For many years my wife attended Yoga classes. She went because she felt it exercised her body and helped keep her in trim. And I have to admit that she has a beautifully slim figure. She stopped going because she preferred pilates, another form of gentle exercise which helps to keep her trim.
I will also state that my wife has no religious views. She was brought up C of E because that was where her parents went. We were married in her local parish church - mainly because that was what her parents wanted, not because we had strict views on making promises before God. She teaches in a C of E school - not because of her religious views but because it is local and it suits her. In short, my wife is a religious "don't know".
What is all this leading to? All will now be revealed.
The Reverend Derek Smith, a vicar at St Michael's Church, Melksham, Wiltshire, England, has told a local yoga group they are not welcome in the church hall.
Why? Because of the connections with the Hindu faith.
The vicar said that spiritual leaders in the East insisted that yoga was inseparable from Hindu devotional practice and therefore yoga was "un-Christian". Perhaps they do hold that belief. But practitioners in this country probably don't think that. I have no hard evidence but I would be prepared to wager that even most teachers of yoga in this country think first and foremost of the good that yoga can do for the body's fitness. Perhaps there doesn't have to be that religious link?
Ask most people who go to yoga classes in this country and they will tell you they go there to keep fit. To keep in trim. To keep healthy. Do most of them go to practise devotional exercises? The answer would be a resounding "no".
The Bible states that the body is a temple to God. As such we should look after it and keep it healthy. Yoga could help.
I wonder how fit Reverend gentleman is? He is reported to be 50 years old. Does he have a paunch that would benefit from some exercise? I don't know. I know one thing. His brain definitely needs exercise. If he thought before he talked he would realise that Jesus didn't discriminate about who he talked to. He taught us to love our neighbour. He taught us to turn the other cheek.
Hang on - Jesus is considered a prophet by the Muslim faith.
Should we ban Jesus from our churches because he is "un-Christian"?
Oh shit! This is getting out of hand . . .
Nuff said.
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1 comment:
i cannot stand religious intloerance...or just inolterance in general really, usually due to a coplete lack fo understand couple with a dash of ignorance. even if people do describe to the relgious connatations of yoga i dont realy see the problem either. are we not all welcome in gods kingdom? or at least in his house...
King James Bible John 14:2
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
hazzah!
Char
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