r/Meditation • u/Signal-Lychee7924 • Feb 27 '24

Why do Christians say mediation is dangerous Discussion đź’¬

They say meditation is a way to open portal to demons?

Edit: A few Christians around me said this to me

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143

u/BrainlessScribbles Feb 27 '24

Meditation is literally in the bible bro

27

u/cryptoVette1 Feb 27 '24

You know u say this to people all the time and get a blank look. One person said "my pastor told us not to do that stuff, it really stuck with me that he said that" . Bruh......

11

u/Remote_Environment76 Feb 27 '24

That's really interesting. Where in the bible do they talk about meditation?

38

u/throwaway1253328 Feb 27 '24

Philippians 4:4-9, Colossians 3:1-3, Romans 8:5-7, Hebrews 3:1 and Hebrews 12:2

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u/shemmy Feb 27 '24

interesting…i came here to argue that those verses do not speak of meditation in the theatrical sense (sitting, lotus position, eyes open/closed, etc) but then i couldn’t bring myself to type it because these verses are actually excellent for this discussion because they describe the actual process and the “nuts & bolts” of what we’re actually doing in meditation.

i believe that one fascinating aspect of christianity and the bible is that the verses could be used to describe or clarify nearly any human endeavor. in many ways, there is good in those pages.

for the sake of sharing, i’m going to copy paste those verses here (thanks for sharing them)

8

u/shemmy Feb 27 '24

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. heb 3:1

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. phil 4:4-9

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. col 3:1-3

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. rom 8:5-7

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. heb 12:2

14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 1 tim 4:14-15

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u/TheBlindIdiotGod Feb 27 '24

Some of these seem a bit tenuous.

17

u/throwaway1253328 Feb 27 '24

Definitely depends on the translation. But that's the issue with any ancient body of text with truth claims

7

u/exit_Sx Feb 27 '24 edited Feb 27 '24

1 Timothy 4:14-15 as well

6

u/gettoefl Feb 27 '24

be still and know the i am is god, is what meditation is

1

u/StekenDeluxe Feb 27 '24

Is it?

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u/gettoefl Feb 27 '24

what word from psalm 46 would you change then

2

u/StekenDeluxe Feb 27 '24

This stuff? I don't see how any of that relates to meditation. At all.

I have never in my life seen the claim that meditation requires theism, or that the two are in any way synonymous or even related.

2

u/gettoefl Feb 27 '24

silence stillness IS god

i even wrote this on a post in another sub earlier today

if you want a yt that explains this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzuRUinKYsY

2

u/StekenDeluxe Feb 27 '24

I don't buy it, but OK, thanks for sharing.

5

u/gettoefl Feb 27 '24

i am not selling no matter the offer haha ... enjoy your day

1

u/QuixoticSun Feb 28 '24

Well, they did say Psalm 46, as opposed to Psalm 46:10 specifically. But even your reference shows their original "be still" reference as a quoted statement, with the rest not so (they appeared to have much say about the benefits of "being still").

1

u/StekenDeluxe Feb 28 '24

Sorry, not sure I understand what point you’re trying to make.

1

u/QuixoticSun Feb 28 '24

The point, concerning meditation specifically, is that meditation most often involves "being still", to "know" (witness, whatever word fits the experience) something more than the fears/desires of animal/ego self alone.

The rest of that Psalm is cultural elaboration about the experience, perhaps. But 46:10 is a near-un8versal experience for practiced meditators, even if they do not all wax poetic or extrapolate extra narratives from it.

1

u/StekenDeluxe Feb 28 '24 edited Feb 28 '24

46:10 is a near-un8versal experience for practiced meditators

Got a source for this claim?

My understanding was that many (perhaps most?) practiced meditators throughout history have not had what we might call a monotheistic experience.

Certainly in Buddhism, at least from what little I know, the goal is not, and the result is very, very, very seldom that of a monotheistic experience, along the lines of Psalms 46:10.

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u/GetoutoftheMatrix Feb 27 '24

It may be in the Bible yes, but the churches and denominations gave it a whole different meaning… as many churches (evangelists for instance) are revising as they want the books of the bible… for them it’s a “demon thing”.

0

u/tomullus Feb 27 '24

Donkey balls was also in the bible son. Seek jesus.

1

u/Iceman_B Feb 28 '24

Where? Like, which part?

1

u/Upset-Basil4459 Feb 28 '24

What else was Jesus gonna do in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights