Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor in Virginia E.W. Jackson has expressed concern over the potential for individuals who practice yoga and meditation to become possessed by Satan.

E.W. Jackson, no stranger to making controversial statements, had this to say about the Satanic dangers of yogic meditation in his book Ten Commandments to an Extraordinary Life: Making Your Dreams Come True:

“The purpose of such meditation is to empty oneself … [Satan] is happy to invade the empty vacuum of your soul and possess it. That is why people serve Satan without ever knowing it … Beware of systems of spirituality which tell you to empty yourself. You will end up filled will something you probably do not want.”

Jackson explains:

“[M]ost people are dead spirits. As such they have the nature of Satan … Your spirit was made for attachment. It is either attached to God or to Satan, but it is not neutral.”

An outspoken conservative bishop-turned-politician, Republican candidate E.W. Jackson has become known for his highly controversial statements. In the past it has been reported that Jackson asserted that President Barack Obama has a “Muslim perspective.”

Referring to gay rights, Jackson has called them “icky.” The GOP candidate has also generated substantial controversy following statements that compared Planned Parenthood to the Klu Klux Klan, claiming that Planned Parenthood was a greater danger to black families in the US than the KKK.

Though Jackson has come under heavy criticism in the wake of such controversial comments, he has stated why he refuses to retract any of his statements:

“I don’t have anything to rephrase or apologize for. I would just say, people should not paint me as one-dimensional. I have a whole lot of concerns.”

As for now, it remains to be seen if E.W. Jackson, Republican candidate for Lt. Governor in Virginia, will be able to weather the controversy of his conservative rhetoric through November.

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