September 1, 2007...10:47 am
Christian Taliban
According to CNN IBN-
” Two vicars in England have refused to allow yoga classes in their churches saying the ancient exercise method is un-Christian.The Silver Street Baptist Church and the St James’s Anglican Church in Taunton, Somerset, turned down Yoga instructor Louise Woodcock’s request to allow her to organise yoga classes in their churches for children.”
The insructor tried to explain that her yoga is a completely non-religious activity. Some types of adult yoga are based on Hindu and Buddhist meditation but it’s not a part of the religion and there is no dogma involved.”It’s crazy because we’re talking about kids pretending to be animals and doing exercise routines to rhymes,” Woodcock told The Times.
She says as soon as she mentioned Yoga she was denied permission. There are fanatics in every religion.
13 Comments
September 1, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Religion is irrational. It is only the specific irrationality that varies from one religion to the other.
September 1, 2007 at 4:32 pm
I’ve attended yoga classes held regularly in churches. So not all churches are opposed to yoga - it depends on the type of church, pastor, organizations and other factors.
September 1, 2007 at 5:02 pm
*There are fanatics in every religion*
Of course its no rocket science
September 1, 2007 at 6:47 pm
It is more complicated than rocket science Ammar.
You are right Amit not all churches are opposed to yoga.That is why all of them don’t come under the category of Taliban.
No region in the world is immune from the influence of religious extremism. In our part of the world it is used for political purposes. Politicians from different political parties use it to their advantage. There is nothing wrong in being committed to the teachings of one’s religion. The misguided elements try to impose their views on others .The majority remains silent when religious extremists start hate campaigns against the followers of other faiths.
The illiterate population is the most gullible. Religion has an enormous influence upon its followers. It should be used as a catalyst to regulate life. People should not allow themselves to be overpowered by religious fanatics. We should make efforts to fight bigotry and hatred. There can be no global peace unless there is peace among the adherents of different faiths.
September 1, 2007 at 6:50 pm
It takes a lot of guts to make a statement like yours @rambodoc.
September 1, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Prerna, check out Christopher Hitchens on youtube.
I prefer to look at religions through the lens of utility/usefulness rather than rational/irrational.
September 2, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Yoga, actually, is not a non-religious activity. That is how it is being projected, but it has always been linked to religious spirituality-infact, that is the purpose of yoga.
So I think the Yoga instructor’s comment is ill-founded, and I can understand why insecure propagators of another religion would have problems allowing yoga classes in their religious institution.
September 2, 2007 at 2:29 pm
A far cry from the oppression of the real taliban, every organization has the right to decide in what manner its buildings will be used, they are not even obliged to give a reason. It also has not been established that yoga is not a religious activity.
Paul
September 2, 2007 at 2:38 pm
So I want to start jazz dance lessons in a Hindu temple and a Hindu priest says “no, Jazz dancing is not a Hindu activity, conduct your classes somewhere else”. Hindu Taliban! Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish or Zoroastrian Taliban if I can’t dance and act like an animal in their place of worship! Why should Yoga be allowed in a place of worship especially if it involves kids pretending to be animals and doing exercise routines to rhymes?
-AA
September 3, 2007 at 2:38 pm
I remember taking karate lessons in a Hindu temple. I don’t remember anyone objecting. It wasn’t a Hindu or even Indian activity, but it did everyone who attended a lot of good. Isn’t that what religion is about? Shouldn’t it be about having a positive influence on the children in the community irrespective of what religion has had an influence on that activity? If it was anti-Christian in any form I’d understand why it would be disallowed, but yoga definitely isn’t against any religion. If they were bothered about that, they could have told the instructors not to use any chants, shloks etc that were considered religious or spiritual. And I believe someone up there commented on people having the right to choose how to use their property and of course everyone does, but that isn’t the point here is it? Its about the reason for which they refused, we are not contesting their right to refuse.
September 3, 2007 at 3:16 pm
I think its a proper right for any chruch/temple/synagog/mosque/other to refuse the use of the site for any purpose without having to justify or being called taliban. I think it’s even pretty extreme to call people fanatics -or taliban!- for making such choices. (What next, inside football or cricket?)
September 3, 2007 at 6:21 pm
rajiv, you’re right about every religious organization to have the right to refuse. the property belongs to them, and they can do what they want with it. but don’t you think there is a difference between using the premises for yoga, something that will help the children develop mentally and physically, a quiet and non-destructive activity and using it for football or cricket? these are just as beneficial as yoga im sure but they would be destructive and loud and they would disturb the peace of the surroundings. the reason these people are being termed as taliban is because of the restrictive nature of the religion they are propagating. forbidding an activity not because it disturbs the peace, annoys the worshippers etc but because it is in some remote way connected to another religion is a bit unfair don’t you think? They have the right of course, but if you are religious heads you are meant to be looking after the good of the community right? if no shlokas are chanted, no mantras are taught to the children why should it be a problem? again, it is their right to do so, but do you think their reason is justified? (and yes they do not have to justify themselves but they have and so we are discussing their reasoning)
September 4, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Here! Is the solution: http://www.christianyoga.us/home.htm
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