are taken directly from reliable sources, and can be found easily.
I am fully crediting the authors of the following quotations; they are not my original words - I'm just quoting as it was easier to do this and to me, more legitimate than putting down my own views.
And I do have to fully credit my children for taking a stand and not just "going along with the crowd". We can teach, guide, inform and direct our children in their morals/beliefs/values, but there comes a time as a parent when you wonder if anything you say "sticks". We always hope and pray for the best, and for our children to "hold fast to the traditions" they have been taught. Sometimes, as adults this is hard to do. We discuss and explain many "controversial" subjects in our home, but always give an explanation of WHY we believe what we do. I wish I had the courage of Stephanie and Mary, who ON THEIR OWN have often taken a stand against things that go against their faith. God Bless them!

Now for the articles:

“According to a Hindu professor, yoga can no more be separated from its Hindu roots as Christianity can be separated from Jesus. Yoga was invented specifically for Hindu worship and each posture in yoga was designed to worship a Hindu god* (e.g., the serpent posture was designed to worship the serpent god). (Interestingly, St. Justin, Martyr, in his First Apology, states that the pagan gods are actually demons and these demons gave themselves names which are the names the pagans use for their gods. A free PDF copy of St. Justin Martyrs' writings can be found on the His Mercy Web site at www.hismercy.ca under eBooks.)



Below are some other quotes with their sources, although there are many, many more that could be added:



"The postures alone are designed to create altered levels of consciousness, plus they can trigger reactions just as the breathing and mind work do. It is
a direct door to the occult. Some people who get involved in New Age or occult practices need deliverance from evil spirits, according to Fr. Amorth, the Vatican exorcist." (Anne Feaster, 'Should Christians Do Yoga?, p. 3, http://www.swordoflightandtruth.org/)**



Moira Noonan, a former yoga teacher, says yoga cannot be Christianised. (Ibid, p. 3)

...“yoga” means “union with god or yoke with god”. The god they refer to is an impersonal energy force that they call Braham. They believe that through the practice of yoga, they can free themselves from the bondage of karma. The purpose of yoga is not exercise, but to reach altered states of consciousness... (Sword of Light and Truth, Spring 2005 newsletter, p. 3)

Yoga is the “physical manipulation of one’s body to create an altered state of consciousness which occurs as a result of the effect of the exercise on the central nervous system.”(The New Age Counterfeit by Johnnette Benkovic, p.ll)

Also, the Vatican has identified yoga as a New Age practice and therefore incompatible - in any form - with Christianity. (See Jesus Christ Bearer of the Water of Life which can be accessed on the Vatican site, www.vatican.va.)

We can be assured that there was an investigation on all aspects of yoga before the Church spoke out against it, and that experts were consulted. We also need to be mindful that we are to be obedient to Jesus through His Church. (Something that the devil and his followers will not do!)

There are many legitimate forms of exercise that are not harmful to our soul that we can use.

Note: It is important to distinguish between a belief or practice and the person who holds that belief or practice. As Christians, we are called to always love the person, but we must stay away from any belief or practice that is not from the one and only true God.

*Sharon Lee Giganti, in one of her monthly talks on Catholic Answers Live.

Ms Giganti's site: www.newagedeception.com

Catholic Answers site: www.catholic.com

** Also see Ms Feaster's 'The Truth About Yoga,' which has extra information.

ALSO:

Is Yoga contrary to our faith?

While the physical aspects of Yoga can be beneficial, the spiritual aspects may be harmful as they flow into "New Age" religiosity. The Church’s reflection on the New Age, Jesus Christ: The Bearer of the Water of Life , warns us:

Quote:

Yoga, zen, transcendental meditation and tantric exercises lead to an experience of self-fulfilment or enlightenment. Peak-experiences (reliving one's birth, travelling to the gates of death, biofeedback, dance and even drugs – anything which can provoke an altered state of consciousness) are believed to lead to unity and enlightenment. Since there is only one Mind, some people can be channels for higher beings. Every part of this single universal being has contact with every other part. The classic approach in New Age is transpersonal psychology, whose main concepts are the Universal Mind, the Higher Self, the collective and personal unconscious and the individual ego. The Higher Self is our real identity, a bridge between God as divine Mind and humanity. Spiritual development is contact with the Higher Self, which overcomes all forms of dualism between subject and object, life and death, psyche and soma, the self and the fragmentary aspects of the self. Our limited personality is like a shadow or a dream created by the real self. The Higher Self contains the memories of earlier (re-)incarnations.

Aspects such as these are certainly contrary to our faith!

This is the article I wrote for our church bulletin for Respect Life Week last week. Thought I would try to start blogging again.....



"We are called to act with justice"

The greatest social justice issue facing us today is that of human dignity. Social justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality. Our belief as Christians in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. This belief gives us the starting point for a moral vision for society. It is grounded in the idea that the person is made in the image of God. In caring for God’s creation, we show our respect by our stewardship. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan; it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people as well as the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God’s creation. This has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that all Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception (2270). This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable (2271).

Abortion and Euthanasia are direct attacks on human life. These are not "church issues" as some might think; they are human rights issues that we all need to be concerned and educated about. It is an unfortunate reality that in our society today life seems to be less and less valued, be it the child in the womb, the disabled, or the elderly patient in a personal care home. With the growing tendency to promote "mercy killing" as a solution to suffering, aging, mental or physical challenges, having the right to die is quickly becoming an "obligation to die". Many people who express a will to die are suffering from clinical depression rather than a terminal disease. Studies reveal that when certain anti-depressants are administered over a three-month period, 44% say they no longer wish to die. (Family Practice News, October 1996)
Abortion has become just another form of birth control, with abortionists no longer bothering to medically justify it. It is being used to brutally destroy those that are deemed "unacceptable" or "less than perfect". Society must learn that we can never eliminate problems by eliminating people. We do not improve society by rejecting society's members, and we do not build up the body of Christ by killing His disciples, no mater how tiny or how old!

In the Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II proclaimed:
"To be actively pro-life is to contribute to the renewal of society through the
promotion of the common good. It is impossible to further the common good
without acknowledging and defending the right to life, upon which all the other
inalienable rights of individuals are founded and from which they develop."

Respect Life Week is the starting point where we can take the opportunity to live the beatitudes. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for Righteousness! Our mission as Christians is to bring Life and Peace to the world. We can do this by increasing public awareness of and promoting improvement in the quality and availability of hospice/palliative care; we can work to develop and build compassionate care community services as alternatives to "Mercy Killing." We can volunteer to visit people who are sick or shut in. We can support ministries that respect the sanctity of Life by donating baby food, diapers, baby and maternity clothing to places like the Crisis Pregnancy Centre. We can donate to or volunteer for our local pro-life group. And....WE CAN PRAY. Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord!