MARCH 31, 2017
Pentecostal pastor arrested in Tamil Nadu for criticising compulsory yoga in schools
By Nirmala Carvalho, Lucknow, March 31, 2017
The clergyman had praised the benefits of yoga for body and mind. His Church welcomes Dalits and the poor held down by the caste system. In Uttar Pradesh another Pentecostal pastor was beaten and arrested. A pastor and five members of the Life Worship Centre were also detained but later released.
Police in Tamil Nadu arrested a Pentecostal clergyman for criticising yoga.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), said that Rev Mohan was jailed for speaking out "against compulsory yoga in schools and elsewhere”, which “forcibly promotes a Hindu lifestyle."The pastor "is a leader involved in civil society,” George said. He “works in favour of Dalits and the poor in Tamil Nadu’s rural remote areas."
"Many people,” the GCIC president added, “go to his Pentecostal church seeking refuge and comfort from the oppression of the caste system, which is still strong in South India. By contrast, in his church, they are treated equally and with dignity."
Rev. Mohan was arrested because of one of his sermons "in which he spoke against the use of Hindu terminology in the practice of yoga." However, "the clergyman has praised the ancient Indian practice for its beneficial effects on mental and physical health".
This incident did not happen in a vacuum. George said that other arrests have taken place in Uttar Pradesh, a state where a radical Hindu recently became chief minister.
The first incident occurred on Wednesday, when a Pentecostal clergyman in Kushinagar was first beaten and then arrested.
The second took place in Agra, where police jailed Rev. Mahesh Chand and five members of the Life Worship Centre Church. They were all released later without charges.
“Christians were not doing anything unconstitutional,” the GCIC leader explained, noting that “Our founding fathers and the architects of the Indian Constitution granted minorities full freedom of religion and freedom to practice, preach and spread their faith. Instead, we [Christians] are still forced to suffer intimidation, verbal and physical abuse, detention and harassment."
Hindu nationalism has come to the fore with the ascendancy of priest-turned-politician Yogi Adityanath recently elevated -- to his own surprise -- as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous State.
It is not an unexpected development considering the anti-minorities rhetoric that has hogged the headlines ever since the pracharaks of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the right-wing, paramilitary volunteer organisation have launched attacks on “western culture” (for them its anything “Christian”, even the secular Valentine’s Day and couples publicly exhibiting mutual affection) on the one hand and Muslim conservatism on the other after Mr. Narendra Modi, a former RSS swayamsevak himself, became the Prime Minister of India in 2014. (Atal Bihari Vajpayee, another leader of Mr. Modi’s political outfit, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was the first RSS swayamsevak to become Prime Minister.)
New problematic issues surface every single day since his installation on March 19, 2017.
Till today, the maximum punishment for slaughtering a cow in Gujarat (Mr. Modi’s home State) attracted a penalty of seven years in jail. The offence is now nonbailable and the sentence is life imprisonment.
Two or three nights ago, I watched a TIMES NOW prime time show/debate on the issue of Muslims’ refusal to do yoga and Suryanamaskar. It was shocking to watch the moderators (a man and a woman) browbeating the Muslim panelists who defended their religious tenets and practices. The channel simply does not understand that the moderators do not take sides (it happens almost every single day); they are supposed to moderatethe discussions between two groups with opposing opinions. But the “moderators” kept insisting that Muslims must accept the Indian belief that all gods are one and that some of the postures that Muslims adopt in prayer, namaz, are identical to Hindu yoga asanas.
All gods are definitely not “one” by self-definition and by history and mythology (depending on where you are at.) Neither do all “roads” (religions) lead to the same god. This is no place to elaborate on that.
But what bugged me more was the moderators’ repeated yelling at the Muslim panelists (whose mics appeared to be toned down to a lower volume than the former’s) that the namaz postures are drawn from or similar to the asanas of yoga and so Muslims should have no problem in submitting to yoga and Suryanamaskar practice. I also heard a voice interjecting that those who refuse to do yoga must quit India!
Has it finally come down to that? I thought that I was safe in a democratic and tolerant India and never ever encouraged my sons to consider migrating or to even go abroad to work for their livelihood. On the contrary I actively discouraged them, saying that India is a very good place for Christians to live in.
But, my entire family and I refuse to do yoga (as do many Christians). I repeat that I do not condemn yoga or Hindus who practice yoga and Suryanamaskar according to their own religious traditions. I maintain that according to the Bible (Christian Scriptures), followers of the Christian God may not follow the religious or spiritual practices of another religion. That is also the position of the Catholic Church*. See links on page 5.
Yoga critics are now being arrested.
I wonder when my turn will come... the police and the swayamsevaks at my door.
