Love Yourself

"I think it is fair to say there are negative connotations when it comes to mind and body in Protestant and other Christian teachings." i agree with this but if you read the bible you see that this isn't so much the case. yes, we struggle with sin but the bible states that your body is that temple of the spirit, i don't think that the Spirit would take up residence if it was as terrible as these teachings say our body's and minds are. I believe the Spirit lives in me and so i will take care of my body and mind keeping it healthy and free of the trash that is constantly trying to find it's way in.

"When the mind, body, and soul are balanced, we feel peace, which allows us to be fully aware of the goodness in ourselves." This may be the case but it's not necessary to do yoga to achieve peace. Philippians4:7 says"and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in CHRIST JESUS" go to the concordance at the back of the bible and look up PEACE, the bible has a lot to say about it(Jesus is call the Prince of Peace you don't have to go anywhere but to HIM for your peace. He wants you to be at peace)

"If all I can see when I look at myself is everything I am doing wrong, chances are that is what I will do when I look at others." I feel that this was taken from the teachings of the human heart. Sometimes people make mistakes and God asks you to ask for forgiveness and then he gives it to you, he no longer sees the sin or the bad or the gross things we have done so why do we hang on to them. I think that if you really understand that you are forgiven then you can begin to forgive those around you and not hold onto the flaws of everyone around you. God does not want you to feel bad about yourself or hate yourself. He loves us more than we can fathom and i truly believe that if you do feel these things then you should draw closer to HIM and His word so that He can tell you how wonderful you are. You should also read Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller if you haven't already he talks about the potential God sees in us and how we shouldn't put ourselves and others down.

when i read this i see a lot of misconceptions about following Jesus and what that means. I think that if you really want to know what it means to follow Jesus Christ then you need to get your hands on a bible and read and question and pray and read and question because i know that God is big and isn't scared of doubts and question. I don't think that He wants us to blindly accept what preachers and priests and anyone else has to say about Him he wants you to hear it straight from Him. Matthew 7:15-16 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits"

Matthew 22:37-40 "Jesus replied love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. all the law and the prophets hang on these two commands."

if anyone would like to talk more email me bnicol3m@yahoo.com

Standing ovation from me Brittany - thanks for putting in to words what I was thinking, but couldn't put words to myself.

"the divine in me honors and respects the divine within you"

Much in this article gives the reader a sense of knowledge and peace. It strikes that deep desire within us to "know ourselves" and to accept ourselves as good, decent people. Then we can accept others as the same. But...by signing it this way I came away with a sense that there is something not quite right here. I thought, 'What in the world could that mean?" And then this thought came to me. I can't imagine Christ ever saying something like this to any of His disciples. I believe that Scripture teaches me that it is easy to love someone who loves you back. Someone who has "divinity" in them. Someone "worth" loving. But Scripture goes on to tell us that we are called to understand and accept that others, like ourselves, are sinners and we love them and ourselves by the strength of the Holy Spirit because He loved us first. Not because they or I deserve it. But, quite possibly, the author meant that we are all created in His image and therefore need to be respected. If that is the purpose, I think I might not be quite so wary. Then again...There's something about that sentence that gives me a strange feeling. Am I missing something?

I agree with your thoughts, Kent, especially that you'd be wary of this article. There's something about it that doesn't register with me, either, but I liked that about it, that it would prompt me to think about this.

I don't think ending the article with 'Namaste' (the divine in me honors the divine in you) should be too much of a stumbling block for us if we realize that everyone (whether Christ-followers or not) have an element of the image of God. In other words, there are things about you that reveal God in a unique and powerful way. Because God's Spirit is at work in me, I recognize him at work in you, and I choose to honor that.

I've studied Buddhism and found it to be lacking; however, all truth comes from God, and the fact that we need to live a life that values the mind, body, and spirit God gave us is always true, even if it is realized through the practice of yoga.

Sometimes it seems that our fear of being led into error drives us more than our confidence that God will lead us into all truth. Paul told us that God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, so if fear is driving us, this is something we need to identify and address.

Thank you, Brenda, for sharing with us the powerful realization you've made.

Namaste

"Sometimes it seems that our fear of being led into error drives us more than our confidence that God will lead us into all truth."

This was said very, very well.

Brittany,

It is great that you have come to all these conclusions by simply reading your Bible. They are the same ideas that I feel are so important in the Christian lifestyle. However, many people are not following them. They do not take care of their bodies, live in peace, or forgive others. The version of Christianity I was taught growing up focused on rules and negativity, not peace and balance. Learning true Christianity has been a process and a journey that I am nowhere close to completing. Yoga has been one of the paths that has helped me.

