www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Prayer Posture

And also this http://buddhist-christian.org/

If we talk about the posture only, then I must say that some of our praying posture came from pagan custom. Even raising our hands like I say in many icons has history older than Christianity.

I like saying my prayer in my room sitting cross-legged on the floor. I don't care what people say, if it is a lotus position, half lotus position or what any other position.
Why? Because it is part of the culture I came from, where sitting on the floor is part of culture.

Thus, to make you able to sit on the floor for a long time (for eating, chatting, watching TV, and yes, praying and meditating) you need to adopt a position that makes your spine erect.

Lotus position, half lotus position etc is quite normal and natural way of sitting for us. Even while working, although I sit on a chair, I often sit with both of my legs crossed.

Now, because of this, am I opened to demonic influence more than adopting Western posture of sitting on a chair?

I only have problem if a person "dogmatize" a posture and gave it meaning more than it is worth of.

Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon of Touchstone Magazine wrote an outstanding article on Standing, Lying, and Prostrating Before the Lord[/b] [orthodoxytoday.org].

I also blogged on the posture of prayer here [westernorthodox.blogspot.com].

[b]-----------
Western Orthodoxy Blog [westernorthodox.blogspot.com]

I sit in a semi-lotus position, with back erect, ALOT because I took ballet classes from the time I was very young, and it feels very, very comfortable for me to sit that way, even in my middle age.

I don't think that this is really what the threads were about...it was about a purposeful, dogmatic position for prayer meditation.

Alice

C'mon, Alice, now you're bragging--LOL. I heard you hadn't yet made it to 40.

BOB

Dear Alice,

Your point is exactly what I meant.

The posture itself, IMO, is a byproduct of culture which perhaps can be separated from the theological point.

The posture itself is not a problem. People pray in a way that his/her cultural upbringing taught. Either it is sitting on a chair, sitting on the floor, kneeling, prostrating, lifting hands, joining hands, etc.

The question is, if the posture itself in and on itself a gateway to a demonic influence?
If the New Age movement use these kind of posture for their purpose and identity, then I said they are hijacking the posture for their own purpose and attaching values and meaning beyond the posture itself.

If that is the case, I have problem with it. Especially with the attached New Age values and people who promote it.

Thus IMO, the theological and the mindset of the person is more a gateway for demonic influences. In short, I agree with Fr. Michael opinion.

Well, we can argue though, if the posture is not a by product of religious faith first then incorporated to culture and society. Yet some of the accepted Christian prayer posture is not uncommon for pagans. What make it different is the intention of the person adopting the posture.

One must make a distinction between the syncretism promoted by New Ager pseudo-Christians and the seeking out of cultural elements that can be baptised and integrated into the life of the Church. Pioneers in this are the Syro-Malankar Catholic monks of Kurisumala Ashram in Kerala seeking to be truly Syriac and truly Indian at the same time.
http://www.vagamon.com/kurisumala/kurisumala.htm

Alice,

Another interesting tidbit is that in the Latin Church, in the Dominican, Sarum, and a couple of other rites, the "Crucifix" position is the position the priest takes during the Canon/Anaphora. Not in the Roman, however.

Alexis

I just finished reading on some of the prostrations done in the Latin Church, especially in the religious order. The Dominicans have one called the "venia." It's really interesting. Prostrate on the floor with a slight side-tilt and pillowing one's head the the right hand.

Who said the East had a monopoly on prostrations!

Alexis