Being a practicing Christian myself, there is very little in Yoga that conflicts with Christianity. Some critics argue that yoga and Christianity cannot coexist, and yet we know that yoga is not a religion.

However, that depends on your opinion. Recently, I was reading about someone who claims that Kundalini is “new age witchcraft”.

Sorry to say, someone else recently said, “Good Christians should avoid the exercise of the devil,” referring to Yoga.

Are the Salem witch trials still so close to our hearts? These claims are interesting because ministers and priests have been practicing meditation for centuries, without complaint.

I guess if someone spent enough time meditating on bad thoughts, the meditation would be a bad experience.

To be honest, it depends on what you meditate on; and indeed, within some schools Yoga, Hinduism or Buddhism are taught. For me this has always been a conflict as I love yoga but have no desire to change my faith.

The many teachings of Yoga and meditation are non-sectarian. Now, if Yoga were a religion, what would it be? The principles of Yoga are universal.

The Yamas and Niyamas are similar, in principle, to the Ten Commandments, but as a Christian you have the right to choose what you want from Yoga. You also have the right to avoid sectarian ashrams.

The practice of yoga and meditation provide many Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims with a closer connection to God, but there will always be someone who is tempted to change their faith.

Let’s be honest, the people who worry about a sudden change of faith are, for the most part, rooted in two different camps of thought.

1. Someone who is undecided about their own religion and not quite sure where they stand.

2. Severe intolerance to any new or mind-opening idea.

Let’s stop bigotry now. When driving in your car, waiting in line, or coming face to face with someone who is different from you, set an example for your children and give the other person a break.