|
 Charles Crenshaw and Rev. Dr. Thomas Brown explore the connections between religious belief, mysticism, the essence of (union), worship, prayer and recent scientific observations about our brains, at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.
 | | | "That physical, cultural aspect of yoga?is one part of a science. The goal of the science is Union with God -- or Union with The Divine or Divine Consciousness...or Christ Consciousness." -- Charles Crenshaw | |
Crenshaw positions yoga (and other meditative practices) as the link between what many erroneouly consider the distinct ? or even contradictory ? realms of science and religion: "Yoga is being popularized in the media?basically 'Come. Learn how become a world class gymnast.' If you're 40 years old, it's not going to happen. If you're 30 years old and your have never done anything it's not going to happen.... There are people who are going to come to the physical cultural aspect of yoga and they are going to be able to do extraordinary things?but some people, again, are going to come and they are going to be just like any kid who was born in the era of Michael Jordon: 'I want to be like Mike' You're not going to grow up to be Mike. You don't have the genes. It's just not going to happen..... "That physical cultural aspect of yoga?.is one part of a science. The goal of the science is Union with God. Or Union with The Divine. Or Divine Consciousness. Or God Consciousness. Or Christ Consciousness. "What is the use of the physical culture? If your body is healthy, it won't disturb you when are trying to sit and have this communion. [Likewise] If your mind is healthy ... Now granted, the physical body of many mystics have been, in some cases, absolutely, totally of no consequence -- the body was not useful to them at all. But great spiritual power overcame the lack of use of the body...you can think of the Apostle Paul? "Breath, mind and body: those actually are the major focuses of yoga. Breath leading your mind to a quite place so that you can really go beyond the mind and beyond the breath. And this is when direct experience then starts then to occur."
Dr. Brown delves further into our neurological responses to religious worship, ritual, prayer and even music. The book Why God Won't Go Away: Brain Science and the Biology of Belief, by Andrew Newberg, etal, expanded his appreciation for various styles of religious worship: "I'm a black Baptist preacher [and] college professor -- yoga, meditation, Hindu, Buddhist religion, world religions professor?.I've always been a strong critic [of] my own cultural tradition, in the African American and Native Indian traditions of worship styles: the intensive, emotive feeling that goes on, the actions -- when I love peace, silence and quietness. I don't need noise to feel God! But I understood after I read this, that they began to show very clearly what that does for the mind and what that mind does for the body.... The emotionalism.--.the choir can sing, and everybody could jump and clap ?people can shout and all that -- I had a critical view of that until I began to read....there was a therapeutic process."
Dr. Brown found that same, sustaining therapeutic process within Southern White evagelical churches in his studies:" In the religious practice of workshop there is a neurological response that is helped." The dialogue ends with a discusion of love vs. fear, the essential unity of all love-based paths to union with God, and a Q&A session. Panel: - Rev. Charles Crenshaw
Director
Inner Peace Yoga Center - Rev. Dr. Thomas Brown
Pastor
Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church
Event Sponsor: Additional Resources |
