Guest guest Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 Christian yoga opens the door to some who are wary of the ancient Hindu practice. The Hindu practice of yoga - spiritual meditation through physical exercise - is booming. But not everyone finds it spiritually compatible - some Christians have long resisted the tradition with its overtones of mysticism. In Mobile, Alabama, Susan Bordenkircher was one of those people until the exercise teacher and United Methodist took her first yoga class and fell in love with the practice. Since then, she overcame her theological conflicts and produced two videos about Christian yoga. Bordenkircher disagreed with the emphasis on finding divinity in oneself and achieving a higher level of spirituality by oneself espoused in some yoga classes. She says that's God's doing. However, Bordenkircher says the movement and rhythm of hatha (physical) yoga made her more centered and reflective and more able to pray. Hindus strive for wisdom, knowledge and inner concentration, which clearly overlap with Christian goals, Bordenkircher says. "My feeling was it's worked for them, why shouldn't we be able to do that?" she says. So Bordenkircher combined poses with Christian references. During the warrior pose, she talks about breathing in the Holy Spirit. She relates the child's pose to being at peace with God. And the balance poses are about finding spiritual balance. "If it feels good for your body and soul, you should do it." Dr. K.L. Seshagiri Rao, editor of the "Encyclopedia of Hinduism," says some Christians think doing yoga will turn them into Hindus or fear yoga will cause them to question their religious beliefs. Rao says yoga means "joining" or "yoking" – whether it is the body to the mind, the individual to the universe or the soul to God. Aspects of yoga, like breathing control, also help people control impulses like rage, revenge and lust. Such control enables them to become better people. "The more Christians practice yoga, the better for all concerned," Rao says. Yoga can be beneficial to everyone, no matter what religion they are, he says. "Call it whatever you want," says Rao. "Let us leave it in the hands of God." But Dr. Russell Bush, academic vice president at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, says Christian yoga is a superficial connection and a form of syncretism, or the combination of two different beliefs. If such trends continue Christianity will lose its distinguishing features, he says. Yoga is incompatible with Christianity because it means attaining a meditative state, which empties the mind, whereas Christian prayer is a conscious interchange with God, he says. Furthermore, yoga is intended for people to transcend the world around them, whereas Christians are supposed to be present in the world and not ignore it, Bush says. While he is not against people learning more about other religions – and does not believe yoga is an evil practice – Bush cautions against doing yoga in case participants get heavily involved and leave Christianity behind. "People tend to shift in their own thinking depending on who they're around. That's why we say Christians should go to church and be around other Christians," Bush says. CONTACTS Dr. K.L. Seshagiri Rao: Chief Editor "Encyclopedia of Hinduism" University of South Carolina-Columbia 937 Assembly St., Suite 1018 Carolina Plaza Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 777-7834 Dr. Russell Bush: Academic Vice President Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary 100 North Wingate Street Wake Forest, NC 27587 Phone: (919) 556-3101 Susan Bordenkircher: Christian yoga instructor Jubilee Shores United Methodist Church 17261 County Road 27 Fairhope, Alabama Phone: (251) 928-9133 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2007 Report Share Posted January 25, 2007 hinducivilization, "Vrndavan Parker" <vrnparker wrote: I like that term "HINDU CHRIST" Funny if you break it down the word Christ might actaully be closer to Sanskrt than the word Hindu. I wonder if anyone agrees with that.(note:Im not sayin it is, im saying it might be.) hinducivilization, "S Sampath" <sampath_srinivasaraghavan@> wrote: > > I have sent this mail to 'christian yoga' > > Dear Ms. Susan, > > I have seen your web site and glad to note that you have benefited > from the practice of yoga and are keen to propagate it to others > interested in improving their physical and spiritual health. > > You must have learnt that Yoga is of Hindu origin and has spiritual > sanction as one of the methods (though not high in the hierarchy) for > God realization. I am sure you will appraise your students the > background and history of yoga, and the book in Sanskrit by yogi > Patanjali. > > Christian yoga has as much truth and validity as Hindu Christ. > Hinduism is a religion which respects all religions and does not > appropriate the teachings of other saints and preachers. > > Yours sincerely, > > Sampath > > hinducivilization, "Gautam Jayaswal" > <outsource@> wrote: > > > > http://www.christianyoga.us/contact.htm - check out this > website, These > > people are pushing Christian Yoga, what a laugh. > > > > > > > > Please all of you, send them emails, you can copy and paste my email > below > > with any modifications.kill them with kindness > > > > > > > > Email address : gsbordenkircher@ for Susan Bordenkircher , Tel > > (251)621-6733 > > > > With cc to swinston@ for Suzanne Winston , Tel (251)990-2480 > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- -------- > > --------- > > > > > > > > Dear Susan, > > > > > > > > RE: Christian Yoga > > > > > > > > The Hindu American community is extremely excited about your > christian Yoga > > series, and we want to show our appreciation. > > > > > > > > Basically, we are using your videos in introducing christians to > Hinduism > > thru the back door. Hers's how we do it - from "christian" Yoga to > Yoga and > > then soon thereafter converting them to Hinduism. > > > > > > > > As you know Hinduism is the fastest growing religion in the USA, it > is the > > world's oldest religion and the greatest. It is the only complete > religion > > and the only one which has all the answers. We have over 700 > temples in the > > USA already. > > > > > > > > Yoga is Hindu philosophy and your christian Yoga helps us in slowly > > introducing our christian brothers and sisters to Hinduism and in > ultimately > > saving their souls. > > > > > > > > Thank you once again for helping us out. You are a God send to the > Hindu > > community. > > > > > > > > Would you be interested in speaking engagements before the Hindu > American > > community in the major metro cities. Please let us know. > > > > > > > > Praise to Brahman, the Supreme Being and the Only True God. > > > > > > > > Sincerely, > > > > > > > > xxxxxxxx > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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