Oh! that Christian leaders in USA would be as discerning and outspoken as these Pastors in two Churches in Somerset, England
Saturday, September 1, 2007

UK Churches Ban Yoga Group

‘Ancient Practice Un-Christian, A Sham; the Philosophy Is False’

By James Varghese
Special to ASSIST News Service

TAUNTON, UK (ANS) — At a time when Indian yoga* camps are spreading far and wide in Britain, two churches here have banned a group from conducting yoga classes because the ancient practice is allegedly “un-Christian.”

The yoga class called as Yum Yum Yoga for children was to be run by Louise Woodstock, aged 41 at the Silver Street Baptist church and St. James’s Church of England in Taunton, Somerset. But the church ministers this week banned it and branded yoga a “sham” and “un-Christian.”

Woodstock, who was turned away from the churches on Thursday, said the allegations against yoga were “ridiculous” because her classes simply involve music and movement. She was told that yoga “impinges” on the spiritual agenda of the churches.

Baba Ramdev’s (well-known Yoga Expert from India) camps have been help in several places across Britain, most recently in Scotland. The camps attracted a large number of people, mostly Asians, but also non Asians who have benefited from his advice and exercises.

Reports from Taunton say that Woodstock was originally given permission to use the Baptist Church hall for a children’s activity group, but the minister, the Reverend Simon Farrar withdrew his consent after discovering it was for yoga.

According to The Times of India Newspaper, Woodstock said, “I couldn’t believe it when they suddenly said I couldn’t have the hall anymore because yoga is against their Christian ethos. It’s crazy because we’re talking about kids pretending to be animals and doing exercise routines to rhymes- it’s really sweet.”

Later, St James’s Church also barred her.

Defending his decision to ban the yoga group, Rev Farrar said: “We are a Christian organization and when let rooms to people we want them to understand that they must be fully in line with our Christian ethos.

“Clearly yoga impinges on the spiritual life of people in a way which we as Christians don’t believe is the same as our ethos.

Woodstock said “There is nothing that can damage their minds in any shape or form. The churches have completely misunderstood it and I think they are being narrow-minded.”

According to report by The new Indian Express newspaper Woodcock said, “I explained to the church that my yoga is completely non-religious activity.”

“As soon as I mentioned the word yoga the church staff completely changed their attitude” she added.

“If it were just a group of Children singing nursery rhymes, there wouldn’t be a problem. But she’s called it yoga and therefore there is a dividing line we’re not prepared to cross.”

Rev Tim Jones, the vicar of St. James’s Church told The Telegraph: “Any alternative philosophies or beliefs are offering a sham- and at St James’s Church we want people to have the real thing.

“The Philosophy of yoga cannot be separated from the practice of it, and any teacher of yoga (even for toddlers) must subscribe to the philosophy. As Christians we believe that this philosophy is false and not something we wish to encourage,” he said.

He added “Yoga is encouraging people to think there is a way to wholeness of body and mind through human techniques – whereas the only true way to wholeness is by faith in God through Jesus Christ.”

Woodstock is among the many non Asians who practice and teach yoga in Britain.

* The word yoga means “union” in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where yoga originated. It is a Hindu method of learning that includes exercises, breathing sequences and meditation. It is designed to aid in “enlightenment.”

See DVD Yoga Uncoiled: From East to West - www.caryltv.com for detailed information on the Hindu roots of Yoga and the way its philosophy has been twisted for use by Christians

America hasn’t experienced this past weekend’s type of national hysteria since the British “Fab Four” Beatles musical group invaded its shores over 40 years ago. British author of the Harry Potter series, J.K Rowling, may even have topped Beatlemania with her 10 year span of seven books spread over 4,100 pages, sold over 325 million copies worldwide, and published in 62 languages.

Certainly Hollywood’s Warner Bros. were disappointed that the fifth Harry Potter movie “The Order of the Phoenix” (out last week) got robbed of much anticipated dollars after the hype invested in its release. Dan Fellman, head of Warner distribution said fans, “wanted to get that book Saturday, lock themselves in the house and read it, because they didn’t want their other friends by Monday telling them who made it and who didn’t.”

In case you’re one of the few and don’t know about “that book”, it’s the seventh and final epic (759 pages) by billionairess Rowling, (136th richest person in the world) entitled, “Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows”. It was released with manic activity and midnight parties on Friday 20th at 12 pm under the moon’s first quarter!

Potter’s American publisher, Scholastic Inc, had a first printing of 12 million copies and sold 300,000 copies within the first 24 hours – that’s more than 5000 a minute! England had Harry’s seventh under high security lock and key, and within the first 24 hours sold 600,000 - more than one in every ten UK households bought a copy, making it the fastest-selling book in the country’s history, earning Rowling almost one million dollars from UK buyers the first day!

