(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY JIM FLINK

Is the practice of yoga, contradictory to the teaching of Christianity? Yes -- according to a leading Baptist scholar. But not everyone in the Christian camp agrees.

We’re analyzing coverage of the issue from AlbertMohler.com, The Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Time Magazine, Care2 and BeliefNet.

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler raised the specter of yoga versus Christianity on his blog -- saying the two -- cannot co-exist.

“When Christians practice yoga, they must either deny the reality of what yoga represents or fail to see the contradictions between their Christian commitments and their embrace of yoga. We are not called to escape the consciousness of this world by achieving an elevated state of consciousness, but to follow Christ in the way of faithfulness.”

The Jackson Clarion-Ledger says, Mohler’s position certainly isn’t unique.

“The Web sites of other doctrinally conservative churches contain writings warning of physical and meditative practices linked to historic Eastern religions. That theme has been sounded by many conservative evangelicals since the 1960s when such practices grew in popularity in the West.”

TIME magazine concurs, and says, the Catholic church too has warned of eastern influences on faith.

“Though connecting yoga with the occult seems like a bit of a dramatic overstatement, Mohler's post heeds his own warning to the Christian population, claiming that ‘most seem unaware that yoga cannot be neatly separated into physical and spiritual dimensions.’

On the webiste, Kyria, a former yoga enthusiast says, it urges practitioners to clear their mind, which is dangerous.

"If there's nothing in your mind, you're open to all kinds of deception."

But Care2 says, that kind of fear misunderstands yoga.

“Ultimately yoga is not about the physical body, but about revealing one’s true self and one’s connection to God, regardless of one’s religion.”

And on BeliefNet, a contributor says, lots of Christians tend to fear -- what they cannot or refuse to understand.

“I know of many people, including myself, who have greatly benefited from crossing over into what fundamentalists consider forbidden territory.

So -- is yoga contrary to Christianity?