Should Christians Practice Yoga? SeanMcDowell.org
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.ย. 2024
- For more answers to tough questions about the Christian faith, see The Apologetics Study Bible for Students (amzn.to/2RFG2gh)
DESCRIPTION: How should Christians think about yoga? Is it okay to practice it? Sean briefly offers some Scriptural insights and wisdom.
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Talk to Indian Hindus about what Yoga is and how you cannot separate these named moves from the deities they represent.
I'm Indian, and I can say that most positions are specific worship of pagan gods.
Yoga technically means union between divine self (demonic) and limited self.
I don't do yoga in any form.
Haniel Rameshbabu yeah but if youre just doing those positions to stretch your body then it can't be bad. Some of those positions help significantly with back pain. Plus we know that God turns all sin into good, so while those people who made yoga were worshipping pagan gods, God used them to figure out healthy and beneficial stretches for the body. I know Satan basically runs the world but we can't forget that God is in control and reminds us in Genesis how He turns all of the bad into good, sometimes we can see it although a lot of the times we can't. If doctors agree that yoga and Tai Chi have legitimate benefits to ones health, and one takes away the mythological aspect from those exercises and just uses the mere exercise aspect of those things, it can't be bad. Satan will probably make you fearful and doubt yourself on whether thats okay or not but people really have to be more aware of God's word and not let the enemy decieve them because he will find all sorts of cunning ways to make you fearful and doubtful of yourself and won't hesitate to make you feel something's wrong when it really isn't. That decieving voice is the same one that makes people think they have to burn certain books and statues, giving Satan more power then he has by mere deception. Plus Satan does nothing without God allowing it, but we can also trust God in His perfect plan, which yes also includes allowing Satan to decieve some people into believing that merely stretching your body a certain way will open doorways to demonic activity. That's nonsense, build a stronger relationship with the Lord and never forget Who's truly in control and thus Who truly already have won.
I am an Indian as well and agree with you cent percent
@@robertoesquivel4447 you may think you're smarter than God, you seem too gullible to me twisting and twirling the biblical truths for your own benefits. you can't talk about Canon willfully living in Egypt. You can't talk about Christianity while still flirting with eastern evil practices. You can't ask God to help while you allow Satan to sit on your lap.
@@robertoesquivel4447 bruh don't you know even the ten commandments? Yoga is literally bowing down to Hindu gods. Do Pilates or something.
Thank you for your honesty
Unfortunately... if Yoga is done right... it invites spirits into one’s life (speaking of my own experience). Hence I wouldn’t go for such a ‘generous’ approach. The answer is NO. But of course humans don’t like NO’s. Everyone has to figure out for themselves...
Even if it means to get in touch with unclean spirits. God bless.
I personally won't touch yoga with a ten foot pole. The idea of the 1st spiritual significance comes to mind.
I hate answers like this. Yoga is a spiritual practice. That’s like saying, well, I’ll use tarot cards but I’ll ask God to use them to answer me instead of a demon. No. Stretching wo/getting into yoga poses is completely different. If that’s what you’re doing, then just call it stretching.
Exactly. Also going to the casino and asking God to bless your day’s activities, reading innocent horoscopes, the list goes on.
I disagree only because it's a physical thing. It has been shown to be very helpful with people with psychological and physical issues. However, I'm talking about practices of yoga and mindfulness that isn't linked to any religious practice. If you separate the physical practice from it's religious routes you'll only get physical benefits. The breathing and exercises are very helpful. But if you're doing it in some religiously based practice classes, in hindu places, etc, than you'll be getting the whole package and that wouldn't be appropriate. I'm more accepting of only going to a neutral class where the focus is the exercise, or better yet get an app and do it at home alone.
On a side note, my worry isn't as much to scandalise the Christian brethren, but the hindu ones by taking their religious practice and twisting it to suit me. That's what's bothering me.
Thank you. Very simple with great questions for a participant to ask themselves.
I saw what I feel was a really good comment on this question.
Basically: if it's called Yoga, don't do it.
If it's Yoga, it will come with a philosophy and spiritual intention of it's own.
However - there are other areas and disciplines of physical exercise that use similar, and often, exactly the same poses as those that appear on Yoga, and are physically beneficial, e.g. Pilates and other stretching. Apparently - and certainly as far as I can tell - Pilates has no spiritual component at all, and therefore seems totally neutral and safe.
