Yoga Class Draws a Religious Protest

[groovedaddy]

ENCINITAS, Calif. — By 9:30 a.m. at Paul Ecke Central Elementary School, tiny feet were shifting from downward dog pose to chair pose to warrior pose in surprisingly swift, accurate movements. A circle of 6- and 7-year-olds contorted their frames, making monkey noises and repeating confidence-boosting mantras.

Jackie Bergeron’s first-grade yoga class was in full swing.

“Inhale. Exhale. Peekaboo!” Ms. Bergeron said from the front of the class. “Now, warrior pose. I am strong! I am brave!”

Though the yoga class had a notably calming effect on the children, things were far from placid outside the gymnasium.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/us/school-yoga-class-draws-religious-protest-from-christians.html?ref=health&_r=0

[patrice]

1. What calls itself "Christianity" appears to so utterly lack faith that it attacks anything it

disagrees with. They are blasphemers.

How so very un-Christ-like. How so very of the anti-Christ!

[sinkingfeeling]

2. OMG! Children learning to mediate and calm their minds! How anti-christain can you get?

[patrice]

3. Check this out, the leader of the protest fears teaching that physical acts are spiritual acts:

Mary Eady, the parent of a first grader, said the classes were rooted in the deeply religious practice of Ashtanga yoga, in which physical actions are inextricable from the spiritual beliefs underlying them.

You know what? I just realized that I think these people are JEALOUS.

[Angry Dragon]

4. there is an op-out so I fail to see the problem

[Leontius]

7. So if there is an opt out for a class on Christian prayer or meditation in schools

you would be okay with such a program?

[Angry Dragon]

9. that would be a big YES

[cleanhippie]

10. Are you equating yoga and christianity?

Yes, you are.

[ZombieHorde]

11. I don't know what type of meditation is being taught, but yoga can easily be taught

without religious indoctrination.

[cleanhippie]

13. Look at who you are responding to; Mr. "America is a christian nation". He equates everything

to his beliefs.

[Leontius]

17. Of course it can and I would guess that this is the case here.

Some people can't separate the spiritual and religious aspects of yoga from its use as an exercise routine. I've used some yoga poses and stretches myself and never felt compelled to change my religion or opened myself to some evil influences as many fundamentalists claim is the purpose of this type of exercise. Like some posters here stubborn childish ignorance is not their friend, it's not the best way to expand their view of the world.

[cbayer]

5. When I first saw this, it was printed under a different headline

and I (mistakenly) thought that the FFRF was going after them.

These are grey areas for church/state separation advocates,

and apparently for frightened, insecure fundamentalists as well.

[msongs]

6. meanwhile the campus is probably plastered with xmas decorations imposed by jesus nuts nt

[okasha]

8. Oh, the horror!

They’re not just teaching physical poses, they’re teaching children how to think and how to make decisions,” Ms. Eady said. “They’re teaching children how to meditate and how to look within for peace and for comfort.

Certainly it doesn't seem that the complaining parents are teaching the kids those sklls.

[Promethean]

12. The worst part about this is the hypocracy

If this were a christian themed class and non-christians were protesting it these same people would be decrying that christianity is being oppressed.

[cbayer]

14. I agree about the hypocrisy, but it goes both ways.

As I said above, I thought it was the FFRF that was protesting this at first.

[deutsey]

15. Pat Robertson has even condemned karate

as demonic...or something.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1953778_1953776_1953755,00.html

[okasha]

16. "Inhaling a demon?"

Maybe a respirator would help.

Side note--the Cartier "Winter Tale" ad on the page is charming--a couple little jaguar cubs playing in the snow.

[tama]

19. Pat is obviously referring

to what is often called chi or ki, on which most eastern martial arts are based.

[sanatanadharma]

18. Yoga opponents are Christians making the case...

...that religion needs to removed from schools. Truly confused people.