"...all truth comes from God, and the fact that we need to live a life that values the mind, body, and spirit God gave us is always true, even if it is realized through the practice of yoga."

Thank you for putting this so well, Randy!!

Kent,

Namaste is an eastern phrase that is thousands of years old. It is difficult to translate something like that to our modern western culture. I chose to end my article with it because to me it is a salutation of deep respect that encompasses my newfound revelation that I can accept myself and others as "good, decent people."

Hello,
My name is Christie. Please be patient as I try to share a small portion of an experience I had in 2004.
I met an estranged friend of the family named Bob, at about that time. He had traveled to India and became a good friend to a very popular individual in India. He had few friends here and while he and I worked side by side with a very large project for several months he told me many stories of his time in India. Bob interjected the number "3" in much of his stories. He was very kind, gentle, thoughtful, practice yoga extensively as he learned that too from the individual in India. One day however I heard "pop". Energies began to flow around me and I was thrust into a hell beyond anything I had ever heard existed. Bob called it Middle East justice. For months I was punished with mental attacks in a demonic realm set in motion by Bob who learned it in India.
The name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, when I called out to Him, God saved me.
This is all too brief. I am currently seeking a publisher to help detail my story to the world. There is so much out there that Americans have no idea exists.
God led me to the book of the occult where yoga is a tool used to open what called the chakra system. It also prepares the mind for meditation. It is no mistake that Psalms 1 talks of "Meditate on Me always". Open meditation could create danger if the mind is ungarded to those like Bob who know how to 'reach you'.
The Bible continually warns us to be very careful not to be deceived. I didn't know this at the time I was snared. Bob says many who go through this "awakening" he also called it. Either go crazy or kill themselves. (to give you a hint of how horrific the hell was)
We just don't understand the spiritual world.
I was trying to be compassionate as the Christian I was always taught to be. I didn't realize that the Bible says to fear only Me. and that fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
There is only one God and you only get to the Father through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
I don't mean to seem harsh in this firm stance of Jesus Christ in this comment. It's just that there are those who Bob is currently snaring as I write and I don't want to see one more person taken.
Please, Bob talked of the Bible often. I thought he was a Christian and caring man. Unfortunately the enemy knows the Truth better then those who say they follow it. Please KNOW the Bible. Check everything and everyone against it. It's your own responsibility to know what God truly intended for you. Trust no one but God. And I'm sorry, to the open minded, I once was too but now I KNOW there is no other and I won't be fooled again. Call on Jesus Christ. Many Christians have failed, many non-Christian too. The Bible says none, not one is worthy but only through the blood of Jesus Christ are we saved.
I had tons of 'energy'. The type of energy that yoga messes with. Not the kind of energy that human minds understand. I told Bob I was going for a full body baptism to get rid of it. I knew it was dark. I told Bob that there was something very special about the name of Jesus, my heart just knew it. Bob said no. That it was through the energy that he got his powers.
I don't associate with him any more. I pray for him always.
The energy purposely confuses the mind. The confusion can almost be felt, it's so strong.
I met a woman who know of this too but she quit talking with me when she knew that at that time I was still feeling the energy. She knew to get away from me and as she should.
The Bible warns in Ephesian 6:10 of the warfare. I didn't know that either. There was so much I didn't know and yet I was going to a Christian church and reading the Bible at the time I was snared by Bob and his Middle East justice.
Please know your Bible. Take it very seriously. More and more of us are going to be snared if we don't wake up now as the Bible tells us to wake up.
Finally, (I know this is long but you have no idea of this truth and all the details I could share) Psalm 55
"He act violently against those at peace with him; he violates his covenant. His buttery words are smooth, but war is in his hear. His words are softer than oil, but they are drawn swords. Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will support you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
I guess I wasn't as righteous as I had hoped I was back then. Are you ready for those who practice the 'magical arts' without your knowing it? Revelations warns us of the dogs who practice the magical arts.

I don't know you but I imagine I love you all,
Please do be very, very careful.
Satan only wants to hurt what God loves and that is YOU.
Yours In Christ Jesus, a True Love,
Christie

I'm going to have to agree with Brittay, Kent and Christie on this one. None of what was espoused in the article falls in line with the teachings of the Bible. When I see someone refer to the "divine within", it's usually referring to us as gods. Nowhere in the scripture does it say we will be divine. We are created in God's image, but we are not, nor will we ever be gods.