So, personally, I feel if you are removing the Yoga element from the exercise, it's good to stretch your body in ways that exercise it rather than let the enemy steal our physicality from us and only use it in a negative way. Take it back n use it for good. 👍
Pilates is a form of yoga
@@froggybug apparently, it's not 🙂
It may have some of very similar &/or identical stretches and physical movements, but it does not have the spiritual aspect.
This makes sense. I had basically come to this conclusion myself after pray and talking with another wise godly woman, but you say it much more succinctly than I could’ve articulated.
The spine is such an important part of our lives and not many exercise programs care for it like yoga
Ooo yess if I could like a million times, I would!
I practice yoga in massage therapy school and outside of school for workout and mental health purposes, and for me, I specifically pray that the Holy Spirit speak to me and protect me the entire time. When my instructor says to connect to the divine, I call only on the Holy Spirit. I’ve had so many powerful and good revelations of not only peace and purpose, but healthy conviction.
I keep seeing Christians bashing the idea of other Christians doing yoga as idol worship, but I’m literally taking a practice with no inherent meaning and giving it meaning through Christ. I can, however, see how for those who have practiced yoga and directed their worship towards other gods in the past, how practicing could cause stumbling by intentional or unintentional association and letting go of leaning on the Holy Spirit in the practice. I’ve also seen some really intense negative outcomes when people aren’t praying to the Father (e.i. Feeling claustrophobic and muted). Several factors should be taken into consideration when Christians are thinking about doing yoga, their pasts with false religion associated with yoga especially.
However, if people are going to shut down yoga for themselves, I will say that it’s very difficult to find breath work and movement that calms anxiety and gets us listening. Deep, slow breathing and movement are vastly overlooked health benefits.
Thanks for sharing Brandy.
May the Lord guide you ❤️.
Being in the enemy’s territory, you are moving in hot waters. May God protect you.
Just don't do yoga, don't dance with the devil. There are other forms of exercise
That’s a lot of words….if you need that many it’s probably sin. “Though shall not bough down to any other Gods” that’s pretty clear… there are people from this culture telling Christians NOT to do it. They say it’s bound to the deities (demons) that the pose is named after… you can’t twerk and tell God it’s “holy” twerking.
@@froggybug yoga is not twerking 😂
All I know is after yoga and swimming in volcanic waters in wine country I was blessed to get pregnant at 42 with one tube 20 years ago. I was working and attending church regularly then too.
When thine eye is single, thy body will be full of light. Matthew 6:22 is about yoga technique
WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT BEING A HINDU?
By Francois Gautier.
*Diversity in Divinity and Unity in Spirituality.*
1) Believe in God ! - Aastik - Accepted
2) Don't believe in God ! - You're accepted as Nastik
3) You want to worship idols - please go ahead. You are a murti pujak.
4) You dont want to worship idols - no problem. You can focus on Nirguna Brahman.
5) You want to criticise something in our religion. Come forward. We are logical. Nyaya, Tarka etc. are core Hindu schools.
6) You want to accept beliefs as it is. Most welcome. Please go ahead with it.
7) You want to start your journey by reading Bhagvad Gita - Sure !
8) You want to start your journey by reading Upanishads - Go ahead.
9) You want to start your journey by reading Purana - Be my guest.
10) You just don't like reading Puranas or other books. No problem my dear. Go by Bhakti tradition . ( bhakti- devotion)
11) You don't like idea of Bhakti ! No problem. Do your Karma. Be a karmayogi.
12) You want to enjoy life. Very good. No problem at all. This is Charvaka Philosophy.
13) You want to abstain from all the enjoyment of life & find God - jai ho ! Be a Sadhu, an ascetic !
14) You don't like the concept of God. You believe in Nature only - Welcome. (Trees are our friends and Prakriti or nature is worthy of worship).
15) You believe in one God or Supreme Energy. Superb! Follow Advaita philosophy
16) You want a Guru. Go ahead. Receive gyaan.
17) You don't want a Guru.. Help yourself ! Meditate, Study !
18) You believe in Female energy ! Shakti is worshipped.
19) You believe that every human being is equal. Yeah! You're awesome, come on let's celebrate Hinduism!
"Vasudhaiva kutumbakam" (the world is a family)
20) You don't have time to celebrate the festival.
Don't worry. One more festival is coming! There are multiple festivals every single day of the year.
21) You are a working person. Don't have time for religion. Its okay. You will still be a Hindu.
22) You like to go to temples. Devotion is loved.
23) You don't like to go to temples - no problem. You are still a Hindu!
24) You know that Hinduism is a way of life, with considerable freedom.
