Huh, Christians are anti-meditation? (bump c&p)

[downtoearth]

So I was reading this thread about a woman who was listening to hypnobabies tracks on her i-pod when her husband "expressed concern over the fact that I was allowing myself to be hypnotized and opening myself up to potential spiritual oppression." The crazy thing is that her DH also doesn't understand why she wouldn't just get an epi...so epis are good and Christian b/c your mind is blocked from the pain by a chemical, but hypnobabies might bring in the devil?!

From the other responses, fellow Christians agree that hypnobabies might be un-Christian, but meditation/deep relaxation was okay with some. I don't think anyone commented on epis aside from OP.

Maybe it's me as an atheist, but growing up Catholic and with a sister who went to Jesuit graduate school, I know there are a lot of silent retreats, meditation, and fasts to help foster spirituality and are taught or valued, so really how different is hypnobabies from that?!

Am I missing some weird component of Christianity where you can't retreat from complete consciousness or even zone out?

Link: community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/67417915.aspx


-------------Actual post from the Bump---------------

I've hesitated writing this for a few days because I don't want to start anything about religion but I feel like I need to post this for fear of my new dilemma getting in the way of the birth that I'm hoping for this time.

First off, DH and I are Christians. We take that seriously and make it our goal to align our lives with what is pleasing to God.

Second, a friend lent me her hypnobabies home study course to look into and, after reading up through the first week and listening to the first tracks a couple times, I had decided that I was really excited about this method and looking forward to studying it more.

Then, on a car trip this past Saturday, I got out my iPod to listen to a track and DH asked what I was listening to. When I told him, he expressed concern over the fact that I was allowing myself to be hypnotized and opening myself up to potential spiritual oppression. I explained to him that I wasn't being brainwashed and that there was nothing "demonic" or against God on these tracks. In turn, he said that I was still allowing myself to lose some consciousness and that could potentially allow bad spirits into my self and he didn't feel comfortable with what I was doing. And, to a point, I agree with him - spiritual warfare is real. I don't want to go against him and I don't want to possibly be opening myself up to anything bad, but I was really bummed that that was the outcome of our conversation and have been having doubts about hypnobabies ever since. In the end, he told me that he had spoken his piece and that he would leave it at that and support whatever my final decision is. But I'm just not convinced one way or the other - that it could or wouldn't open me up to something bad.

So...what are your thoughts? I'm not looking for anyone to bash my (our) beliefs or my husband so please don't take this there...

------------------F/U from OP----------------------------------
Thank you all so much for the replies. Part of my excitement for the hypnobabies came from feeling like I'd be able to go through it on my own w/o relying a lot on DH to coach me through labor. He supports my desire for a natural birth but is one of those that doesn't fully understand why I just wouldn't want to go for the epi again like I did with DD. His explanation for that is that he doesn't want me to suffer needlessly. He means nothing wrong by it, he just doesn't get why I want to "go through all that pain" when I don't "need" to. So maybe we can talk and pray about this more and perhaps choosing a different route would get him more involved, which I would love. I'm glad we've got some time to figure this out. And that I decided to post this.

[Deleted]

Many conservative Christians are anti-meditation because they view it as a form of prayer to someone other than God. The thought being that one should meditate on the word of God and not vague spirituality or otherwise. This is also why some are anti yoga.

[downtoearth]

Jul 19, 2012 7:42:41 GMT -5 @habbsies said:

Many conservative Christians are anti-meditation because they view it as a form of prayer to someone other than God. The thought being that one should meditate on the word of God and not vague spirituality or otherwise. This is also why some are anti yoga.

So if you are dreaming at night and it's not about God or something Christian - plus it's a subconscious thought, is that a problem?

It's a confusing world to me when Catholics are actually "liberal" - I live in a very sheltered atheist world.

[teflep]

1) I don't think they are catholic. It says Christian
2). Why, downtoearth, are you putting liberal in quotes?

[ChillyMcFreeze]

Her H sounds like a nutter.

[downtoearth]

Jul 19, 2012 7:57:50 GMT -5 teflep said:

2). Why, downtoearth, are you putting liberal in quotes?

No big deal, just that not all Catholics are "liberal" in CEP type settings or voting with politics, but they do seem to be a little more liberal in their approach to Christianity, but I'm not familiar with very conservative Christians IRL, so I wasn't sure if that was the correct usage.

[teflep]

Jul 19, 2012 8:03:59 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

Jul 19, 2012 7:57:50 GMT -5 teflep said:

2). Why, downtoearth, are you putting liberal in quotes?

No big deal, just that not all Catholics are "liberal" in CEP type settings or voting with politics, but they do seem to be a little more liberal in their approach to Christianity, but I'm not familiar with very conservative Christians IRL, so I wasn't sure if that was the correct usage.

I am not sure what a liberal approach to Christianity is, but I get your explanation on the quotes

[heliocentric]

Jul 19, 2012 7:42:41 GMT -5 @habbsies said:

Many conservative Christians are anti-meditation because they view it as a form of prayer to someone other than God. The thought being that one should meditate on the word of God and not vague spirituality or otherwise. This is also why some are anti yoga.

This is what my parents believe. Meditating about the Bible or praying is OK, but other types of meditation are frowned upon and apparently some kind of slippery slope to evil.

[EloiseWeenie]

Is hypnobabies actually hypnosis or is it just relaxation? I just assumed it was a relaxation technique. I remember reading several years a go that those that are religious usually can't be hypnotized (something about strong convictions, it's been years since I read it and I wish I remembered more).

