People ask me, "Christian yoga is okay, right?”
Well, let's look at the root to evaluate the fruit.
Would it surprise you to learn that the "Father of Christian Yoga" was a Hindu?
A.K. (Akhoy Kumar) Mozumdar, considered the “Father of Christian Yoga” lived from 1864-1953. He founded the Christian Yoga Society, the Christian Yoga Monthly Magazine, and is the author of “The Life and the Way: The Christian Yoga Metaphysics.”
Here’s an interesting quote from Mozumdar who obviously denies that Jesus came to earth in the flesh, as a man (a basic tenet of Christianity):
“If man thinks and acts, is not the thinker and actor God? If God is all life, then all lives are God. The creative power is the very nature of the being of the Creator; hence the creative power is God.“Life is the Creator, and will never be reduced to the level of its own creation. This knowledge sets a man free.”
As Christians, we believe that Jesus indeed allowed Himself to be “reduced to the level of [His] own creation.” And aren't we grateful?!!! Jesus Christ is the only Way, Truth, and Life.
Jesus Christ sets us free.
As the founder of “Christian yoga,” Mozumdar was a contemporary and friend of Science of Mind founder, Ernest Holmes. I studied the deceptive Science of Mind religion when I was heavily involved in yoga and New Age spirituality before I came to Christ.
BUT WAIT A MINUTE!!!
Proponents of today’s “Christian yoga” are not followers of A.K. Mozumdar!
Most likely that’s true. However, consider the intent of Mozumdar calling his book, magazine, and practice “Christian yoga.” He was named the “Father of Christian Yoga,” and the Founder of the “Christian Yoga Society.” And he was Hindu!
In other words, so-called “Christian yoga” may not be Christian after all.
Listen to the description of this book about “Christian Yoga Metaphysics” and tell me if you can spot anything Christian about it.
The Life and the Way: The Christian Yoga Metaphysics – by A.K. Mozumdar
From a review of Mozumdar's book (originally published by the Christian Yoga Society of New York in 1911):
“A. K. Mozumdar was the founder of the Christian Yoga Society and this book outlines much of its spiritual philosophy.
“East and West are brought together to allow those from both spiritual backgrounds to enhance their growth and to possibly experience an all-pervading Oneness in the universe.“
WHY SEEK TO WATER DOWN CHRISTIANITY?
Why did famous yogi Paramhansa Yogananda come to the United States in the 1920s wearing a cross and saying that yoga was completely compatible with the Christian faith?
He said yoga was the “binding force” to connect ALL religions.
Notice the title of Yogananda's book, “The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ within You.”
If we accept the fallacy of the “resurrection of Christ” within us, there's no need to acknowledge the actual crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ; no need for His blood sacrifice, and no need to acknowledge one's desperate need for salvation.
How many gullible people were drawn away from Christ as a result and into Yogananda’s SELF-Realization (SRF) Fellowship?
SALVATION BY WORKS?
Take a look at the “Aims and Ideals” of the Self-Realization Fellowship. Do these sound like substitutes for salvation and a relationship with Jesus Christ?
- To disseminate among the nations a knowledge of definite scientific techniques for attaining a direct personal experience of God.
- To teach that the purpose of life is the evolution, through self-effort, of man’s limited mortal consciousness into God Consciousness…
- To reveal the complete harmony and basic oneness of original Christianity as taught by Jesus Christ and original Yoga as taught by Bhagavan Krishna…
No, there is no such thing as “Christian yoga.” You cannot combine a religion (Yoga, dedicated to Hinduism's Lord Shiva) with a RELATIONSHIP, which is what born-again Christians have with the Lord Jesus Christ.
For these and countless other reasons, we say that PraiseMoves is NOT so-called “Christian Yoga,” but the Christian ALTERNATIVE to Yoga.
Transform Your Workouts into Worship–with PraiseMoves!
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