That seems to be the conclusion of a new survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
Among other things, it finds that nearly six in 10 Americans from all religions blend their faith with New Age and Eastern beliefs, like astrology, reincarnation, and the spiritual – not just physical – benefits of yoga.
The Pew Forum’s Alan Cooperman said: “”What we’re really finding here that we haven’t known before is how much Americans mix and match their religious beliefs and practices. That is, how often people who are regular churchgoers also believe in things like astrology and reincarnation. Individual Americans hold within themselves elements of diverse religious traditions. And they practice in many cases, more than one faith.”
Consider this example:
Glenda Somerville was raised in a strict Catholic family — her father is a Roman Catholic deacon and her mother is deeply religious. Somerville still considers herself a Catholic, but regularly attends Protestant services, and attends retreats and prayer groups with non-Catholics.“I’m not just Roman Catholic,” she said. “I believe in worshiping with other people because I do believe that God embraces all of us — so I refuse to just ignore other people in their denominations.”
Somerville has been particularly moved by the role of women in churches, like Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Fort Washington, Md., where she often attends Sunday services.
“There are women who are ministers who understand and provide the message from a woman’s perspective,” she said. “And I don’t necessarily get that from Roman Catholic priests.”
“I’ve been in Hindu temples, I’ve been in Sufi ceremonies, I’ve participated in various rituals associated with yoga and meditation associated with Buddhism,” said Jayne Tear, a member of the Jewish Romemu Center in New York City. “Any place where people are getting in touch with their own sense of the divine. It would be an honor for me to be in the room.”
There’s much more at the link.
posted December 11, 2009 at 10:11 am
One of the last things for me to let go of from my ‘Cafeteria Catholicism’ was yoga. It took a lot of work by the Holy Spirit, but eventually, I think for the most part, I finally got it. It’s a great example of how satan uses such “pretty packaging” to suck us in, as who wants to willingly give up a good yoga workout?
IMO, New Age, and especially Yoga, has been one of the most effective tactics of satan to destroy the faith. I couldn’t do the damage justice in a blog post, but for any interested, here’s the Vatican Document on New Age:
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_20030203_new-age_en.html
Johnette Benkovich and Father Pawca on EWTN also speak and write much on the dangers of New Age. Catholic Answers (Catholic.com), also features it regularly on the daily talk radio show. It’s not even uncommon to find yoga and reiki at Catholic retreats and parishes; never a good sign. I think it’s easier for Catholics to understand the “why not” of birth control than it is the perils of New Age, especially yoga and reiki.
It always amazes when I hear the public outcry against “Church and state”, when at the same time, we have New Age infiltration just about everywhere. I recently took a friend for chemo in San Diego, only to discover the entire (much extolled), “clinic” was all New Agey. My friend being a devout Catholic, had such an aversion she changed doctors. It’s also not uncommon to find reiki within the nursing homes (good thing to check out before you check in a loved one), or yoga classes within the public school system. Even a lot of health insurance and corporate wellness policies pay for yoga classes.
If we Catholics ever wanted to make a real case against “church and state”, this is true imposition, and at great peril. But hey, they would only laugh, so good luck for anyone willing to take that one on. Last but not least, a big thanks to Oprah, who has done more to harm souls than any public figure in my lifetime, all of course, “nicely packaged.”
posted December 11, 2009 at 10:36 am
Interesting article. As a very ecumenically minded person who is close to her Jewish relatives and her many, many numerous Episcopalian friends, Muslim friends, as well as friends of other faiths, I am struck by this piece.
While I may be very ecumenically minded, I am also aware of how we can slide away from the centrality of our faith and into some mix-n-match practice. To each their own, but that is not really practicing the Roman Catholic faith.
I have one friend, a person I love dearly. He goes to all kinds of churches, all Christian, but never settles at one. With all due respect, I see him feel good about going here and there, but he never commits himself to one place, one community.
This also touches on the numerous people (of whom I was once one) who operate under the “spiritual but not religious” banner.
It is food for thought. Faith – whatever faith, should be a committed practice and is not always comfortable or fun.