a Christian view of Meditation

[Leyla]

>I study Wicca as an outsider so forgive my ignorance but wasn't it created >in the 1950's by Gerald Gardner?
   
   Well I suppose I can forgive your ignorance just this one time.  In Neolithic (7,000-3,500 BC) Old Europe first developed the Mystery tradition of the Mother Earth Goddess and God of The Hunt and Harvest. It began in the Mediterranean regions and moved across Europe merging with the Etruscans and then the Celts, etc. They were an agricultural and peaceful people.
      Very simply put, it was the religion the native people of Europe had before the Romans invaded and brought Christianity.
      It couldn't quite be stamped out entirely however, and many Christian holidays including Christmas and Easter spring from the older pagan holidays, also many local gods and goddesses were absorbed and called "Saint's" e.g. St. Bridget was the goddess Bridget (also called Bride or Breed) of the Celts.
      To say that Gardner invented it, or even re-invented it wouldn't be correct, because it never really went away in the first place.

>There is no "official" Christian stance on meditation.    
Heh heh. I'm sure individual Christians might deviate, but I suggest you speak to any pastor/preacher/priest/deacon on the matter. Unless it's a unitarian church he will inform you in no uncertain terms that it is all devil worship. He might even arrange to have hands laid on you and the demons called out.   

[James S]

quote:Leyla

There is no "official" Christian stance on meditation.
Heh heh. I'm sure individual Christians might deviate, but I suggest you speak to any pastor/preacher/priest/deacon on the matter. Unless it's a unitarian church he will inform you in no uncertain terms that it is all devil worship. He might even arrange to have hands laid on you and the demons called out.

Oh yeah, have you ever got that right!
That has happened to me more times than I care to remember!! Just couldn't  seem to be one of the sheep on that one. Had to keep going off and trying to explore other spiritual ideas. Smack... Bad wayward backslider, Bad!

James S
(Fate amenable to change)

[k2sixx]

A few Christian's gave this following definition for meditation: retreating within yourself.

Also, he denied the fact that OBE's had any relation with the Bible.

Now, I wouldn't mind finding a religion.  Christianity or Catholicism were the only options for me for most of my childhood.  I'm still young, but I don't know if I will ever undertake a belief system (it may hinder spiritual development?).  So, I am posting this for some comments on this Christian comment.