LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- Does yoga go against the Christian faith? That argument has set off a firestorm of debate nationally and yoga fanatics are fuming over what one prominent member of the religious community in Louisville has posted online. The head of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is defending his recent blog post in which he said Christians can’t practice their faith and practice yoga. In his blog post, Dr. Albert Mohler said “When Christians practice yoga, they must either deny the reality of what yoga represents or fail to see the contradictions between their Christian commitments and their embrace of yoga.”
“I think it has inherent dangers and I think the post important danger leads to a confusion when Christians should not be confused,” Mohler said Wednesday, “I’m surprised by how many Christians seem to be arguing that they like doing this and that they intend to do it so it must be okay, which is not an appropriate mode of Christian reasoning.” Mohler says if you meditate to find inner peace and guidance you aren’t looking to God. He says that goes against the Christian faith.
Those who practice yoga have strong views on Mohler’s stance. “I’m not as offended as I think it’s really a joke because, really, most people practice yoga as a form of exercise,” said Betsy Cooper of Betsy’s Hot Yoga on Shelbyville Road. However, Mohler says his position hasn’t wavered on the topic and he stands by his blog. Mohler said “It’s not some kind of odd Christian judgment.”