Potter fans from Belgium and the Netherlands lined up outside central London’s Waterstone Bookstore to get their copies. (Their countries sold out of their allocated 250,000 copies in the first 24 hours). In Paris, France, one bookstore alone sold 3000 copies, while in Germany almost 400,000 were sold and surprisingly India had 100,000 sales all in the first 24 hours. Deathly Hallows was published SIMULTANEOULSLY, in English, in more than 90 countries – a global publishing phenomenon!!

So why am I concerned? One good reason is the worldwide impact of child friendly witchcraft perpetuated by powerful money grabbing mass media which targets our children. (For more details on the power of media, watch Best 2007 Documentary Gods of entertainment: The Power of Mass Media to influence and Corrupt - www.caryltv.com).

Is Harry Potter just “fantasy” or actual occult reality?

The similarities with Pottermania and Beatlemania

The most troubling aspect of Pottermania is its global indoctrination of children into the fascination and normality of witchcraft and paganism with its supposedly mundane “white” powers.

I saw Beatlemania sweep millions of fans into the seducing arms of eastern mysticism and open them to occult powers, and now four decades later am witnessing the beguiling spirit of deception lure millions of children into the charms of sorcery, witchcraft and divination. The outcry from Church leaders should mirror the courage of some who dared speak out against Beatlemania especially when Lennon claimed to have more popularity than Jesus Christ. Sadly, many high-ranking Christian shepherds encourage their sheep to the slaughter as noted by The Church of England’s recent publication and endorsement of Potter by the former Archbishop of Canterbury. (www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;?xml=/news/2007/07/17/npotter217.xml

Rowling boasts she drew a third of her research from paganism and Warner Bros. admits film #1 was an “actual portrayal of witchcraft”. Rowling warned each volume would get darker and this latest is no exception. Harry’s first appearance in chapter two has him “bleeding” and from then he’ll be “cut, burned, nearly choked to death in freezing water, dropped from great height from a flying motorcycle and flushed down a grotty public toilet into the Ministry of Magic.” (www.mercurynews.com)

The physical violence in Harry’s adventures is matched by the use of occult powers shown to be the supposed white side when used by Harry and friends from Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but the dark side when used by enemies of Harry such as the wicked Dark Lord Voldemort and his followers, the Death Eaters. Biblically speaking Harry is a witch whose powers are rooted in the wrong source according to God, no matter what naive Christians attempt to justify.

The Death Eaters seek to gain power through their alliance to their evil master whose ambition is “to conquer death” through his own efforts, the goal of most pagan and occult philosophies. Voldemort lusts for eternal life and possession of a body. In book #1, The Sorcerer’s Stone, he says, “Once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own” thus eluding death, a quest Satan tempted Eve to believe in the Garden of Eden (“surely you wont die?”) and a lie perpetuated through the teaching of reincarnation and Yoga. The latter was promoted into mainstream society by the Beatles. (See DVD, Yoga Uncoiled: From East to West - www.caryltv.com)

Deathly Hallows continues to attempt to normalize occult powers to its readers and many scientists attempt to do the same as seen in their recent quest to duplicate Harry’s impressive invisibility cloak. (www.livescience.com/technology/060525_invisible_cloak.html )

Harry’s use of a vial of Polyjuice Potion furthers normalization of shaman power. While Polyjuice is Rowling’s fabrication in name, like many of her themes, the basis of alchemy through potions and rituals is foundational to occult practice. The idea that a physical form can be “transformed” into another is within the hopes of a magician and warned about in Scripture as a “possession” by evil spirits. Rowling uses actual voodoo teaching when the use of the victim’s hair is used for the magic of Hogwart’s “transfiguration”. Shape-shifting is common in Harry’s world, which critics dismiss as make believe fantasy yet in the actual dark world of spiritualism it is a dangerous discipline not to be tampered with in any light way.

The actual world of the Supernatural and the power of its Principalities - What’s the remedy?

Having been born and raised in India for almost twenty years I was acutely tuned in with the eastern mindset of the reality of the supernatural world and its dangers when abused. I am continually amazed at the westerners dismissal of its Biblical existence and warnings. (For more information see Best 2006 Documentary DVD, “Supernatural Powers.The Battle Between Good and Evil. - www.caryltv.com.)

Pottermania is one of the many methods used to indoctrinate westerners with pagan ideology. But a more troubling trend is seen firstly, in its impact on the souls and minds of innocent children who are not raised with a Biblical worldview and secondly, in the misguided council churched youngsters are given by Christians in positions of authority who should know better, and be knowledgeable about the Bible’s warnings not to tamper with the supernatural world and its wicked agenda to deceive, destroy and kill.