25) You believe that everything has God in it. So you worship your mother, father, guru, tree, River, Prani-matra, Earth, Universe!
26) And If you don't believe that everything has GOD in it - No problems. Respect your viewpoint.
27) "Sarve jana sukhino bhavantu " (May you all live happily)
You represent this! You're free to choose, my dear Hindu!
This is exactly the essence of Hinduism, all inclusive .. That is why it has withstood the test of time inspite of repeated onslaught both from within and outside, and assimilated every good aspects from everything . That is why it is eternal !!!
There is a saying in Rigveda , the first book ever known to mankind which depicts the Hinduism philosophy in a Nutshell -" Ano bhadrah Krathavo Yanthu Vishwathah"- Let the knowledge come to us from every directions.
I use it for exercise and balance. My intentions are pure. I’m not worshiping any gods.
It is not about Christian vs Yoga, it was and will always about Western religious Philosophy vs Eastern religious Philosophy! Other than that Sanskrit and it's literatures made it more difficult to clearfy this debate. Anyone can crack the western religious philosophy with much of understanding even if he is conservative person but dude any conservative person from western side can not crack the Eastern religious philosophy, they even did not crack the yoga philosophy yet properly, forget the whole religion. That's why like others Sean also took an easy route to escape this dabate...
Nobody probably cracked the eastern religious philosophy because nobody really bothered about it? There're lots of discussions going on around islamic philosophy because westerners find that too popular and too evil which need to be stopped. Nobody really didn't care about yoga until recent past in the west because it was wrapped and packaged as rather spiritual than religious. As an Indian Christian I never really swayed down about yoga, probably in the west it was commercialised and branded as non-religious entity, just like Chinese noodles, Japanese karate, Italian pasta, it is Indian Yoga. Yoga in the west has won accolades purely because clever business strategy, not due to its philosophical richness.
I have done Yoga “moves” within the P90X program for years and have never had any knowledge of whatever its origin is. There is no religious connection for me of any kind whatsoever. Maybe a yoga class would teach that stuff but I wouldn’t pay attention.
It’s great exercise - and I am a Christian. It has no spiritual meaning at all.
Brian Jonson The one I do is just Strengthing muscles and relieving back pain. No prayers involved.
Christians have been living for centuries without doing yoga. As on india, birth place of yoga we Christians never done any yoga. Western Christians are too blessed to ditch God for petty benefits.
It doesn’t matter if you leave out religious connotations. Each yoga pose is calling up certain demons. It allows us to be invaded by the kundalini spirit. It is very dangerous.
@@57andstillkicking thank you. In the case you are correct I did quit all yoga about 1.5 years ago
@@57andstillkicking Which makes me think that if what you say is true, that would explain why Christians are persecuted in India by Hindu nationalists now and have been since 2014. I believe the highest echelons of Hinduism know the truth, yet continue to propogate lies.
Yoga spread Hinduism
Yoga is the union of the godess who resides in the Muladhara Chakra near the base of the spine with her husband, Lord Shiva who resides at the sahasrara chakra, which is just above the head. By using the word Yoga, you are acknowledging those two deities.
Yoga is just stretching with extra steps.
Yoga is not biblical. I don’t understand how one can justify it in Christianity no matter what justification. So much safer and beneficial to meditate on God’s word and pray. Why even open up to the temptations and susceptibility?
Christianity is also Eastern Religion. Is not it.?
Christianity is not a Religion.
It's a relationship with God
Hey.. I'm not saying that.. Those who has popularized the Christianity and also came up with term "Religion" said that with conviction..
Btw what you said is called "Faith" in Christianity or in any other religion, i think.
@@anujsrawat Very different religion. That's like saying, "Canada is part of North America, so Canada's basically the same country as the U.S., right?"
@@anujsrawat Christianity is a religion of truth if you compare EVERY other god of every other religion to that of Jesus Christ you see all other religions are just the worship of sinful humans with superpowers. Jesus Christ is completely OTHER and opposite of what we humans are by nature which is sinners. Yet He has mercy on us and calls us to repentance, belief and communion with Him.
