Priest Bans Yoga For 'being Incompatible With Catholic Faith'

[cmaD2006]

See link below:

[url="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9567412/Priest-bans-yoga-for-being-incompatible-with-Catholic-faith.html"]http://www.telegraph...olic-faith.html[/url]

From the article:


[quote]Instructor Cori Withell said the classes she booked for yoga and pilates at St Edmund's Church building in Southampton were cancelled with 10 days to go.

She was told by the booking secretary of the church that it was because yoga is a Hindu religious activity.

Father John Chandler from the church said that the hall has to be used for Catholic activities and he banned it because it was advertised as ''spiritual yoga''.
[/quote]

Props to the priest for taking a stand for what he believes in!

Edited September 26, 2012 by cmariadiaz

[KnightofChrist]

Good!

[EmilyAnn]

[quote][color=#282828][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]A spokesman for Portsmouth Catholic Diocese said: ''It's not possible for Catholic premises to be used for non-Christian activities and there is a dilemma with yoga as it can be seen as Hindu meditation or as relaxation.[/size][/font][/color][/quote]

Yay for my diocese.

[Selah]

Well it is. Even Hindus will tell you that.

"What's next, Christians practicing Ayurveda?" (random forum post from a Hindu).

[Basilisa Marie]

You'd think people would be happier about this. Not only is this priest educating his parishioners, but his explanation shows that he's implicitly respecting another religion's spiritual practice. To me it seems like doing yoga without any of the spiritual aspects is sort of like wearing a rosary as a fashion statement.

[KnightofChrist]

[quote name='Basilisa Marie' timestamp='1348767347' post='2487277']
You'd think people would be happier about this. Not only is this priest educating his parishioners, but his explanation shows that he's implicitly respecting another religion's spiritual practice. To me it seems like doing yoga without any of the spiritual aspects is sort of like wearing a rosary as a fashion statement.
[/quote]

Indeed.

[Selah]

[quote name='Basilisa Marie' timestamp='1348767347' post='2487277']
You'd think people would be happier about this. Not only is this priest educating his parishioners, but his explanation shows that he's implicitly respecting another religion's spiritual practice. To me it seems like doing yoga without any of the spiritual aspects is sort of like wearing a rosary as a fashion statement.
[/quote]

^^ This. This times a thousand.

[the171]

I always thought yoga was ok... Guess not!

[EmilyAnn]

[quote name='the171' timestamp='1348782009' post='2487384']
I always thought yoga was ok... Guess not!
[/quote]

That's a whole different debate.

[Winchester]

Yoga is more than stretching exercises, properly speaking.

[Tony]

[quote name='EmilyAnn' timestamp='1348782525' post='2487390']
That's a whole different debate.
[/quote]

boy is it lol (from 5 years ago) http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/66377-the-problem-with-yoga/

[PhuturePriest]

Yoga in itself is bad. The exercises are not, but the exercises are spiritually related. It's a form of praying for the Hindus. It's much like wearing a Rosary as a fashion, as Basilisa Marie said. It's better to do Pilates or something which, yes, is insanely difficult, but that simply means you don't have to exercise as much to get better results.

[Selah]

While it is "bad" in that it is practicing prayer to false gods, yoga (that is, Raja Yoga) is not "bad" in that it has many virtues that are good and commendable, such as not stealing, telling the truth, being modest, among other things. But, as we have these virtues in Christianity, there is no need to practice an outside spiritual practice, because we have our own practices that help us on the path to Theosis. The practice of Raja Yoga, on the other hand, has a goal to reach "Moksha" which is union with Brahman (depending on the sect, it can be in a monist or dualist sense of union). Since Moksha is not a goal of Christians, there is no need for us to practice it.

[Annie12]

okay, so yoga being offered at a parish is kinda weird but.... Yoga as an exercise isn't bad...right?

[Selah]

[quote name='Annie12' timestamp='1348785897' post='2487408']
okay, so yoga being offered at a parish is kinda weird but.... Yoga as an exercise isn't bad...right?
[/quote]

It's not an exercise. It's been presented that way in the West, but it's roots are not that of a simple exercise.