Christian superstition

Dear editor:

Answer to yoga (quoted).

"Surely ... an exercise breathing relaxation program, which definitely has a Middle Eastern religious foundation (Hinduism), should have been absolutely shocking to the Christian community!" Why, Christians don't need to breathe or relax!

"Apparently it is not at all bothersome to all of you many, many Christians here in Hot Springs since there hasn't been a single letter protesting this very serious spiritual intrusion upon our young minds!" (Is a "spiritual intrusion" anything like demonic possession?) If young minds absorb yoga, is that sin?

"This is just another example of what will happen when God's people don't speak up or try to do anything about what is wrong!" Where does the Bible declare yoga a sin?

"There are physical body postures offered to the 330 million Hindu gods." Oh no! We need to get to know them to avoid them! What if we accidentally go into such an idolatrous posture while stretching our legs?

"Yoga postures really are offerings to the (false) gods." Will the right god receive the right posture?

"If you do those postures and do their breathing technique and their meditation, then you will be accepted by a god (little 'G'). That's the real danger!" Think of it! Some Christians kneel -- just like Muslims! Which deity will receive the prayer?

"In yoga, they do what they call pranayama breathing. Prana is the Hindu word for life force. Yoga breathing attempts to manipulate that life force energy, which Christians believe is perilous." Christians have no business being superstitious. They are allowed to breathe with force and energy.

"We are no match for the enemy (Satan) in those areas!" (Is he the new yoga instructor?)

"Satan is the prince of the power of the air. We are not just talking about oxygen!" (Is hot air sin?)

"A third area of concern in yoga is the concept of emptying the mind, which is contradictory to what Christianity teaches. The Bible teaches that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds, not the emptying." Is renewed clutter superior?

Yoga "could possibly cause many of our poor unsuspecting children to take the wrong path and go to hell for all eternity!" Damn!

While yoga words do contain religious ideas, one can easily refrain from the theology, and practice the exercises. Certain martial arts also had religious aspects; those aspects are not necessary. Yoga teaches a cultural set of benefits.

I greatly fear and believe the God of the Bible. Were I to be taught a skill by an instructor who believes another faith, I would never reject the skill because of faith; instead, I would appreciate that privilege.

"Christian" superstition has been the cause of so many slaughters. One who is born of God has no business being superstitious. Using "hallelujah" as an expletive is so wrong; I don't use it that way. In the same way, I can refrain from religious word usage in yoga. Adding to what the Bible says is sin IS sin!

James Wilson

Hot Springs

Editorial on 09/29/2014

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