I really like Sean McDowell's vids, but I must admit I was a bit disappointed with this video. I wouldn't recommend Christians do any type of yoga because of the Hindu elements to it. Here's a good link on the subject: carm.org/should-christians-practice-yoga
Thanks, that was a good read
Thanks for the read mate
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD JESUS CHRIST, WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE IN HEAVEN FOREVER AND EVER. John 3:16 Bible....THE RAINBOW🌈THRONE OF SON OF GOD JESUS CHRIST AND THE TREE OF LIFE, Revelation 4 and Revelation 22 Bible. And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.🔥This is the second death. Revelations 20 bible.... ❤️I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”❤️
6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone,🔥which is the second death.”REVELATION 21
Yoga CAN support and bolster the faith of ANY religious person of any religion. And it is absolutely of Indian origin and comes out of Hindu traditions. Anyone who does yoga owes debt to India and Hinduism
Dr. Mcdowell is wrong about that fact here. His work and ambitiouns in honor but here he is clearly wrong and should do a new video about that issue. Yoga IS and IS ONLY ralated to worshipping and calling Hindu Demons and cannot be sepperate from the fact that the poses are Stretchposes if we just take out the religious thoughts from it. THE POSES ITSELF ARE WORSHIP OF DEMONS. Its like you say i beat another guy and say its just sport not violence like boxing...it stays violent. ANd so you cant seperate the acting from worship to false spirits...the place, region, time or initial thought doing it is irrelavant, it stays an occult practice and therefore its against gods will.
I think Haniel Rameshbabu is on the right note. There are plenty of excercises to choose from so why choose yoga? Apostle Paul speaks of three circumstances, yet related to food, in 1 Cor. Which are the meat market 1 Cor. 10:25 (shopping center), eat whatever you want; eating in the pagan temple 1 Cor. 8 (similar to Chinese restaurant scenario - Confucius etc.), free to do so unless it affect another believer; participating in the sacrifices at the pagan altar 1 Cor. 10:1-22, this is idolatry of which to absolutely avoid. So I think yoga, even if repackaged, fits this third category (yoga is yoga which is very different from saying food is food). Same for Mindfulness: which its core value is to be detached from all, including any "sacred scripture" (see Religions of the World, by relevant authors for each religion). Christians have an array of stretches they can choose from that will achieve the same as yoga. So, again, why the need to choose yoga? Why participate at a pagan altar? Eat in the market, eat in the temple, but don't feast at the altar.
Calling hinduism and buddhism fake exposes missionary and rotten mindset of pastor dont forgot they are oldest religion and christianity is a 3 year old Child in front of them
Yoga comes from Hindus, so should Christians not practice it? Hindus eat, sleep, drink water, and so on, therefore should Christians refrain from eating, drinking, and sleeping as well? For Hindus all actions are divine: eating, sleeping, working, not just temple rituals, and the same way Yoga is a divine act as well. Yoga is an abstract concept like love. Yoga does not necessarily mean just some physical exercises. It is important that someone understand what Yoga is before preaching it to others.
But yoga is a spiritual practice and for this reason Christians would be wise to stretch their bodies many other ways. Keola Christian Fitness (you can find her exercises on TH-cam) is a great alternative. Everything is truly spiritual - that is true -but are we participating in spiritual Light or spiritual darkness? Hindus are practicing spiritual darkness. The Light has nothing in common with the dark.
th-cam.com/users/keolafit
Dr. Sean McDowell says Western Yoga for “Mental Health” is different from Eastern Yoga which involves in worshiping other Gods. Since “Mental Health” Yoga may involve learning of special physical postures, meditating, breathing techniques, and even praying with songs, Dr. McDowell’s video is flawed. See the following quotes from their respective sources about Yoga and Mental Health:
“Yoga For Mental Health
The word 'Yoga' means 'union' or 'yoke' or 'joining'. Originally, Yoga was (and is in places where it is practiced as such) a method for joining a regular imperfect human being with the divine principle, or God. You could liken it to a form of prayer which serves a similar purpose, only prayer tends to be verbal, while Yoga tends to involve action.
American Yoga then is really about one subset of Yoga proper; Hatha Yoga (or the Yoga of physical postures). Hatha Yoga is specifically concerned with the learning of special physical postures which are typically named in imitation of the way animals and structures move. Some examples include 'cat pose', 'downward-facing dog pose', 'mountain pose', 'boat pose' and 'corpse pose'.
Comments:
Clear understanding of yoga.
Dear Sir,
I am very happy that you have clearly explained yoga to the viewers. Adding to your point, if anybody does yoga for achieving or for attaining something, yoga is not for them, the ultimate purpose of yoga, according to swami vivekananda is Realisation of God.” Source: www.mentalhelp.net/articles/yoga-for-mental-health/
“How can yoga exercises help get over anxiety?
