About sophrology ????

Yes, I remember it. Those saying no christian should take karate sounded just as ridiculous.

 

The breathing techniques in most things such as the OP brought up are based on Eastern meditation. These breathing techniques are actually ways to induce self-hypnosis (a light trance state). In this state, the judgment and critical thinking are suspended. If one does these things systematically, there are results (that are not good). I did this for 15 years.

 

Imo, it depends on how the teacher is teaching it. I am asked a lot about martial arts. The soft martial arts such as aikido and tai chi should be avoided because they deal directly with spiritual beliefs and are based on them.

Karate is a hard martial art - the moves can be taught as defense.

But many karate teachers have the students meditate and often the students must bow to a photo or picture of a dead teacher in that lineage. This brings up other issues some Christians are not comfortable with. The atmosphere of some karate studios is very Eastern - so it depends a lot on the teacher and the school it's in.

But this off-topic - if you want to discuss it, you should start a thread.

 

So what? Our days of the week are based on idolatry. Several of the names of the month are implimented to honor false gods. Our numerals came from Islam. The handshake is an idolatrous ritual. Unless you abandon those first, you're not being consistent.

No need. Karate doesn't compromise my faith, not in the slightest. If someone else finds it compromises their faith, then they should refrain. But if they insist that others also must refrain, then they don't have a scriptural leg to stand on.

 

Yes, I know this but using the days of the week is not a spiritual practice. There is a distinction between days of the week and practicing some of the things I address in my ministry. There is no valid analogy here.

I also find that many times, people don't think something is affecting them, but it ends up doing so. I did not say you should not do karate - I said something about it above.

 

You hit the nail on the head: SPIRITUAL practice. Using feng shui techniques when decorating one's home is not a spiritual practice.

And when they do, then they shoud cease. That does not, however, mean that everyone who does these things is guilty of occultism.

 

I think my information in the articles on Feng Shui show clearly that it is.

 

You're presuming spiritual application in a practical application, where no spiritual application exists.

 

Feng Shui is not based on practical application; the goal is not to have nice decor. The goal is manipulating chi, yin and yang, harmonizing the 5 elements, and bringing "good luck" to areas of life.

I think it is highly possible you did not use real Feng Shui, but rather a Westernized watered-down form of it. It takes a long time to learn Feng Shui.

 

I was just thinking that organizing a room and making colors work may not necessarily be feng shui just because you call it that.

 

Right. In fact, that is not Feng Shui. As I've said over and over, Feng Shui is not a decorating scheme. It is a form of geomancy, the belief that placement of objects or land shapes has spiritual and real affects on one's prosperity, health, love life, etc.

http://healing.about.com/od/glossary/g/geomancy.htm

http://www.geomantic.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui

 

Marcia, I built my house on a Vortex in Sadona, AZ. Is that bad? :smilewinkgrin:

 

From my casual observance of this thread... I think there is a fundamental misunderstanding between John and Marcia on "energy"...

Would each of you define what you mean by "Energy" when doing interior decorating?

BTW... I see some good points in both of your arguments.

 

I don't think you live in Sedona. :tongue3:

 

Energy as used in Feng Shui and the New Age and occult (and a myriad of animistic beliefs/practices) is unquantifiable and is part of a spiritual belief system. It is not natural, like electricity. Sometimes this energy is equated with God, sometimes not. But manipulating, channeling, and attempts to control such energy, for whatever purpose, is a central belief in and part of occult and animistic practice. Many things are based on this principle, such as Reiki, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, energy healing, and many others.

 

You know, the feel, the expression of tension or relaxation in an room, the flow, the vibe, the harmoniousness, the bow chicka wow wow.

 

This is what I was beginning to think you meant by "energy." What you mean here is atmosphere, I think. And this is not chi nor the occult energy I define above (and how others define it). Therefore, if you decorate according to this, you are not using Feng Shui.

 

Problem solved. :smilewinkgrin: When I was single I had some feng shui. If I had the energy to get the sofa in the house, wherever I stopped, that's where it went.

 

Like I've been saying all along, it's not unscriptural to use some PRINCPLIES of Feng Shui to decorate a room. I'm been saying all along that simply using some principles doesn't equate to engaging in an occultic practice.

 

I think she might be questioning wether or not you actually are using feng shui principles.