Many of my Christian friends have gone without meds and some have used hypnobabies. You aren't praying to another god, and I don't believe that you are opening yourself up to dark spirits (which if she is a Christian than she most likely believes she is "sealed with the Spirit" which means that demons or whatever could not overcome her).

[pamela]

I struggled with this a bit in high school when I was really learning more about my faith and other traditions. What I came across at least from <u>a</u> Catholic perspective is that mediation itself isn't inherently wrong, but there is some "danger" in mediating with the goal to clear your mind because that could open you up for evil influences. But mediating on God, or on the sacred mysteries like done with the rosary is encouraged because it's focused on God and making yourself open to and asking for His influence.

I'm just not sure of the logistics of how you actually do that. I thinking I'm incapable of actually mediating on something. My mind really does wander way too much and minutes later I "wake up" and have to remind myself what I'm supposed to be doing.

[2curlydogs]

Jul 19, 2012 8:34:40 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

Is hypnobabies actually hypnosis or is it just relaxation? I just assumed it was a relaxation technique. I remember reading several years a go that those that are religious usually can't be hypnotized (something about strong convictions, it's been years since I read it and I wish I remembered more).

Many of my Christian friends have gone without meds and some have used hypnobabies. You aren't praying to another god, and I don't believe that you are opening yourself up to dark spirits (which if she is a Christian than she most likely believes she is "sealed with the Spirit" which means that demons or whatever could not overcome her).

I didn't use Hypnobabies but I'd wager the effectiveness depends on how much you practice and your personality when you're in labor. For some (like selfie, for example) it's just relaxation but for others it's actual self-hypnosis.


The OB who taught our hypnosis classes said that she would have issues with very religious nurses deliberately interrupting mothers trying to use hypnosis for labor.

[Deleted]

I always thought meditation was frowned on by most religions because it encourages clear thinking.

[EloiseWeenie]

Oh, I forgot to add that meditation is considered one of the spiritual disciplines in Christianity. Traditionally, you are to meditate on scripture.

Eta: David frequently wrote in psalms to "meditate on your word"

[teflep]

Jul 19, 2012 9:07:36 GMT -5 @reeve said:

I always thought meditation was frowned on by most religions because it encourages clear thinking.

I feel as if this needs an lol. It does, and is why many religions encourage it.

[bleubook]

I'm catholic, I do yoga, I take neither teaching literally.

[Deleted]

i don't get it. if your belief is that christ is always in you and with you and part of you, how are these evil influences going to get in and take control? let's just say you're a christian who is self-hypnotizing or mediating and, while doing so, it occurs to you that maybe god isn't real. if god is within you, won't you be able to mentally work your way back around that thought? perhaps i was raised with extra-super-duper questioning catholic jesuit priests, but i'd always understood questioning AND taking things on faith as integral parts of a whole-person christianity.

is she worried about demonic possession? is that what we're talking about here? because, well, i just don't have a response for that.

[downtoearth]

Jul 19, 2012 9:51:54 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

It's incorrect praying: www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19891015_meditazione-cristiana_en.html

It's also considered Gnostic:
www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/interelg/documents/rc_pc_interelg_doc_20030203_new-age_en.html#1.4. The New Age and Catholic Faith

I don't doubt your sources or the information, it's just funny coming from someone with the screenname "Voodoo."

[statlerwaldorf]

Jul 19, 2012 7:42:41 GMT -5 @habbsies said:

Many conservative Christians are anti-meditation because they view it as a form of prayer to someone other than God. The thought being that one should meditate on the word of God and not vague spirituality or otherwise. This is also why some are anti yoga.

I guess this makes sense. I always thought it was the downward dog.

[pamela]

Jul 19, 2012 9:51:54 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

It's incorrect praying: www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19891015_meditazione-cristiana_en.html

That is some really interesting reading.

[racegrrl714]

lol There was a big blow up locally about yoga and meditation when the local paper did a story about how one HS's business ed teacher was teaching her students stretching techniques to combat things like carpal tunnel and called it "chair yoga". You should have seen the comments that story got on the paper's website. Some of the locals were having a cow that their preshuses were getting taught the ways of the debil... lmao

[JLN]

Jul 19, 2012 8:34:40 GMT -5 EloiseWeenie said:

Is hypnobabies actually hypnosis or is it just relaxation? I just assumed it was a relaxation technique. I remember reading several years a go that those that are religious usually can't be hypnotized (something about strong convictions, it's been years since I read it and I wish I remembered more).

It's learning how to completely relax (especially your muscles) and meditate to fully concentrate on labor, keeping out all outside distractions. It's not actual hypnosis, per se.

[downtoearth]

Jul 19, 2012 11:38:53 GMT -5 racegrrl714 said:

lol There was a big blow up locally about yoga and meditation when the local paper did a story about how one HS's business ed teacher was teaching her students stretching techniques to combat things like carpal tunnel and called it "chair yoga". You should have seen the comments that story got on the paper's website. Some of the locals were having a cow that their preshuses were getting taught the ways of the debil... lmao

My mom is a public school PE teacher and teaches "balance stretches" - which basically are yoga poses but cannot be called that in the public school. Makes sense that you have to seperate the spiritual side of yoga from the physical for public schools, but I wouldn't have thought of it without hearing it was upsetting to Christians.

[Deleted]

www.tennessean.com/article/20110927/WILLIAMSON01/111223007/09-27-2011-Class-Franklin-church-stretches-God