Regular yoga practice can help you stay calm and relaxed in daily life and can also give you the strength to face events as they come without getting restless. Yoga practice ideally includes the complete package of asanas (body postures), pranayamas (breathing techniques), meditation, and the ancient yoga philosophy, all of which has helped several anxiety patients recover and face life with new positivity and strength.
5: Pray, keep faith and smile!
Prayer is the best form of reassurance and support to keep your anxiety-free. Developing habits of daily prayer, chanting or singing bhajans (devotional songs) fill you with positive energy and also help still the mind. They also instill a sense of deep faith that all happens for the best and that there is a higher divine power that takes care……” Source: www.artofliving.org/yoga/health-and-wellness/yoga-for-anxiety-disorder
“Best Types of Yoga for Anxiety and Depression
You have to do yoga to overcome anxiety.
Yoga is great for helping treat depression.
For years, we’ve these two statements repeated time and time again. From medical staff to professional yoga teachers, to family and friends, everyone recommends yoga for mental health. So, we decided to finally try out the best types of yoga for anxiety and depression, and all we have to say is, we wish we didn’t wait so long.
What is yoga? ………Yoga combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation for a thorough, head-to-toe, internal and external workout.
How does yoga help with anxiety and depression?
Regular yoga practice teaches you how to remain calm and relaxed in daily life. Each type of yoga is infused with breathing techniques and body movements that help you control feelings of discomfort. It’s a type of exercise designed to strengthen your mind, emotions, body, and spirit. As such, when you feel anxiety or depression seeping in, you have the strength, breathing techniques and tools to calm yourself down naturally.” Source: anxiety-gone.com/best-types-of-yoga-for-anxiety-and-depression/
For a Bible believing and born-again Christian, isn’t God is the best source for mental health? Stress, anxiety, and depression are not outside the healing power of God through the work of the Holy Spirit by praying and meditating upon the Word of God. Why do Christians seek help from Yoga? It activities physically and mentally represents a divine union with Hindu gods through special physical postures, mediating, breathing techniques, even praying with devotional songs (chanting and or singing bhajans).
Dr. Sean McDowell’s view on Yoga and the video about the practices of Western Yoga is flawed. He should have quoted the following Bible verses from 1 Cor. 10:18-24 “18 Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar? 19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we? 23 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” (NASB)
See Mr. Haniel Rameshbabu and Mr. Gary Smith’s comments previously.
Is Yoga Biblical? Does it have health benefits?
Watch this video:
th-cam.com/video/105hvczlfJk/w-d-xo.html
"So-called True God" could not come up with you Yoga, so Christians have to learn Yoga from pagans?
ओ काय् बूं एर्
Oh Jesus Supreme God of love please enlighten her from Christian Yoga to Yoga. She is trying so hard to convert Hindu Yoga into Christian Yoga just like they used pagan cultures to convert them as Christians. Because of these Christian missionaries lovely pagan culture got wiped out. Oh Jesus now please save the cultures of Africa from Christian missionaries. Oh God of God Jesus please help her and enlighten her from converting Hindu Yoga into Christianity. Oh Jesus you are the ultimate source love and divinity save her from her sins. She is doing blasphemy by doing Yoga. Oh Jesus she is doing exercise of non worshipers and ideal worshipers. Oh Jesus you are so great that she is feeling uncomfortable because of hindu Yoga. You are ultimate source of reality then why simple Yoga is threat for Jesus. Please enlighten her from unreal to real. I'm Hindu we have thousands of gods and I assimilated Jesus in us because one Jesus the ultimate source of love can't harm us one Jesus can't harm us because we have many gods 🙏. Please save her. Oh Jesus now she will convert Hindu Ayurveda, Hindu kama sutra, Hindu Vedas and Hindu natya etc into Christianity. 😂
We don't convert anyone . Hinduism is not a religion , it's a way of living
Mahadev bless you all 🙏
@@luckybaisoya961 OMG, you haven't heard about Christian missionaries 😂
I know brother , They don't understand (missionaries) People who are changing there religion for some money will change it again for money .
@@luckybaisoya961 White saviors destroyed the culture of Red Indians from America, Mauries from New Zealand, abnormal from Australia, African tribals. Now they are coming towards us.There should be diversity in world and it's there because of different cultures and tribes. If the world is following only one idea of God then the world will be boring and there will be conflicts. It's abrahmic religions problem not tribal cultures problem.
We have go to temple , God never ask for your prayers
If you religion is that great then why you convert people? People will come to you rather than forcefully converting people