Those of you who express concerns about error ou are absolutely correct in asserting the truth of spiritual warfare and the deceitfulness of our enemy. He uses many approaches to snare us, including an appeal to our desire to be open-minded. This is why I began exploring Buddhism in the first place. Eventually I came to the conclusion that despite the fact that I found some truth in the system, there were many things which I knew were difficult to reconcile with what I have known and experienced in Christ. That is why I left Buddhist practice behind.

In defense of Brenda, however, I have to add that there are many different forms of yoga. Some are of the nature Christie described, created specifically as pathways to ungodly spiritual energies and powers. However, there are other forms that merely bring the practitioner's awareness into the present moment, enabling them to identify and release negative attitudes and emotions in favor of positive ones.

Yoga of the second type is not specifically religious, and it seems this is the form Brenda practices.

On a similar note, there are many translations of the word 'Namaste' since it isn't easily expressed in English. It is also translated, "The Spirit in me honors the Spirit in you," and "the Holy One in me honors the Holy One in you." 'Namaste' as Brenda used it is not a statement of personal divinity. It is a statement of respect and honor used even in the Christian churches of India and the Indian subcontinent. Since they understand well the potential implications of the word, I defer to their judgment on the matter.

My point is this: run as hard and as fast as you can away from what leads you away from Christ. But don't leap to conclusions about issues that are deeper and more varied than you might assume at first glance, particularly if you haven't investigated them before.

Brenda

I enjoyed your article and admire your courage to speak about topics that cause such a strong reaction. Out of all the people who responded, I wonder how many of them have actually tried or attempted yoga? I suppose I would have responded with such dogmatic criticisms before I took part as well. However, a bunch of my teacher friends and I would participate in yoga, and I found it incredibly rejuvenating. In fact, I started skipping our morning prayer groups because I was getting so much out of the yoga. Your statement about the divine in your saluting the divine in me, I'm so confused as to why people can't wrap their heads around that. Regardless of religion, color, sex, etc... we all have a spark of the divine simply because all human being were created in the image of God. No, we aren't God himself, but ALL of humanity shares this spark of God. Unfortunately, lot's of christians give me a feeling they would love to exclude others from this inherent truth.

Caleb

Just wanted to call attention to man's original innocence. Before man broke covenant with God, he was already body, mind, soul and spirit -- and he was originally good. Everything about us was originally good, and that was God's original design. I don't know that much about the Protestant view. But as Catholics, we believe in man's original innocence, and in the fact that in Christ it is restored.

Recommended reading is John Paul II's Theology of the Body at http://ewtn.com's library.

Brittany,

I think the point of this submission is that yoga for her and many others is a means to receiving the peace of Jesus in the heart, body and mind. It may not be for everyone, but if it brings someone closer to Christ than how is it wrong. In my experience simply reading the Bible doesn't automatically guarantee that I will choose peace or to love myself and others as I should. But it comes through many different avenues and usually through walking it out in daily life. It may different for you and that's okay.

Thanks for this article and for the discussion that it has spurred.

Namaste.

If you only knew the Truth.

Christy

"-The narrow and wide gates-
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."-Matthew 7:13-14

"Thomas said to Him, 'Lord we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?' Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'"-John 14:6

whoever posted the last comment:

Give me a break. Yoga is not the "narrow gate" and I think questioning Brenda's salvation crosses the line. I allowed that comment to post, but it frankly makes me angry. I may be reading it the wrong way, but I doubt it.

My mom practices yoga. She's a pretty awesome lady, I bet you'd like her. She once said to me that she was a little nervous about the spiritual aspect of it, but she's a smart woman. She chooses to spend her time at yoga focusing on images of Christ's return, and Scripture. I think that's pretty cool. One of these days I'll join her, and work the stress out of my body AND my spirit by practicing yoga and talking to Jesus.

To place this in context, the yoga she does is the second type that Randy talked about - physical yoga. She wouldn't have stuck around for the first type. And for further context, the only yoga I've ever done has been Power Yoga on VHS. Oh yeah.

Is yoga a stumbling block?

Randy, if a leg of dog is separated from the dog is it still not some part of the dog? It does not become a birds foot does it? Yoga is what it is no matter how you try to separate it. I wish I could agree with you as I'm not comfortable with disagreement personally it's just that...well...read on please.