Potter books are replete with serious theological topics written within an eastern mindset in the context of a pagan worldview. The lessons Harry and friends are being taught are how to conjure powers through occult disciplines, rituals and potions in order to overcome forces of darkness and evil. These tutorials are taught within Harry’s world of spirit beings: a wicked serpent who seeks to possess human bodies and create mayhem with his selfish, brutally ugly devotees. Some beings are said to be ghosts, some are mythical half creatures, some so-called returning dead appear as animals, some lust for eternal life, and all are able to be communicated with for their so-called wisdoms and powers. Children are being opened to a hellish abyss of wickedness and neutralized by it because Potter’s world is presented as “fantasy”. Yet in the Bible these beings are called Satan’s fallen angels: “Principalities, powers, ruler of darkness of this age and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 5:12)

Growing up in India, I was exposed to the teachings of the Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita (the song of god: scripture of yoga) filled with myths arousing spiritual imaginations, told and retold at every religious event. The spiritual world of India’s supernatural beings is glamorized as so-called greater heroes destroyed lessers and all stories are set within a pagan worldview which teaches that empowerment of the greater self, that lies within each of us, has potential to tap into supernatural forces.

The Bible offers answers to life, death and the spiritual world from our Creator God’s perspective but has been expelled from the classroom, while pagan solutions, in the Potter books, derived through man’s vain imaginations and reasoning are read aloud in the classroom by teachers.

Jesus Christ is the only One Who had power to conquer death, a goal Voldemort seeks to conquer, and Jesus is the only One with authority to overcome the evils children are being taught to tap into through Harry’s example. In Harry’s world, fellow students (and vicariously Harry’s readers are students too) are taught they have defense within themselves to protect against dark forces. Sadly many readers fail at defending themselves when dabbling in these lies and either become addicted to the need for more power to control or become imprisoned by the bondage of darkness.

Numerous concerned parents, grandparents and others contact me to help those already embroiled in the dark arts glamorized in Potter’s world – the remedy? Lovingly bring them to a place of acknowledgement in the bankruptcy of self-empowerment. Encourage them to confess their involvement in spiritual disobedience and help them to surrender their minds to a Loving God who offered His Son Jesus Christ as their Deliverer. Disciple them to pursue obedience as instructed in God’s Holy Word. Jesus has triumphed over death and the power of sin, has purchased eternal life and made a public spectacle of the supernatural forces of darkness: they have been conquered through Jesus’ work at the cross and overcome by His Resurrection to ascended new life. Jesus is our only hope of empowerment.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:9-10

And He (Jesus Christ) has taken it (death/sin) out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Col 2:14-16

THE BEATLES, and YOGA power.

This article is also posted on www.womantalk.us/home where Caryl is a contributing weekly writer

Forty years ago, in June 1967, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released. It was considered The Beatles magnum opus album, nominated number one in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time and the first rock album to win Grammy Awards for album of the year and best contemporary album. It was recorded at London’s Abbey Road studio over 129-day period, the band’s eighth album, and described by a critic as “a decisive moment in the history of western civilization”.
Not only are many contemporary musicians marking the Beatles’ 40th anniversary of Sgt Pepper’s album by recording their own versions of songs from the album but also Las Vegas, in compliance with George Harrison’s dying wish for one more creative collaboration from the Beatles, celebrates with the opening of the first year of the hottest Cirque du Soleil extravaganza, “LOVE” exploring the British Fab Four’s music.
Playing at The Mirage Hotel, opening night included the unveiling of two portraits (now permanently displayed there) of deceased Beatles John Lennon (the “Smart Beatle” who was murdered by a crazed fan outside his NYC apartment in 1980) and George Harrison (the “Quiet Beatle” who died of cancer in 2001). The remaining Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, with spouses Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison and various friends and family, including George’s son, Dhani, enjoyed the Las Vegas premiere.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame boasts, “The impact of the Beatles upon popular music cannot be overstated; they revolutionized the music industry and touched the lives of all who heard them in deep and fundamental ways.”
Probably the most significant and fundamental influence the Beatles imparted to their millions of fans in the 60’s and onwards was their open experimentation of drug use and practice of eastern spirituality. George Harrison, considered the spiritual leader of the group, was instrumental in introducing the west to Yoga consciousness and Hindu- spirituality-new-age fusion in music.
My latest DVD release Yoga Uncoiled: From East to West through vintage footage, shows how George’s growing interest in India’s musical instrument, the sitar, led to his attraction to India’s musicians, culture and religion eventually exposing the Beatles, and their fans worldwide, to the Hindu teachings of Yoga power and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s Transcendental Meditation known as TM.