Yoga Opens you to Satanic Possession

[Angelsjunky]

So says Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate and pastor EW Jackson.

 

As the article points out, he's not alone. Quite a few Christian conservatives have said similar things.

 

There are some pretty extreme (and, I must say, kind of funny) remarks in that article:

 

Pastor Mark Driscoll of WA state: "Yoga is demonic. If you just sign up for a little yoga class, you're signing up for a little demon class."

 

Father Gabriele Amorth of the Vatican: "Practicing yoga is Satanic, it leads to evil just like reading Harry Potter."

 

And no, the article isn't from the Onion.

[arch stanton]

If you truly wish to embrace evil, then meditate on the tax code or the Patriot Act.

[Angelsjunky]

Might as well throw in the Monsanto Protection Act, but...none of that has anything to do with the linked article.

[mtangelsfan]

Yoga's roots do come from a different religion than Christianity, does it not?

[nate]

Yoga is a Hindu philosophy.  Most Yoga classes only involve exercise but some also include meditation.  Still, those statements are seriously hilarious.

[mtangelsfan]

Hilarious for somebody who isn't a bible believing Christian perhaps.  A little over the top for me, but I do understand the Biblical issues with things like yoga.

 

Now, what I don't get is why this is some issue.  Did this guy make that statement during his campaign?  Is he saying he wants to make yoga illegal? 

[TobiasFunke]

I'd love for him to tell us why it's "demonic"

[mtangelsfan]

Again, why do you care what Christians believe?

[acro2008]

A lot of yoga utilizes the body's Chakras which doesn't have to, but can lead to the better understanding of divination, whether it be with nature in general, such as shapes of birds in flight to Kabbala, numerology or Tarot cards.  I consider myself Christian but maybe a little more open minded than the more orthodox type.   As we are taught, Intention is key to it all.  Anything can be used for good or bad.  Money is a good example.

[nate]

Hilarious for somebody who isn't a bible believing Christian perhaps.  A little over the top for me, but I do understand the Biblical issues with things like yoga.

 

Now, what I don't get is why this is some issue.  Did this guy make that statement during his campaign?  Is he saying he wants to make yoga illegal? 

 

I have a problem because he is in public office and those statements could damage small businesses like Yoga studios.

[mtangelsfan]

any opinion given by anybody in the public eye could have an effect on business.  Be serious here, you have a problem with it because it's a religious opinion.

[nate]

If he came out and said that Best Buy gives you satanic intentions because they sell CDs by Iced Earth the public would be up in arms.  Yoga isn't just a philosophy, it is also an enterprise.

[Taylor]

This is a major issue. I think we should make religion illegal.

[mtangelsfan]

First, he is not in public office.  Second, he wrote that in a book 5 years ago.  Be serious, nobody new is going decide not to go to a yoga class 5 years later. 

[TobiasFunke]

Again, why do you care what Christians believe?

He doesn't have to be a christian for me to want to know why he feels it's demonic. Why do you care what I care?

[mtangelsfan]

The only reason he believes it is because he is a christian.  If you want to know the Biblical reasons we could start in Dueteronomy and go from there.

[Adam]

Yoga is super gay too

[TobiasFunke]

I'd want to know his views. Same thing with Father Amorth and why he thinks reading Harry Potter leads to evil.

[TobiasFunke]

Yoga is super gay too

Women in yoga pants on the other hand...exact opposite of super gay

[nate]

Yoga is actually one of the core exercise and weight loss exercises out there.

[nate]

Women in yoga pants on the other hand...exact opposite of super gay

 

Have you seen most of the women that do yoga?

[acro2008]

The divination arts when not done with good intentions can lead to demonic tendencies. There are rules.  IMO, Yoga, as it is mostly physical is probably the least of these arts that would manifest anything demonic.  Prayer?  that can be powerful and it is strange that many think it is only used for good.

[Adam]

Women in yoga pants on the other hand...exact opposite of super gay

 

Maybe. Most of the broads I know who do yoga are earth-toney American Spirit smokers

[TobiasFunke]

Yoga is actually one of the core exercise and weight loss exercises out there.

...says the devil

[Adam]

Back to topic - If we believe God became man, died and rose from the dead, is Yoga being counter to Christian spirituality all that big a deal?