Wouldn't we best consider 1Corinthians 8 perhaps:

As Christians perhaps we would be better at "leading in Christ"?
As the stumbling block I'd mentioned, well, for the faiths that do not acknowledge Jesus Christ yet as their Lord and Savior where yoga is used as a 'spiritual tool" are we not then too 'eating foods offered to idols".
1Corinthians8:11 "then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died is ruined by your knowledge"

It's why I don't do yoga anymore even if there were a safe one. It wouldn't be safe to confuse others.

I knew "Bob", the man I mentioned in my previous comment above, was taught yoga by the man who eventually snared him in India, well.. although Bob was in the very process of snaring me he tried to warn me not to do it I didn't listen. I wish so much I listened now.
I had no idea such things existed and I am very concerned for our children.
You need to understand that the darkness does not separate itself from other forms of yoga.
My previous comment is not an opinion it is an actual life memory.
If you are a believer of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior I urge you to move away from the 'yoga match'. What you gain is NOTHING in comparison to what you may loose.
It happens in an instant.
Believe me, you get no warnings.
as Bob said "In their innocence they will be taken knowing and unknowingly, willingly and unwillingly".
Please consider walking, praying, journaling, square dancing, etc.

If for no other reason I urge you to stay away from yoga out of compassion for someone else if not for yourself.
What you don't know could kill you.

Bob's former wife. One who was also snared and was taught yoga in India too thirty years ago. I can tell you she's a lovely person. Bobs nice too. I like them both. They are warm loving people. They are both currently attending Catholic church. It's the church that honors Mary and Saints as they do too. Neither will acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior although I can see that they both long to be freed from this snare that has them. It's especially evident in his former wife. This "thing" once it snares you it really has you. Bob warned me that he couldn't get out. I don't know why.
I thank God everyday that He accepted me back and loosed the energy from me. I wonder sometimes why I was spared and Bob and his former wife are still snared.
God knows why. I can only stand in absolute gratitude.
The energies do vicious, tormenting things to them. This "thing" I'm trying to say to you PLEASE HEAR ME is real.
Some how yoga is used in it.
To Brenda and all of you please KNOW this is not an opinion. It is fact and others are living with their mistake.
It's not a matter of argument, opinion, ideas. I don't have to be right but one can hardly afford to be wrong in this matter. Lives are at risk. Mine was and Bob warned me that if this 'thing' gets you you may go mad or kill yourself.
Yoga? It's not worth it.
I know God doesn't want us to argue and so I won't be visiting any further. I've shared what I know and working out our salvation with God is up to each one of us individually.
I believe in One God and I know now that how I conduct myself is a witness to others. What we DO is important to not only yourself but to those watching you.
I didn't listen when Bob warned me. If you choose to continue yoga and other practices of non-Christians and should you find yourself snared.
Call on the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and earnestly pray continually.
Blessings in Jesus Christ
what a wonderful God!!
Thank you Lord for this opportunity to share with you all.
Christie

I've actually enjoyed very much this dialog and have gained a much wider view of Yoga thanks to all who have posted. Specifically, what I have enjoyed is hearing your feeling and thoughts on the topic, even your own experiences and your friends and families experiences. I'm not the one who runs this blog, so I have no right telling one what they can or can't write, but please refrain from anonymously quoting scripture at people, without stating how you feel about the topic and how it applies to your life. If I want to know what scripture says, I'll pick up the bible. We are people who are to think, not regurgitate scripture when faced with opposing viewpoints.

Caleb

Caleb,
was it not Christ Himself who quoted scripture to Satan when he was tempted? he didn't explain it Matthew4:1-11

anyway i was not trying to say anything about salvation. it's not for anyone to say who is saved and who isn't. I believe that is for God to decide Matthew 7:21-23.

Jordan,
i know that yoga is not the "narrow gate" i would say that it is part of the "wide gate". what i was trying to say is that yoga is deeply rooted in Buddhism and Hinduism which are obviously not Christ centered and that you shouldn't nor do you need to go down other paths to get to Him because there is only one way to Him (see the pervious post).

Christ said "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. for everyone who asks recives,and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."-Matthew 7:7-12 Christ will give you all that you need you don't need to go to other religions to find ways to get peace or learn how to love your self even if you do say that it isn't apart of that religion anymore i still think that it has close enough ties to pose a very real threat even if not for you but for others as Christy stated.

