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Lastly, I'd like to address the idea that some evangelicals are engaging in fear-mongering about yoga. It's easy to become afraid of things we don't understand, especially practices that use a different language and come from a different culture. But fear also can be a God-given response that keeps us out of danger. As someone who was deeply involved in New Age and metaphysical practices, I can tell you from experience: There is a spiritual realm in this world. There are spiritual battles being fought. And there are frightening things from which we need to run—even if, like that Ouija board, they look benign on the surface.

Holly Vicente Robaina, a regular contributor to Today's Christian Woman, lives in California.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Other Christianity Today articles on yoga and meditation include:

Yes To Yoga | Can a Christian breathe air that has been offered to idols? (May 19, 2005)

Good Question
Dangerous Meditations | What harm is there in achieving a higher state of consciousness through meditation? (Nov. 16, 2004)

The Higher Self Gets Down to Business | An old movement appears anew—in the corporate world. (Jan. 24, 2003)

SIDEBAR
Prosperity Consciousness | How the higher self gets into business. (Jan. 24, 2003)

SIDEBAR
Utopia or Kingdom Come? | Discerning wheat from chaff in the new business spirituality. (Jan. 24, 2003)

Weighed Down by Karmic Debt | Aspects of Tibetan spirituality should give Christians pause. (June 8, 2001)

Buddhism's Guru | The Dalai Lama, a spiritual hero to millions, works to liberate Tibet, calls on spirits, and believes Jesus lived previous lives. (June 8, 2001)

Basic Buddhism | What the Dalai Lama and his followers believe about God, Buddha, and other teachings. (June 8, 2001)

Blood and Tears in Tibet | The Dalai Lama says he appreciates Christian attempts to address persecution in his homeland. (June 8, 2001)

Inside CT: Straight Outta Dharamsala | Behind James A. Beverley's report on the Dalai Lama (June 8, 2001)

Field of TM Dreams | Fairfield, Iowa, of all places, is now a major world center for Transcendental Meditation, and local Christians are figuring out how best to evangelize Maharishi's devotees. (Jan. 12, 2001)

SIDEBAR
Mere Transcendental Meditation | The basic concepts of neo-Vedanta philosophy. (Jan. 12, 2001)

SIDEBAR
Sometimes It Takes a Miracle | Jim Sieber found Christ more sufficient than self-realization. (Jan. 12, 2001)

Our sister publications have more articles on yoga and New Age religion:

The Truth About Yoga | Yoga led Laurette Willis into a New Age lifestyle. Now she's warning others of the spiritual pitfalls—and offering an alternative. (Today's Christian Woman, March/April 2005)

Is Yoga Really So Bad? | The truth behind this exercise sensation (Today's Christian Woman, September/October 2001)

Escape from the Spirit Guides | How one woman's quest led to the dark side of the New Age, where she encountered spirits that wouldn't let her leave (Today's Christian, July/August 1997)

Beliefnet has an article about Christians trying to bring yoga into a Christian context.

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June (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49