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(Greek Reporter) - Ahead of International Day of Yoga, as designated by the United Nations, the Greek Orthodox Church in Greece has lashed out at the popular relaxation and exercise.
The Holy Synod, the Greek Orthodox Church’s governing body in Athens, denounced yoga, saying it is “incompatible” with the Christian faith.
According to a statement issued by the synod, yoga is a fundamental part of the Hindu religion and is by no standards “a form of exercise.”
“For this reason, yoga is totally incompatible with our Christian Orthodox faith and it has no place in the life of Christians,” the statement said.
International Day of Yoga was introduced last year by the United Nations on a proposal by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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Well, I understand the caution behind this pronouncement, but the simple fact is that there is Yoga, and their is yoga. The first is a real religion incompatible with Christianity. The second is an eponymous exercise dvd that uses poses that may have no intrinsic esoteric meaning even if they are derivative. Actually, most of them have similar correspondents in western "gymnasium".
ReplyDeleteMy wife is an Orthodox Christian. We like to make fun of the poses she strikes when she follows makes use of her "yoga" excercise DVD. I'd like to see some fat, bearded, greek bishop try to explain to her how her posing "downward facing dog" has something to do with her Christianity and Salvation. I will bring the chair and popcorn...;)
Unfortunately, the Greek Church appears to not be making or getting the distinction.
Bravo! The poses and exercises cannot be separated from the Hindu spirituality....no matter how one tries to justify it. Be watchful!
ReplyDelete"The poses and exercises cannot be separated from the Hindu spirituality"
DeleteI wish it were that simple (i.e. simplistic). Then, all we would have to do to make Christians of anyone and everyone is to teach them to make the sign of the cross (because obviously the sign of the cross "cannot be separated from Christian spirituality"). We would not have to worry about their actual belief, the state of their heart, acesis, sacraments and Church life, and all that stuff that, you know, we actually do...
"The poses and exercises cannot be separated from the Hindu spirituality"
DeleteI wish it were that simple (i.e. simplistic). Then, all we would have to do to make Christians of anyone and everyone is to teach them to make the sign of the cross (because obviously the sign of the cross "cannot be separated from Christian spirituality"). We would not have to worry about their actual belief, the state of their heart, acesis, sacraments and Church life, and all that stuff that, you know, we actually do...
I think the Orthodox Church of Greece is prudent to be negative in this matter. She realizes that many participants in yoga will not make the necessary distinction between yoga as an integrated system and the various poses of yoga used as a form of exercise. Taken individually, the yoga poses can be helpful for physical fitness. But, I imagine that many yoga teaching facilities treat yoga as more than just bodily movements for physical health. Even if Hindu false gods are not mentioned, certain Hindu presuppositions may be passed on during a yoga session.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, even if yoga can be Christianized, there is the danger that yoga will become regarded as a spiritual discipline. The Catholic Church of Rome warned about adopting various new age and far-eastern forms of bodily movements because while many of the individual movements of yoga may not be bad in themselves (albeit some may indeed be lewd hence sinful) Christians may develop a perverse mentality that substitutes authentic prayer with yoga meditation, or emphasizes feelings and bodily experiences at the expense of moral ascetical efforts and the sacramental life of grace. The Church must protect the faithful from syncretism and the adoption of pagan philosophies behind such disciplines as yoga.