We recently received an email from someone who asked whether a practice known as Meditative Forest Bathing is appropriate for a Catholic retreat. If it was just a matter of taking a stroll through the forest - yes - but Meditative Forest Bathing isn't quite that simple.
By Connie RossiniWe have been studying My Soul Thirsts for God, for the Living God, a document on prayer released by Spain’s bishops in September. Last time, we discussed the theological foundations for prayer. Now we get into the heart of the document, applying these theological foundations to popular spiritual practices, especially those originating in Buddhism.
Saint John's Bible (Image courtsy of Wikicommons, cjstirlbyu, CC BY-SA 4.0)We recently had a question from a reader who is concerned about an upcoming retreat at her parish, which will teach a method of prayer known as Visio Divina, and wondered if this is another New Age prayer gimmick.
The Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith for Spain’s Bishops Conference has issued a document warning Catholics that they risk abandoning the faith by using mindfulness and other methods of meditation that do not originate in Christianity.
DJ writes: “Could you explain the difference between Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Body Scan Meditation? They both seem like the same thing to me.”
We recently received the following feedback from a follower of our ministry who was once a reader of the controversial Jesus Calling book by Sarah Young but found something so much better she wanted to share it with the rest of us.
MG asks: "I was wondering if someone could give me information on Mandala meditation and Labyrinth walking. My church is planning a retreat for high schoolers and these two things are included in the retreat."
AJ asks: “I have been hearing about these beads called chokti beads that you use while praying and focusing on your breathing. Is this a Christian practice? It sounds eastern to me!”
More than 82,000 American people have signed on to a petition demanding that public schools in the United States stop forcing Buddhist meditation practices such as mindfulness on students in violation of their religious liberty.
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