swdw Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I know there's an article on this, but I wanted to post this link because of the length and content of the material. For Christian Martial Artists, this is an IN DEPTH biblical study (about 8 pages when printed) that has been reviewed by 2 pastors and a Professor with a Doctorate in Theology. All have approved it with no changes. You can use this study UNALTERED, if you desire, free of charge. If you want to add more to it, please make sure your additions are identified as yours. http://www.opdevelopers.org/defense.html To non Christians this may seem like a lot of unecessary trouble, but for those of us who are believers we seem to run into people who condemn us for being in the martial arts, both pacifistic Christians and especially non believers that try to impose what they incorrectly assume we should be doing on us. I hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorinryu Sensei Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Personally, I believe that if all Chrostians adapted the attitude of pacificism and turn the other cheek and not defend themselves, they wouldn't have survived past about 500a.d. because they would have been wiped out. To not stand up for yourself, or to defend yourself or others is a greater crime IMHO. Personally, I put no connection between the martial arts and religion. I don't preach Christianity, Buddism, Zen or anything else resembling religion in my classes...I preach martial arts. The organization I belong to is a Christian based association, and I made it very clear to them before I joined that I do not, and will not teach or promote religion in my classes. This is not to say I am an athiest or non-believer, I just don't feel that religion hs a place in my dojo. I am there to teach them karate...not religion. I leave that to the preachers. My nightly prayer..."Please, just let me win that PowerBall Jackpot just once. I'll prove to you that it won't change me!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaz Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 Good article, made me think a bit and in the end seemed to match my attitude as a christian perfectly. I had much contraversy in my heart when I started the Martial Arts, but God has taught me through the bible and prayer that what I train and how train is moral. "One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say." - Will Durant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A. Orstrom Posted March 8, 2005 Share Posted March 8, 2005 I have not had the time to read the study you are linking to, but as a catholic martial artist I think doing martial arts is perfectly acceptable when you are a christian. MAs (the ones I know of at least) strive to make you strong both physically and mentally. There is no aggression in true MAs and being able to protect yourself from an attack, or the ability to defend the weak is admirable qualities, christian or not. Just my humble opinion. The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence,but in the mastery of his passions.Alfred, Lord Tennyson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drithen Posted March 9, 2005 Share Posted March 9, 2005 I study Bushido-Kai, its basically Kyokushin but with a Christian twist, and that is part of why it turns me on, I think it builds a stronger Christian as well as martial artist. http://abkakarate.org/ (our website) dunno makes sense to me "Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others. -Colossians 3:23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenbelt_girl15 Posted March 9, 2005 Share Posted March 9, 2005 I guess I've never given consideration to this verse in context with the martial arts, but as a Christian martial artist I do not think it is wrong to defend your self against an attack.Even though our dojo is not Christian based we are still taught that if an attacker comes at us we should try talking or yelling at them first then only if the person continues the attack do you use martial arts and even then only to the point when you can escape from the attacker.I see nothing wrong with that.T he biggest issue in the martial arts for me is ki but that's a whole different subject. The article realy make you think. Thanx for posting it. BTW drithen your style sounds realy cool, wish we had a Christian dojo in my town. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of love, a spirit of power, and of self-discipline.2 Timothy 1:7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtstiachi Posted March 9, 2005 Share Posted March 9, 2005 Good article. As a Christian I believe in not rendering evil for evil, but that interpretation does not mean that a Christian cannot defend himself. If someone attacks you, by all means defend yourself. The Old Testament Judges and leaders of Israel did it, The Christians did it during the Crusades. Protect your life at all cost. "The journey of a 1,000 miles starts with but a single step." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jbone1 Posted March 9, 2005 Share Posted March 9, 2005 I haven't read it but as a Christian myself, I don't see why there is any controversy in doing MA. It's discpline, building your temple, and you walk a path that doesn't seek trouble. My church fully supports me and my instructor and our school. "What's your style?""My style?""You can call it the art of fighting without fighting." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G95champ Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 I have had the pleasue of teaching some pretty radical christians before in class. I myself and a christian and here are some of the prob.'s they brought up and here is how I answered them. The Bow - The bow is not submission to a king or god but its respect from one person to another. Turning the Other Cheek - There is no first attack in karate but God does expect us to be strong in our faith when it is challenged. To protect yourself or another is a JUST cause. I can't see a JUST God holding that against you. (General George S. Patton Jr.) "It's the unconquerable soul of man, and not the nature of the weapon he uses, that ensures victory." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thaegen Posted March 10, 2005 Share Posted March 10, 2005 *sigh* I don't get it.. I am christian so I may not fight thingie . Christian history is bathed in blood. There is a word for it "hypocrite". No other religion has killed so many people. So to be a christian or not, has nothing do with MA. You only need compassion and you don't have to believe in a so called god. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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