In closing i have greatly enjoyed talking about this with all of you and am deeply sorry for the confusion. i do not say these things to offend but out of love for you my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

I think something vital is missing from this discussion. That being that meditation and contemplation have been practiced by Christians since the early church. Look up the term "lectio divinae". It's basically Christian yoga for the non-flexible. Its practice helps center a persons thoughts on the divine, being the Jesus of scripture, and through the leading of the Spirit of God, some intense revelation/ introspection/conviction can/does/probably will/ occur.

The arguement that yoga is inherently dangerous or evil because of one's personal experience is absurd. That same logic could be applied to the consumtion of alcohal... Example:
I now a guy who drank too much not knowing his own limit and was "overcome" by a necessity to purge, and "snared" by a toilet for a few hours. (He has since repented). But I also know hundreds of people, like myself, who knowing our limitations, and responsibility as followers of Christ to avoid drunkeness, engage in life changing and worshipful interactions with others over a pint or two.
If yoga can draw someone closer to our saviour, what is the issue? Is it jealousy that their experience was a righteous and rewarding one?
Concern is valid- I warn my friends not to drink too much all of the time... but I dont plead with them to stay away from a pub- if anything the pub is where Christians should be. And, if Jesus is known and loved and experienced through the practice of Yoga by those who are following Him- I might be buying some spandex and a roll-up yoga mat sometime quite soon.

My heart is this:
Maybe the practice of yoga is another thing which, taken to far, can be harmful... as was Christie's case. But maybe yoga, like drinking, can be an experience that is redeemed by Jesus and used to bring Him Glory.
Personally, I'm down with both... maybe not at the same time though, and only in moderation. ; )

Patrick,

Definitely save the drinks for after yoga class. :)

Caleb,

Thanks for the encouragement. I think it is important for Christians to discuss things like yoga so they can better understand it and others.

Christy,

I believe there is an aspect of the spiritual that we do not fully understand. It is always important to use discernment. However, I do not think God is trying to trick us. If we are truly seeking "Truth", I believe we will find it.

Thank you all for your input. I have thoroughly enjoyed this discussion, as well.

Brenda,

I would encourage you that when it comes to defending something you believe in dearly that coming out immediately on the offensive against an unrelated topic only exposes the inherent weakness of your position. I�m not going to pick apart your entire article, but I just want to show you that in what likely was an attempt to write something that flowed really well you may have spoken against some of the core tenets of your own faith. Unlike you, there are billions of people out there who don�t know Jesus and I promise they don�t need to learn inner balance and peace, they need to learn that they are really depraved people and that they are sinners and need a savior. For this I am very happy that the �Protestant teachings� you attacked in the first paragraph are in fact very defendable.

1. The body is filled with evil desires. �For I know that nothing good dwells in me�� (Romans 7:18)

2. These evil desires must be subdued. ��and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.� (2 Corinthians 10: 5)

3. The mind is lying in wait to trick one into believing false doctrines. "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?� (Jeremiah 17:9)

Ok so not the mind, but the heart, the heart is extremely deceitful and I wouldn�t put it past my heart to trick me into believing a false doctrine based on this verse. In the end, yes, something in us is lying in wait that can indeed deceive us. I agree that we shouldn�t beat ourselves up over the sin condition of our flesh all the time and continually live in legalism, but it takes a mournful spirit to confess that you need a savior in the first place, and remember that �the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ,� not inner balance and peace. Be careful when you preach Yoga.

Joe

Joseph,

I think most people would agree Brenda is not "preaching yoga".

I'd point out the most effective way to "take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ" would be meditating on who he is, spending time in prayer with Him and reading His word. Yoga, for Brenda, is part of that.

You're also really twisting your third verse around...we've talked before about false doctrines, but we also trust God will guide us in that, not avoiding anything that looks like a different religion.

I don't know, I'm not sure comparing yoga to alcohol makes sense in this situation. Over-indulging and messing around in occult-related practices are two very different things. A little alcohol isn't evil; a little occultism IS. Having a beer in a bar is different from participating in the rituals of another religion. Christie's arguing that yoga practice, she's found, is inherently evil and dangerous. It doesn't make sense to counter it by making a comparison that just illustrates a completely different viewpoint without addressing directly anything about the inherent nature of the thing, just an analogy that springs from it. I'm sorry if I sound argumentative; I don't mean to, I just thought it was an important thing to point out.

