‘Demonic’ yoga
A pastor in Missouri has urged his followers to stay away from yoga citing its “demonic roots” in Hinduism. John Lindell, head of James River Church in Ozark, said in a sermon delivered before Halloween last year that “yoga is diametrically opposed to Christianity.” He used the word ‘demonic’ to describe not only the roots of yoga, but also the poses. “Yoga positions were not designed by your local fitness instructor. They were designed… with demonic intent to open you up to demonic power,” he was quoted as saying by local press. It’s a longstanding issue: yoga’s popularity worldwide has stirred debate among other religious groups…though luckily most people seem happy to simply embrace its healthy mind-body benefits.