I was envolved in Chi-Kung for years prior to becoming a Christian.
I saw some pretty mindblowing feats of matrix-like supernatural strength and motion in teachers that were very skilled (effortlessly moving cars, throwing people across the room with soft hits, etc.) that were definitely relying on a source outside of their own physical being.
I wouldn't say martial arts is a 'cult' . Though it forms more of a New Age Eastern meditational spirituality in some.
With all the talk of absorbing and harnessing chi, or 'energy', at some point it clicks in a Christian that you're allowing your soul to be open and have entrypoints to some dark spirits.
Prior to being delivered from a spirit of witchcraft I let in through my meditation, I could 'harness power' to effortlessly stay awake for days on end that came in handy when I needed to be productive.
Though I don't think we can completely destroy the benefits of martial arts. You can be envolved in the martial arts as long as you steer clear of the pagan Eastern religion practices.
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I can see how people would be taken in by this - the wish it was true can be very pulling. As someone that sees sleep as a way to waste a third of one's life, I wish it was true I could stay awake for days. (Don't get me wrong, it is fun once in a while, sort of like going to the cinema, but every day? I wish we could sleep our brains a half at a time like sharks).
But of course, it's impossible. He's lying in a pitiful attempt to demonstrate that "witchcraft" exists. And he is not doing a good job of it. But those that want to believe him, will.
Hope that helps,
Grey Wolf
"I saw some pretty mindblowing feats of matrix-like supernatural strength and motion in teachers that were very skilled (effortlessly moving cars, throwing people across the room with soft hits, etc.) that were definitely relying on a source outside of their own physical being."
AHAHAHA.
I'm a follower of those "pagan Eastern religion practices", and even that seems laughable.
Man I've been practicing Jiu Jitsu for several months and I still can't effortlessly move cars! I'm going to ask for my money back! Seriously, if all this superstitious hocus pocus was real, I'd be the first one in line to "harness the power". If real life was like BioShock...
I saw some pretty mindblowing feats of matrix-like supernatural strength and motion in teachers that were very skilled (effortlessly moving cars, throwing people across the room with soft hits, etc.) that were definitely relying on a source outside of their own physical being.
I've seen that stuff too, in bad Kung Fu movies, only I can tell fantasy from reality.
Effortlessly move a car? It's called the gas pedal. Throwing a person "across a room?" Likely highly exaggerated there, but most likely using the persons momentum. If you unbalance someone they're likely to take a few steps forward rather than fall on their face. Did you realize that if you stay awake for 3 days, you become clinically insane? (You regain sanity after even just a little bit of sleep though.) Adrenaline and caffeine can really help a person avoid sleep though.
Fundie Propaganda award nthed.
Martial artists let in external dark spirit energy?
Bollocks! Complete and utter arrant nonsense! The direction and focus of internal energy can perform feats that may look amazing to those who remain ignorant of their own body's capabilities - but there is no dark magic involved.
I'd be happy to direct you into the nearest wall until you change your mind.
*facepalm*
These 'people' need to stop calling everything witchcraft.
Also, I may be mistaken,but isn't chi supposed to be one's own spiritual energy?
Please reconcile:
A) Worshipper of an omnicient, omnipotent, omnipresent, omnibelevolent diety
B) belief in "a spirit of witchcraft" which aforementioned diety allowed you to be possesed by
Since these are in direct conflict, three options are possible:
1) A is real and B is not, and you're talking out your ass.
2) B is real and A is not, in which case, where's my flying broom?
3) Neither A nor B are real, and you're a complete moron.
I'm going with 3.
-pb
I took martial arts for a while, myself, and I've seen some of those "amazing feats." However, I can quite assure you it's nothing more than a developed physique, practiced technique, and a liberal use of simple laws of physics. No imaginary spiritual forces or witchcraft necessary.
Um, dude. Chi-Kung is a type of moving meditation. Like Tai Chi. Meditation is not evil, nor does it "let in spirits." It's just the practice of being in the present and aware of your body. Good way to clear your mind and de-stress, but there's nothing mystical about it.
Also, Tempus wins.
Dude, I've been training in Choy Li Fut for a decade. I've seen incredible feats of the 'iron body,' including video of my sifu breaking a spear by putting the tip against his neck and the other against the floor and bending it like that 'til it snapped.
I believe in internal energy, which is just that -- /internal/.
@Iel:
The spear trick is an old one. There is quite a bit of training and conditioning involved, but the most important thing is to use a dull spear with a weak shaft . Otherwise things go bad.
My teachers (karate, aikido, and kendo, with dashes of tai chi, boxing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu) explained all of martial arts in terms of mechanical physics - momentum, angular momentum, torque, and kinetic and potential energy. There is nothing supernatural about it.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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