Quote from the WT, i.e. Yoga. Opinions?

by unique1 32 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Skeptic

  In view of its background, the answer would have to be no."

  Since almost everything comes from superstition and religion, that statement could be applied to anything, including the use of any man-made chemicals like household cleaners.

  When I bring that fact up with a JW, they say that it is a good thing the Society is "balanced". Translation: the Society uses the false religion card when it wants to, and uses "balance" when it needs to break its own rule.

  Funny, the Society will not allow Yoga even though Yoga is often just exercise or relaxation. Yet it will rent the YMCA to hold a District Assembly. Yeah, no hint of a religious connection with the Young Men's Christian Association.

  Richard
• 

  Billygoat

  I agree that yoga can be religious or not. But, even if I am setting out to perform yoga just for the physical benefits, it could lead to more than that, consciously or not.

  ANYTHING could lead to being religious - concious or not. Some people may think that daydreaming while driving on the interstate could leave their mind open for religious experiences or demon-possession. Watching a rated R movie could infilrate my brain and make me want to karate chop my neighbor with a baseball bat. Too many cult environments suggest that you could lose control over your thoughts and actions doing something specific, which I find ridiculous. It's just an opportunity for those people to NOT take responsibility for their actions, which is another typical cult behavior.

  Even the bible says to "meditate on the word", which means to focus, think, and ponder. Meditation is just a form of mental exercise, just like running or stair-stepping is for our bodies.
• 

  Billygoat

  Funny, the Society will not allow Yoga even though Yoga is often just exercise or relaxation. Yet it will rent the YMCA to hold a District Assembly. Yeah, no hint of a religious connection with the Young Men's Christian Association.

  Wow. Did this really happen? I positively cannot imagine them doing this. We weren't even allowed to have swim memberships there when I was a kid. How confusing!
• 

  MegaDude

  I agree that yoga can be religious or not. But, even if I am setting out to perform yoga just for the physical benefits, it could lead to more than that, consciously or not.

  Of course performing yoga just for physical benefits can lead to doing it as a spiritual practice. You have been told it can and you are suspicious it might happen. Because *your mind* is open to the possibility that you may view yoga differently in the future, you have made yourself influenced to that Watchtower belief. But it's your belief. Not mine. And there are plenty of people who don't view yoga spiritually. Others that do. You have to take responsibility for your thinking.
• 

  Skeptic

  But, even if I am setting out to perform yoga just for the physical benefits, it could lead to more than that, consciously or not.

  That is a line of reasoning that can be applied to anything. One can claim that a married man talking to a single woman "could lead to more than that, consciously or not". And one can point to many examples where that has happened. However, it would be nothing short of paranoia to say that a married man should not talk to a single woman.

  So the "slightly pregnant" analogy does not apply. If one wants to avoid all non-Christian influences, then one must stop the use of all man-made chemicals because chemistry has its roots in alchemy, or magic. Or that the use of our calendar could lead to worshipping false gods. Where does one stop?

  One stops where one wants too. A married man may end up committing adultery after talking to a woman, but chances are he will just end up with a nice conversation or a new friend. How far he goes is up to him, and is largely independent of the convesation he had. The same with Yoga or the marshall arts. How far one goes depends on the individual and not the yoga.

  Also, if someone takes yoga, and leaves Christianity, this is not a bad thing. It just means that Christianity did not mean that person's needs and they found something more suitable.

  Richard
• 

  rocketman

  While I appreciate both sides of this discussion, personally, for now, I would concur with Megadude, Skeptic and Billygoat. It seems to me that practically anything can be associated with religion if one goes back to take a look at its origins. Toasting with glasses, saying God bless you, throwing rice at weddings, and similar things are also 'forbidden' by jws, and yet today most people have no religious thoughts in mind when they do such things. It is also interesting that wearing wedding rings is okay by jw standards, and yet their use too can be traced back to their religious roots. So where does one draw a line? To me, this simply argues to the idea that individuals should be left to decide.
• 

  Skeptic

  Wow. Did this really happen? I positively cannot imagine them doing this. We weren't even allowed to have swim memberships there when I was a kid. How confusing!

  Yes, it did, Billygoat. It was a number of years ago. I either heard about it in the congregation or read an experience that mentioned it in the publications (a Yearbook??).

  I was shocked too, because previously I had heard counsel from the platform about not using the YMCA. Maybe the counsel was given because I was living at the YMCA at the time, waiting for my apartment to become available. Living at the Y was a very interesting experience.

  Richard
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  MegaDude

  If Buddists did situps, the Watchtower and fundy groups would be declaring the pagan dangers of situps.
• 

  Skeptic

  How confusing!

  Billygoat, I used to be confused about a lot of JW policies until I noticed a pattern:

  All policies are not based on morality, but on whether the Society gains in some way. Hence, the many double-standards. The rules are predictable if one looks for a gain or loss to the Society.

  Richard
• 

  Sara Annie

  I read the topic as "Re: Quote from the WT, i.e. Yoda. Opinions?"

  I was a little disappointed to find I was wrong, but the response about Yoga was just as hilarious as any I might have anticipated about a tiny green Jedi master.