| Over the years, I've been asked this question | | | | was interviewing a rabbi and a priest. During the |
| several times. It usually takes the form of | | | | interview the priest indicated that he and the rabbi |
| something like this: "Ken, I'm a Christian and I | | | | would eventually meet again when they died -- in |
| want to study Tai Chi, but I'm worried that it isn't | | | | heaven. I turned to my Christian relative and said, |
| compatible with my Christian beliefs. Is it?" | | | | "Jews don't really believe in heaven, do they?" |
| I need to let you know that I grew up in | | | | This very intelligent Christian replied, "I don't know |
| Southern, conservative, fundamentalist Christian | | | | what they believe and I don't want to know." |
| churches. I was baptized. | | | | I was stunned at the willing lack of understanding |
| I can also tell you very clearly that there is | | | | -- the conscious dismissal of knowledge that |
| nothing religious about Tai Chi or any other martial | | | | would shed light on a different belief. I believe |
| art, including boxing, wrestling, fencing, karate, or | | | | knowledge is understanding, and drove away |
| tae-kwon-do. | | | | from his house that day very disappointed, |
| Americans are not always well-informed about | | | | realizing that he was not as intelligent as I |
| other cultures, and sometimes they jump to | | | | previously thought. |
| conclusions about things they don't understand. My | | | | This article was triggered by something I saw |
| daughter had a yin-yang sticker on her notebook | | | | online recently -- Christian Tai Chi. The site was |
| in junior high school, and a couple of girls accused | | | | designed by a man who -- for some unknown |
| her of being Satanic. | | | | reason -- believed that he couldn't follow Jesus |
| My daughter, a very sweet girl, learned a lot | | | | and study Tai Chi at the same time. He didn't |
| during that time about how ignorant and | | | | want to give up the art, so he changed it, infusing |
| narrow-minded some people can be. Often, | | | | it with Christianity. |
| however, these people are reflecting what | | | | I found this attitude to be quite extremist. Would |
| they've heard elsewhere. | | | | this person feel that bowling has to be modified |
| Naturally, not all Christians are this way -- I've | | | | to reflect his religion? How about baseball or |
| been a member of Methodist churches as an | | | | basketball? A martial art is no different from any |
| adult that were very tolerant of other views. | | | | sport -- coming from another country does not |
| There is nothing Satanic about the yin/yang | | | | make it different. It requires practice to develop |
| symbol and absolutely nothing religious about Tai | | | | physical skills just like any other sport. |
| Chi. You can believe anything you want from a | | | | A week or so ago, I received yet another email |
| spiritual perspective and still enjoy Tai Chi. | | | | from someone asking if Tai Chi was compatible |
| Let's look at it from different perspectives. Tai | | | | with his Christian beliefs. I decided to write this |
| Chi is a martial art. Is there something in | | | | article after seeing the Christian Tai Chi ad and |
| Christianity that prevents its members from | | | | receiving the email so closely together. |
| learning to defend themselves? I don't remember | | | | Tai Chi was developed in a nation that is |
| being taught anything like that in Sunday School. | | | | predominantly Taoist and Buddhist. Karate was |
| There was a lot of fighting in the Old Testament, | | | | developed in a non-Christian nation. Tae-kwon-do |
| as I recall. David was pretty good with weapons. | | | | was developed in a non-Christian nation. So was |
| He had to be, to slay Goliath. | | | | Krav Maga (Jewish). The fact that it was |
| Another tremendous benefit of Tai Chi is the | | | | developed in a non-Christian nation does not make |
| relaxation that comes from using it as moving | | | | it non-Christian. Fireworks were created in China. I |
| meditation. Is there something in Christianity that | | | | don't know of anyone who attends a Fourth of |
| forbids its members from relaxing and calming | | | | July celebration that avoids watching fireworks |
| themselves? Perhaps some of the zealous ones | | | | because they are anti-Christian, do you? |
| believe instead of calming the mind you should | | | | In the Seventies I studied tae-kwon-do and never |
| turn it all over to Jesus. If that works for you | | | | heard anything religious. I know a lot of Christians |
| that's fine. But there is nothing religious about | | | | who are deep into karate and it doesn't seem to |
| relaxing, calming, meditating. | | | | be an issue at all. They're fine folks and I consider |
| The practice of chi kung is often part of a Tai Chi | | | | them among my favorite people in the world. |
| class, but you don't think of religion when you're | | | | I've been in hundreds of Tai Chi classes as a |
| doing chi kung. You think of your breathing, | | | | student and I've taught hundreds of classes and |
| energy visualization, and calming the mind and | | | | nothing religious has ever been discussed. Only |
| body. It's very restful and replenishes your | | | | relaxing, calming, and body mechanics to help you |
| system just like taking a nap. There is nothing | | | | develop powerful martial arts. |
| religious about taking a nap. | | | | In fact, the centering aspects of tai chi can help |
| Some people -- when meditating -- try to feel a | | | | you remain calm in any crisis. Instead of reacting |
| connection between themselves and the universe. | | | | to tension with anger, you can relax and think |
| But this is not in conflict with Christianity, either. If | | | | things through more rationally. I've used this in |
| God created the universe, why would you NOT | | | | potentially violent situations and was able to "turn |
| want to be One with it? | | | | the other cheek" to avoid violence. |
| There is nothing religious about that but I suppose | | | | The bottom line is simple -- the next time |
| if you need to, you could assume that you are | | | | someone wonders if studying Tai Chi will violate |
| becoming One with God. | | | | their religious principles, tell them to stop being silly |
| After the terrorist attacks of 9-11, I was at a | | | | and open their minds to knowledge from other |
| very intelligent fundamentalist Christian's home (a | | | | parts of the world. It might just improve their |
| relative of mine) watching the news. The anchor | | | | lives. |