Yoga: New thing christians can't do

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WWMD? (What Would Moshe Do?)

Hindus can listen to Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" without hurting their faith even though its based on the Shaker hymn "Simple Gifts".

So why cant Christians do yoga?

As far as content goes, "Simple Gifts" is pretty empty. It might as well be a hippie folk song. And that's why. One of my pet peeves is so-called "Christian" music that is theologically so neutral it could be about anything. "In the Garden" is a great example. I've also heard "You Raise Me Up" in church many a time. I didn't always KNOW that it wasn't a Christian song, but I've always found the lyrics questionable and I've never liked it. It's when the scientologists got it that it finally hit home. If I hear a Christian radio station play it, I'll find a different station or turn it off. And I'd do the same if it were on a mainstream radio station as well, really just because I hate that song. It's just another "Wind Beneath My Wings."

The trouble is a lot of Christian artists come up with "inspirational" music, and I have no problem with that. I just have problems with Christian churches using that kind of music in a worship context. But the point just because a Christian came up with it or just because a Christian church uses it doesn't make it Christian. "Simple Gifts" is more of a proverb set to music than it is explicitly Christian. I don't know WHY someone of another faith would have a problem listening to "Inspirational" music as long as it's religiously neutral.

And being Christian doesn't make the artist's music Christian, either. Brooke Fraser is a Christian, but she's also gone on tours promoting her "secular" music. Enjoying Brooke Fraser's secular music doesn't somehow make you Christian for listening to it.

But if you listen to the music Brooke has done with Hillsong, there's going to be an obvious Christian angle to it. I would understand if people of other religions would find those songs problematic.

The problem with Christians vs. yoga has to do with wether or not yoga is explicitly a religious statement. If it is a religious expression that you can't somehow "Christianize," then it should be avoided because it suggests that Christians accept the religion it's based on.

Out of curiosity, are you yourself a devout Hindu, or are you speculating?

The pastor is correct in that yoga's spiritual side is incompatible with Christianity.

But just saying that and omitting that the guy is crazy does not do it justice. "incompatible with Christianity" is not the same as "demonic". Yoga's spiritual side is incompatible with Christianity but it is not a demonic conspiracy nor it summons devils.

I don't know whether this particular pastor is crazy or not; I've never met him.

Christianity's stance on idolatry is unambiguous. The 10 Commandments explicitly forbid worshiping other gods or bowing down before graven images. This is a mainstream Christian belief, not some fringe fundamentalist craziness.

The God of Fluffy Teddy Bears might not be a "demon" in the conventional sense of the word, but going to the Teddy Bear Ashram and prostrating yourself in the Honey-Gathering Pose ("this isn't what it looks like, Pastor, I was just stretching my body for the health benefits!") is, arguably, idolatry, and if so, would be incompatible with strict Christian beliefs.

For example: Every yoga class I've ever been to includes the Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskara, which is a prostration to the Hindu sun god. The Lotus and Natraj poses are explicitly associated with Lord Shiva. Various postures are named after the gods Hanuman, Vishnu, etc. And yoga classes often use religious chants and/or symbols such as "OM."

However it may be practiced in the West in 2011, Yoga originated as an Indian spiritual practice. I feel it is negligent and possibly harmful to claim to be a "yoga instructor" and lead students in the exercises without understanding the purpose behind the exercises and the mental/spiritual transformations that can occur. It was long understood that the physical exercises (asanas) were only a small part of the complete Yoga practice, but I fear this knowledge has been "lost in translation" in some cases. (There are still plenty of places in the USA and other western countries where one can study yoga with a competent and well-rounded teacher, thankfully.)

Last edited by mushroo on 07 Nov 2011, 1:52 pm, edited 2 times in total.

No, im not a devout hindu. Just speculating.
Just kinda throwing it out as a suggestion.

But anyone can look at christian inspired art like the Cistine chapel, or Handels Messiah, whether they are christian or not and be inspired and moved by it. I would think.

Or not.

It just seems to me that Yoga may have roots in Hinduism but like music and art inspired by any particular religion it may have taken on a life of its own seperate from that religion.

Its seems to me that Yoga has about as much to do with Hinduism as American rythmn and blues music has to do with Christianity.

R+B evolved out of Black Gospel music. And virtually every major figure in American soul and r+b music to this day got their start singing gospel in Black churches. Hindus, Muslims, etc,around the World all listen to American soul and R+B music. So why shouldnt christians do yoga?

But I could be wrong.
Anglrho got irked by the mere mention of "simple gifts" because the song is too universal and not theologically parochial and provincial enough for him.

Whatever.

But as an aside :


I read an article by an american reporter in India observing how the western fad of yoga has come back to India itsself. Young people in india are getting into yoga because its cool here in the West, but local muslims often consider it to be "too Hindu a thing for Muslims to be doing".

So I guess Jews, Muslims, and Christians, should all avoid yoga.

And Ill just admit to being wrong!

You might be overstating it somewhat. What irks me is that there has in the recent past a lot of universal themes cropping up in music used for church meetings. I'm not saying there's NO place for "neutral" music. I just think we need to be careful not to confuse Christian worship music with music that is merely "inspirational."

Keep in mind that the only reason I don't listen to mainstream popular styles is because I'm bored by them. If I have to listen to crap music, I owe it to myself to listen to something that is meaningful and relevant to me. Typically these days that means I have to be able to get into the lyrics since the musical content is, well...WHAT musical content? There's only just so much time in the day for 80s metal and Depeche Mode. It's in my best interest to be familiar with trends in Christian praise and worship music because, well, I work in church music. That doesn't mean I can't appreciate something like "Simple Gifts." It just means I don't think it works in a church context. The Shakers obviously might have argued otherwise, but all that means is we do not share the same theological convictions.

The way I resolve my issues with bad tracks is be diving deep into instrumental music, which is the bulk of what I do on my own. Without lyrics, you HAVE to make instrumental works interesting on their own, hence why it's a lot easier (in my opinion) to make instrumental works that people will listen to without selling out your artistic integrity (admittedly lacking in my handbell music, but only to take consideration of my and my partner's ability level--we're only beginners). So what irks me even more than "Simple Gifts" and neutral lyrics is the false idea that you can't write new instrumental music for sacred occasions without at least partially referencing old hymns. I have a sketch available in a different thread (art, writing, music forum) of the current piece we're learning, so it's a matter of finding a different way of connecting the piece with our Christmas program. I'm voting spoken word and/or a slideshow, but we're still a long way from that. If you're in a sacred context, neutrality=bad. If you're in the secular mainstream, "Jesus" (in a positive context)=worse than dropping f-bombs.