Another Naga tribal church in Nagaland has rejected the
so-called ‘international yoga day’, an event minorities perceive to be nothing
more than a cultural ruse imposed by nationalist Hindu elements to ‘saffronize’
minorities in India.
The Angami Baptist Church Council issued a statement on
Friday, June 19, expressing deep resentment that another attempt at ‘invading’
the minorities’ ways of life and faith was being made.
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council has also already
expressed displeasure at Nagaland Governor PB Acharya’s call for wide
participation on “international day of yoga” scheduled on June 21, 2015,
Sunday. Even more interestingly, yet again a Hindu program is being imposed on
a day Christian hold as sacred.
Caution to the people
“The Angami Baptist Church Council wants to caution all its
members in particular and the people of Nagaland in general not to be misled by
the secular presentation of yoga. This press release cannot do justice on the
discussion of ‘yoga’ but suffice for the purpose if one agrees with its
ultimate goal as union of the individual consciousness or soul with the
Universal Consciousness,” V. Atsi Dolie, executive director of the ABCC said.
“The practice of yoga in various forms and exercises,” the
church leader stated, “is a vehicle to attain that union. While yoga seeks to
unite or join with Universal Consciousness by meditation and emptying of the
mind, the Bible teaches us not to empty the mind but ‘renew the mind daily”.
“Emptying for what and whom? This is a risky business
because there are eager spirits seeking to fill the minds. Again, yoga seeks
peace and tranquility by disciplining the body, mind and soul,” the press
release stated.
The church leader explained: But the quality of peace that Jesus
Christ gives as a result of knowing him personally does not just stay in good
times alone but also prevails in the hardest of time, on gallows, and in the
midst of loudest disturbances. There is also a world of difference on the
concept of “union.” While Hinduism tends to think of a union in the likes of a
drop of water merging with the bucket of water in which one’s identity is
untraceable, Christians definitely believe in individual identifiable identity
in Heaven. For reasons such as these,
yoga cannot be merely regarded as a twisting of the body, breathing exercises
or exclusively physical in nature.
Advani’s ‘prophesy’ about
crushing civil liberty
The Angami church leader expressed concern at the turn of events
since the saffron brigade came to power this year where churches and Christians
have been attacked with no resolute response from the Hindu-nationalist-led
government.
The ABCC acknowledged that there may be benefits from the
art of yoga. However, the institution termed it as “very unfortunate” that the
government machineries were forcing it on schools, colleges, universities,
student organizations, trade unions, and the public.
'The BJP patriarch LK Advani may be referring to different
issues when he said ‘forces that can crush democracy are stronger,’ but perhaps
there may be something prophetic in it. Of late, the Christians too are feeling
both the subtle and outrageous invasions of a force in vandalizing churches and
Christian schools, complete indifferent to Christian sacred days, and the
recent imposition of the International Day of Yoga on a Sunday,’ the ABCC
stated in caution.
The community church organization has reminded all concerned
citizens that June 21, 2015 was a special Sunday –Fathers’ Day.
“I trust that everyone will give one’s priority to corporate
worship of God the Father in churches, give due respect to your earthly fathers
for who they are to you, and meaningfully celebrate Fathers’ Day,” the press
release added.
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