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7 comments:
I am curious to why someone like yourself--working for a nazarene organization would want to teach yoga to the poor?
The origen of yoga actually means to "unite onself" with Brahma. The positions were created as acts of worship to a false god. Why would you want use your time in this way?
We can have a discussion here.
--Joe
I should say origin...sorry...in a hurry.
Well, first - LLM is a non-profit - 501(c)(3) that was started by a nazarene church to better serve the needs of the neighborhood.
Second, I was hired because of my background in psychotherapy, social work, and experience working with families - not because I am a member of the nazarene church or hold any credentials with them.
Yoga will not be a nazarene ministry, and nor should it be, based on their own doctrine (I assume).
I am guessing that we will debate when I say that yoga means to "unite oneself", but not necessarily with Brahma. It can be with Brahma, and it was, originally, because that is to whom the culture worshiped. But I believe it to be a universal spiritual exercise, that can further spirituality in many religious contexts. Mostly, however, it provides an essential therapy of mindfulness and centeredness that is desperately needed in a poor neighborhood, where violence in the home is the norm - and pastoral counseling and other normal ministries have had little effect - which doesn't mean they aren't vital to the neighborhood.
Anyhow, like I said before, the breathing techniques alone are enough to begin building a foundation of how to "de-escalate" within a conflict.
Does that help?
My bad. I thought LLM was a nazarene compassionate ministry. At least that is what was said when they visited my church.
This is just a discussion. Maybe a type of curiosity. Why have something, that something being yoga, be apart of your ministry that started with such dark roots?
In a sense you are stating that your work with families will have nothing to do with nazarene theology. It may and perhaps does conflict with that denominations views. Just questions.
What is the culture like to which you minister to the poor? Does yoga meet the needs of the culture?
-J
Joe - it is a declared, official nazarene compassionate ministry - as I understand it - because it was started by the nazarene church - which was the primary funding source in the beginning.
"In a sense you are stating that your work with families will have nothing to do with nazarene theology. It may and perhaps does conflict with that denominations views. Just questions."
Not necessarily what you suggest, Joe - but again, I do not have a degree in theology from nazarene theological seminary - and it is not my role to minister - but rather to work with ministers (from all churches in the area) to serve many of the needs that the ministers are not able to serve.
As far as the culture goes - I totally welcome a visit from you. We would be happy to show you around.
Yes, yoga does meet certain major needs of the culture.
"The practice of yoga has been shown to produce positive motivational change by helping women regain their vital center of energy, satisfaction and stability. It also teaches mindfulness, impulse control, interpersonal relationship skills, discernment in decision-making, patience, and acceptance of self and of the surrounding world. The practice of yoga can help reduce low self-esteem and poor body image, and greatly improves a woman's sense of personal empowerment." - taken from http://yogahope.org/about.html
As far as dark roots and false gods are concerned Joe - how do you feel about fast food, pharmacy, military, government, globalism, insurance, consumerism, technology, internet, etc.?
Hey Kyle-
Have been hearing about what you are doing through Doug and Molly. I will continue to pray for you as you be the Hands of God.
Whatever disagreement there was on my part with anything about you, I want you to hear from me that it was judgement passed from my ignorance and my arrogance. I like to think that I have grown much in the last 12 months, and so I ask your forgiveness.
I know you do it for other reasons, but I still want to let you know that I admire you greatly, and I thank God for what you are doing.
God bless you and your precious family this Christmas.
Shalom-
Mike O'Donnell
And BTW, good discussion over at lj.
Joe,
I'm a Nazarene pastor and a graduate of Nazarene Theological Seminary. I don't believe the Nazarene denomination has any official stance on yoga. Yoga was never discussed in any of my seminary classes. I think that there is certainly a negative stigma attached to such practices which are largely due to there eastern religious connections. Western Christianity is suspicious of eastern thought (even eastern Christian thought).
As a Nazarene I would say that we embrace the timeless and orthodox spiritual disciplines of centering prayer and meditation. We may not refer to them as such but we embrace them nonetheless (devotions, quiet time, etc. are words we use for such activities). We also embrace the character of Christ (peacemaker, kind, gentle, humble, walking an extra mile, etc.) which we call holiness or sanctification. I believe that such character traits are what Kyle is promoting in his community through a variety of practices (including yoga).
I don't trust yoga, psychoanalysis, meditation, et. al. as a simple human endeavor to correct anything in our broken world. However, in the hands of one who brings the light of Christ into the darkness, these tools are both helpful and necessary. To borrow a phrase, they promote the practice of the presence of God.
I do reject outright Kyle's assertion that he isn't a "minister". He has no title of "pastor" or anything official from the Nazarene church, but that is of no consequence. Kyle has a Nazarene heritage (like it or not!) and it is one that has led him to the life he now lives. He probably knows as much about the good, bad and ugly of the Nazarene Church as you or I do Joe and he still feels confident that he isn't leading anyone astray by developing such practices in his community. I don't extend my trust or friendship lightly and I have given both to Kyle without reservation.
Peace...
jb
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