Can TCMA and Christianity mix?

[Wuxia007]

Can a Christian practice TCMA without violating Christian doctrine/beliefs? For example; bowing to school alters, practicing Daoist concepts in taiji quan, the concept of Qi, practicing and/or promoting styles that are rooted in temples that worship deities other than the Judeo-Christian god, etc.

This question is not about arguing for which faith or religion is true. That's a completely different subject. Also, This question is not limited to only Christians. This question can be applied to many other faiths and/or circumstances in relation to practicing TCMA. People of all faiths are more than welcome to participate. I would love to hear your opinion. All I ask is for no religion bashing. Please be respectful.

[lkfmdc]

The old testement forbids graven images, yet the church certainly led to the production of many images of Jesus and Mary that were in effect worshiped. This led within Christianity to the debate over "icons" which at times was as violent as any crusade. Should we even mention that the old testement and the religion of Jesus himself taught that there is only ONE G'd.. and in many ways the doctrine of the holy trinity contradicts this.

Or perhaps we should mention that prior to about 350 AD at least half of those who indentified themselves as Christians din't in fact believe in the trinity and when forced to either conform or be cast out, they left and became Muslims.

Are martial arts in fact "religious"? Currenlty reading Meir Shahar and he argues rather convincingly that fighting was completely divorced from all these elements until the late Ming. He also has an entire chapter devoted to how Daoism,, Buddhism and Confucianism melted into eachother seemlessly, leading to the confusion so many westerners have as to what is really what

But I digress

[XinKuzi]

Sure. Why not?

It's up to you. If you're uptight, then you probably will see problems with mixing the two. If you're a reasonable person who happens to be Christian, while also being interested in Chinese martial arts - you will likely not see a reason to limit yourself to new experiences and perspectives. You will also most likely be a happier individual than the uptight type.

[YouKnowWho]

If your opponent punches on your right side of your face, you suppose to let him to punch on your left side of your face. If your opponent doesn't do that, you should punch yourself on the left side of your face, and help him to knock you out.

[lkfmdc]

If your opponent punches on your right side of your face, you suppose to let him to punch on your left side of your face. If your opponent doesn't do that, you should punch yourself on the left side of your face, and help him to knock you out.

I see what you did there..........

[SPJ]

If your opponent punches on your right side of your face, you suppose to let him to punch on your left side of your face. If your opponent doesn't do that, you should punch yourself on the left side of your face, and help him to knock you out.

Fighting is a means and not an end.

To achieve your tentative compromise or peace is the end.

We fluctuate between fights and tentative truces all the time.

There are many people that like Ye Fei the general fighting for Southern Song dynasty.

There are not that many people that like Qin Kuai the minister negotiated for a truce among Jin, Liao and Song.

Yin and yang coexist.

War and peace coexist.

Turing your other cheek or exchanging fists coexist.

It is a circle of Tao.

It is

--

[SPJ]

We may find conflicts of interests between 2 parties or 2 songs.

We may also find harmony or mutually acceptable compromise/middle ground between 2 parties or 2 songs.

Listen to 2 different tunes of songs. And then listen to the harmony of 2 different songs.

Arts of wars and arts of peace.

That is.

[-N-]

Just make sure to forgive after getting hit on the other cheek.

[Kellen Bassette]

The old testement forbids graven images, yet the church certainly led to the production of many images of Jesus and Mary that were in effect worshiped. This led within Christianity to the debate over "icons" which at times was as violent as any crusade. Should we even mention that the old testement and the religion of Jesus himself taught that there is only ONE G'd.. and in many ways the doctrine of the holy trinity contradicts this.

Or perhaps we should mention that prior to about 350 AD at least half of those who indentified themselves as Christians din't in fact believe in the trinity and when forced to either conform or be cast out, they left and became Muslims.

The graven images thing is prevalent in Catholicism and was imported from other religions. It is not common in most other branches of Christianity.

Many Protestant churches have continued the monotheistic doctrine from Judaism....that should probably be clarified when referring to Christians and the Trinity...it certainly doesn't apply to all branches....

[lkfmdc]

Many Protestant churches have continued the monotheistic doctrine from Judaism....that should probably be clarified when referring to Christians and the Trinity...it certainly doesn't apply to all branches....

Do you know a protestant movement that doesn't believe in the father, the son and the holy ghost?

[Kellen Bassette]

Do you know a protestant movement that doesn't believe in the father, the son and the holy ghost?

I know many protestant organizations that believe the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are different manifestations of one God.

For example, it is taught that Jesus was a man that God lived in, "He who has seen me has seen the Father," the Holy Spirit is taught as the spirit of God...it is called "Oneness" doctrine and is quite common...

A typical analogy would be to say that you may be a father, a husband, a coach, a business owner, but one person...it differs from Trinitarian theology which views Father, Son and Holy ghost as three separate entities, instead of different manifestations of the same entity....

[wenshu]

[GeneChing]

Our altar stood prominently in the hall and all the students faced it and bowed to it before and after classes. I remember thinking "you're asking me now?"

[Pipefighter]

Do you know a protestant movement that doesn't believe in the father, the son and the holy ghost?

Unfortunately, yes. Unitarians. Those guys really bug me...

[sanjuro_ronin]

Unfortunately, yes. Unitarians. Those guys really bug me...

Not just Unitarians though.
Jehovah's Witnesses, Christadelphians, Christian sciences, Oneness pentacostals and a few more.