And with the Catholic priests and Bishops almost 100% endorsing yoga and virtually institutionalizing it in the Indian Church, no one will come forward to defend me.
Well… the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church! (Tertullian in Apologeticus)
SOME RELATED FILES
41 YOGAREPORTS
BANGALORE DELIVERANCE MINISTRY LEADER OBJECTS TO PRIEST’S CRITICISM OF YOGA-ENDORSING BISHOP THOMAS DABRE
BISHOP OF RAMANATHAPURAM RECOMMENDS YOGA THROUGH SHALOM MINISTRIES
BISHOP THOMAS DABRE BRAZENLY LIES IN PRINT AND INTERNET MEDIA ABOUT THE CHURCH POSITION ON YOGA
BRAHMA KUMARIS WORLD SPIRITUAL UNIVERSITY
CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS ENDORSES YOGA FOR CATHOLICS
CARDINAL OSWALD GRACIAS INFORMS PRAKASH LASRADO THAT HE USES YOGA TO PRAY
CATHOLIC YOGA HAS ARRIVED
CHURCH MOUTHPIECE THE EXAMINER ACCUSED OF PROMOTING HERESY
EXAMINER_ACCUSED_OF_PROMOTING_HERESY.doc
DIVINE RETREAT CENTRE ERRORS-05YOGA PROMOTED
EXORCISTS WARN AGAINST USE OF YOGA MANTRAS
FORMER YOGI REJECTS A CHRISTIAN ALTERNATIVE TO YOGA
FR ADRIAN MASCARENHAS-YOGA AT ST PATRICK'S CHURCH BANGALORE
FR JOE PEREIRA-KRIPA FOUNDATION-NEW AGE ENDORSED BY THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOMBAY AND THE CBCI
FR JOE PEREIRA-KRIPA FOUNDATION-WORLD COMMUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN MEDITATION
FR JOE PEREIRA-KRIPA FOUNDATION-WORLD COMMUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN MEDITATION-LETTERS TO THE BISHOPS AND THEIR RESPONSES
FR JOE PEREIRA-PLANS YOGA EVENT SPARKS DEBATE
FR JOE PEREIRA SUPPORTED BY HIS BISHOPS CONTINUES TO MOCK AT CATHOLICS
FR JOHN FERREIRA-YOGA, SURYANAMASKAR AT ST. PETER’S COLLEGE, AGRA
FR JOHN VALDARIS-NEW AGE CURES FOR CANCER
HOLISTIC HEALTH CENTRE BANGALORE-HOMOEOPATHY AND YOGA
INDIAN PRIME MINISTER PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGES HINDU GOD SHIVA AS THE FIRST YOGI
INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY
IS BISHOP DABRE FORMER CHAIRMAN DOCTRINAL COMMISSION A PROPONENT OF YOGA?
JESUS THE YOGI AND RESURREXIFIXES AT LITURGICAL CENTRE OF CATHEDRAL OF ST THOMAS
JESUS THE YOGI AND THE DANCING JESUS
NARENDRA MODI SEEKS TO INTRODUCE YOGA IN ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
NARENDRA MODI SEEKS TO INTRODUCE YOGA IN UNIVERSITIES
NEW AGE GURUS 01-SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR-THE 'ART OF LIVING'
PAPAL CANDIDATEOSWALD CARDINALGRACIAS ENDORSES YOGA
PILAR PRIESTS CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY-GOA ARCHBISHOP ENDORSES
PRAKASH LASRADO IS RIGHT-YOGA IS NOT UNDER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
PRAKASH LASRADO RECOMMENDS TO INDIAN BISHOPS THE NEW AGE YOGIC MEDITATION OF A FAKE BISHOP WHO GATECRASHED A VATICAN CONCLAVE AND PROMOTES SEX TOYS
SEXUAL PREDATORS MORE PREVALENT AMONG RABBIS PASTORS YOGIS THAN AMONG PRIESTS
U.S. CATHOLIC MAGAZINE ENDORSES NEW AGE-REIKI, YOGA AND ZEN
VISHAL JAGRITI MAGAZINE PULLS YOGA SERIES OF FR FRANCIS CLOONEY
YOGA-FATIMA CHURCH IN MADRAS-MYLAPORE ARCHDIOCESE
YOGA AND THE BRAHMA KUMARIS AT A CATHOLIC COLLEGE IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF BOMBAY
YOGA AT ST STANISLAUS HIGH SCHOOL ARCHDIOCESE OF BOMBAY
YOGA CAMP FOR CHILDREN AT OUR LADY OF GUIDANCE CHURCH
YOGA IN THE DIOCESE OF MANGALORE
YOGA, SURYANAMASKAR, GAYATRI MANTRA, PRANAYAMA TO BE MADE COMPULSORY IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
43 YOGA ARTICLES/COLLATIONS
AYUSH-THE NEW AGE DANGERS OF
NEW AGE DANGERS OF.doc
A CATHOLIC ALTERNATIVE TO YOGA-PIETRA FITNESS
AN INDIAN CATHOLIC’S PROBLEMS WITH THE CONDEMNATION OF YOGA ARE ADDRESSED
AUM SHINRIKYO YOGA CULT
AYURVEDA AND YOGA-DR EDWIN A NOYES
AYURVEDAANDYOGACOMMONORIGINS
