Kottayam: The Syro Malabar Church in Kerala has said yoga and Christian beliefs cannot go hand in hand. In a report titled "yoga and Catholic faith", a commission appointed by the church said that not only does yoga believe in oneness and cannot differentiate between the creator and creation, like in Christianity, but certain physical postures might be against Christian principles.
The report has been prepared by a doctrinal commission set up by the Syro-Malabar church to look into the institution's stand on yoga. While the church said that yoga does provide certain health benefits, it is not a way to reach god.
"The theology of yoga does not go along with the beliefs of Christianity. Yoga believes in oneness and cannot differentiate between creator and creation like in Christianity. There is nothing wrong in taking yoga as an exercise but it is not a way to get salvation or spiritual experience," the report states.
The church also said that the government's "attempt to make yoga compulsory in school and making yoga crucial to Indian culture" was also a contributing factor behind reviewing the entire issue.
"With the sangh parivar pushing for yoga at an international level with its communal and hindutva agenda, it is imperative for the church to reread yoga. Surprising attempts by the government of India in making Yoga compulsory in school and making yoga crucial to Indian culture has also added to the need for such a reread," the report said.
The widely followed Syro-Malabar church is a Catholic church based in Kerala. Though it has an independent governance system, it is in full communion with the pope.
The report has been prepared by a doctrinal commission set up by the Syro-Malabar church to look into the institution's stand on yoga. While the church said that yoga does provide certain health benefits, it is not a way to reach god.
The church also said that the government's "attempt to make yoga compulsory in school and making yoga crucial to Indian culture" was also a contributing factor behind reviewing the entire issue.
Advertisement
The widely followed Syro-Malabar church is a Catholic church based in Kerala. Though it has an independent governance system, it is in full communion with the pope.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Try These Yoga Asanas To Reduce Back Pain Caused By Sitting At Work All Day Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x CoPilot+ AI PC With Snapdragon X Elite CPU Launched in India: Price, Specifications Malaika Arora's Strong Core Gave A Strong Start To The Weekend With The Hanuman Danda Yoga Asana Vandalism At Kolkata Hospital Where Doctor Was Raped, Tear Gas Fired 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court "Want To Ask Congress...": Mamata Banerjee Snaps At Ally In Rape-Murder Case Professor 'Digitally Arrested' For 12 Days By Scammers, Loses Rs 12 Lakh Independence Day 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi To Address Nation From Red Fort PM Modi To Address Nation From Red Fort On 78th Independence Day Today Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.