| As Yoga has grown, outside of India, so have the | | | | pogroms, witch hunts, wars, and holocausts. |
| many contemporary styles. Among the contemporary | | | | Christianity is a living philosophy, based upon love, |
| styles is Christian Yoga. Just mentioning the words, | | | | peace, tolerance, forgiveness, equality, and inclusion. |
| Christian and Yoga in the same phrase, could start a | | | | The principles run parallel to Yogic philosophy. If you do |
| controversy, depending upon who is listening. | | | | not believe it, please take a look at Matthew 22:36-40. |
| Some fundamentalist Christians will state that Yoga | | | | Below are those five verses, according to the King |
| and meditation are evil. To go a bit further on this issue, | | | | James Version of the Holy Bible. |
| they point to the traditional roots of Yoga, in India, and | | | | 36: Master, which is the great commandment in the |
| the connection to Hindu beliefs. They claim that the | | | | law? |
| millions of Yoga practitioners in the world are being | | | | 37: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy |
| indoctrinated into the Hindu faith. | | | | God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all |
| Let's look at Christian meditation. This practice began | | | | thy mind. |
| when monks read from the scriptures. In fact, many | | | | 38: This is the first and great commandment. |
| ministers, monks, brothers, and priests, continue to | | | | 39: And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy |
| meditate. So, is meditation evil? | | | | neighbour as thyself. |
| Some point to the meaning of the word Yoga. Yuj is | | | | 40: On these two commandments hang all the law |
| the root word for Yoga, and there is a much deeper | | | | and the prophets. |
| meaning. The Yuj, or Yoke, was used to tie two wild | | | | A point worth mentioning: Love, peace, tolerance, |
| horses together to a chariot. To think about this a little | | | | forgiveness, equality, and inclusion, should be a part of |
| deeper, the Yuj held together two wild horses, a | | | | every religious leader's daily life. If you find yourself in |
| chariot, a driver, and an archer, to create an ancient | | | | the midst of intolerance and hate, you may want to |
| weapon, which worked in complete unison. | | | | consider going to a religious center, which is more in |
| Most often, you will hear Yoga means "union." In the | | | | line with your moral values. |
| spiritual sense, there is the union of your soul with God. | | | | On the other hand, if you suddenly find your Yoga |
| Now, is that evil? Most Christians are counting on | | | | class has turned into a cult following, and it is leading |
| seeing God in the after life. | | | | you away from God, you should also consider |
| Now, evil might be considered mischievous, morally | | | | changing your surroundings. |
| depraved, wicked, or vicious. Intolerance is not | | | | In our hearts, we feel right and wrong. In our minds, we |
| accepting or respecting different cultures, opinions, or | | | | know right from wrong. Anyone who teaches hate |
| practices. Intolerance often leads to hate crimes, | | | | and intolerance is a danger to the rest of the world. |