DANGERSOFAWAKENINGTHEKUNDALINIINYOGA-LIFEPOSITIVE
DEATH OF A GURU
DELIVERANCE-CAN A CHRISTIAN BE DEMONIZED-CORINNA CRAFT
MANTRAS YOGA WCCM CHRISTIAN MEDITATION ETC-EDDIE RUSSELL
PRANAYAMA
REIKI YOGA AND CENTERING PRAYER
RENUNCIATIONOFYOGASURYANAMASKAROM-CORINNA CRAFT
ROME WARNS CATHOLICS ABOUT YOGA AND ZEN MEDITATION SYSTEMS
SURYANAMAKAR-SUN SALUTE-CORINNA CRAFT
THE TRUTH ABOUT YOGA-THE ENCINITAS CONTROVERSY
TRUTH, LIES AND YOGA-ERROL FERNANDES
WAS JESUS A YOGI? SYNCRETISM AND INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE-ERROL FERNANDES
YOGA AND CHRISTIANITY-ARE THEY COMPATIBLE?
YOGA AND DELIVERANCE
YOGA ASANAS-DEVOTIONINMOTION-CORINNACRAFT
YOGA CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR YOU
YOGA CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH
YOGA IS HINDU-THE DECLARATION OF DR CANDY GUNTHER BROWN IN A US COURT
YOGA IS HINDU-THE HINDU AMERICAN FOUNDATION
YOGA IS SATANIC-EXORCIST FR GABRIELE AMORTH
YOGA
YOGA-02
YOGA-03
YOGA-A.I
YOGA-A PATH TO GOD-FR LOUIS HUGHES
YOGA-BROIGNATIUSMARY
YOGA-ERIKA GIBELLO
YOGA-FR EZRA SULLIVAN
YOGA-MARTA ALVES
YOGA-MIKE SHREVE
YOGA-REV DR ED HIRD
YOGA-SUMMARY
YOGA-SUSAN BRINKMANN
YOGA-THE DECEPTION-FR CONRAD SALDANHA
YOGA-VISHAL MANGALWADI
*YOGA-WHAT DOES THE CATHOLIC CATECHISM SAY ABOUT IT
*YOGA-WHAT DOES THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SAY ABOUT IT?
2 YOGA DOCUMENTS
LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON SOME ASPECTS OF CHRISTIAN MEDITATIONCDF/CARDINAL JOSEPH RATZINGER OCTOBER 15, 1989
JESUS CHRIST THE BEARER OF THE WATER OF LIFE, A CHRISTIAN REFLECTION ON THE NEW AGECOMBINED VATICAN DICASTERIESFEBRUARY 3, 2003
30 YOGA TESTIMONIES
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-01MIKE SHREVE
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-02TERRY JUSTISON
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-03KENT SULLIVAN
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-04MICHAEL GRAHAM
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-05BRAD SCOTT
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-06JANICE CLEARY
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-07CARL FAFORD
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-08ANONYMOUS
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-09DEBORAH HOLT
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-10DANION VASILE
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-11MICHAEL COUGHLIN
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-12LAURETTE WILLIS
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-13KEITH AGAIN
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-14VIRGO HANDOJO
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-15PURVI
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-16PRISCILLA DE GEORGE
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-17SARAH
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-18BRANDY BORDEN SMITH
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-19CONNIE J. FAIT
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-20LOSANA BOYD
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-21FR. PARESH PARMAR, CATHOLIC PRIEST
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-22GINA
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-23JESSICA SMITH
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-24MARY GARDEN
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-25DANIEL SHAW
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-26REV. DR. ED HIRD, ANGLICAN CHARISMATIC PASTOR
TESTIMONY OF A FORMER YOGI-27CARMEN CASTIELLA SANCHEZ-OSTIZ
FROM ISLAM THROUGH YOGA AND NEW AGE TO CHRIST
THE TRUE STORY OF A CATHOLIC VICTIM OF YOGA
TESTIMONY OF DELIVERANCE FROM A DEMON OF YOGA-CORINNA CRAFT