Question:

I have questions on two different subjects -- one more touchy than the other. First, regarding Yoga: is it just exercise, or is it a non-Christian spiritual exercise? Second, with the Girl Scouts' openly accepting leaders who practice, should I quit and pull my daughter out?

Answer:

I have answers on two subjects -- one more touchy than the other <g>!

Yoga is founded in Vedantist (Hindu) philosophy, and embodies the idea that body and mind, or spirit, are part of the same unified whole. This philosophy stands with orthodox Christianity against the heresy of gnosticism that has plagued the Christian church for millenia. As such it is perfectly consistent for a Christian to study yoga. I can post references to the scriptures, if you would like.

However, some Christians are very sensitive to any taint of syncretism (the reconciling or combining of different beliefs with Christianity). Those Christians should avoid yoga because of its association with another religion. If syncretism *doesn't* bother you, there's no reason to worry about this unless it harms another Christians faith. Saint Paul writes about these ideas in the Book of Romans. I can post the references but Romans is a short book, and it doesn't take long to read the whole thing to get the full context.

As for "alternative lifestyles", well, I live in a secular country. For most of my countrymen, daily prayer, worship and bible study are an "alternative lifestyle". As a Brownie leader, I'm glad that the Girl Guides are tolerant of *my* peculiar lifestyle. Besides, if the Girl Guides banned leaders who didn't completely conform, they wouldn't have enough leaders to run: the single parent lifestyle, working parents, and singleness are all "alternative" compared to the standard married stay-at-home mothers who were my Brownie, Guide and Ranger leaders decades ago. Baden-Powell himself was no conformist!