I used to do yoga; I quit because I felt kind of funny about it, but I never had anything terrible and obviously connected happen to me like Christie experienced. It's tough to navigate, and there's so much we just don't, can't, and/or shouldn't know about. This one drives me, personally, to my wits' end, because both sides make a certain amount of sense. I'm glad God protects us (Psalm 121:7) and grants us wisdom when we ask Him (James 1:5). Otherwise, it'd scare the willies out of me. =]

Jordan,

I agree with you on your second point, except it is not apparent that the author supports subduing evil desires from this article. That was my original argument, and it is not related to the author's choice to practice Yoga.

On the verse about the heart, I would be careful to say it doesn't relate. The heart is powerful and it continually influences the mind. The Bible also says to "lean not on your own understanding?" Why? probably because we are could easily deceive ourselves.

In regard to false doctrines, I wouldn't say that I worry about whether Yoga appears to be a different "religion," but I do believe in spiritual warfare and I do not question Christie's account of her experience. My brother lives in India and he sees that kind of spiritual oppression all the time and he has specifically warned me not to practice Yoga or to get near it.

It's not my business whether Brenda or anybody else chooses to do Yoga but when I come to a website like this that is written by people who believe in Jesus then I'm not afraid to say that this article disturbs me. I'm all about dropping religious pretenses and big words like "Protestant," but sometimes it feels like you guys are trying to make our faith fit into a sort of trendy mold by cussing and writing about stuff like Yoga and how it improves your relationship with Jesus.

If you really want to test the legitimacy of some sort of practice then go back its roots. Check out the wikipedia article on Yoga and you will have no further doubts as to where this practice came from. This is no stretching exercise.

Brenda, you and most of the other people on this site will probably laugh at this, but I am genuinely believe that you are leading people down the wrong path and I am not trying to prove that Yoga is not a cool experience. Just remember that when Eve tasted the apple it must have tasted pretty good because she handed it to Adam to try out as well. "It doesn't matter what tree it came from," she probably told him, "It's just fruit, it's nutritious, and it tastes so good!"

Joseph

Joseph,

Good points...my brother lived in Nepal for two years and had similar concerns about the article. I do think there could be negative effects to focusing on Eastern Mysticism (or even to on Western free market capitalism for that matter).

Ultimately, though, it's about how your heart is situated when practicing almost anything, be it yoga. Yoga is an exercise, and maybe it's roots were in something un-Christian, but so were the roots of basketball (the Aztec sport of ulama, where the losers were ritually sacrificed). The original dates for Christmas and Easter are pagan, but that doesn't stop me from celebrating the birth of Jesus on December 25th.

And if Brenda uses her time in various contorted positions to focus on Christ, pray and recite some Bible verses, I have a hard time believing it will be on her list of sins in God's eyes.

Randy said it best in an earlier comment, "Sometimes it seems that our fear of being led into error drives us more than our confidence that God will lead us into all truth." Couldn't Brenda share openly with a Hindu about yoga, and how she used the time to pray and focus on the one true God?

Again, though, I can understand the concern, and I respect M (comment above) for responding to his/her strange feelings about the experience. I'm not being relative...maybe the spirituality around M's situation was darker.

As for being cool...I don't know what to tell you about that, but if you knew us (at least the editors) you'd know we're not very cool at all. Our hair isn't even spiky.

Jordan,

I read your post about the beliefs of burnside and I'll have to say that I'm honored to have had a debate with you about Yoga, or whatever, regardless of whether or not your hair is spiky; however, I am still not cool with man-boobs and hairy chests since one time I was told by a girl in school that I should stop running without my shirt on and she had this embarrassed look on her face like I was missing something really obvious. I thought about telling her I wouldn't mind if she ran with her shirt off but then I caught myself and just stared at the ground.

That is really interesting about basketball, maybe they could add that back in to the NBA generate a little extra hype you know, not for the regular season games or anything but a few ritual sacrifices here and there in the post season would really spice things up.

I can see it now...the Dennis Rodman and Jerry Springer post game ritual sacrifice show! ...Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!

Alright well in all seriousness thanks to everyone for the insight here, I think I learned something from reading all this discussion and at least now I can say that I am familiar with the other side of the argument surrounding Yoga. I don't like it, but that's more my opinion than anything else, and I don't claim to be the source of any sort of Truth.

Man- I think it's kind of sad that this much contraversy can spon from something as simple as yoga- it is a more spiritual experience for Brenda(and myself) and it's not for the judgement of the rest to try and pick apart...goodness it hurts my head(rationally) to try and understand some of these persepectives. I do believe in Christ, if you had your doubts- It was an excellent-amazing and inspiring post for me-and i wish some could just take a deep breath and stop always trying to be God's gatekeeper-
best
and
namaste