Writing a review for, "Hinduism in America" by John Ankerberg and John Weldon - need some advice

OK so I have opened discussions, as I have touched upon in another thread, with an older gentleman in my church. I have chosen him because my questions will not shake his faith and he thoroughly knows the Bible. He gave me a terrible book entitled, "Hinduism In America." Basically the whole text are some "Christian" men bashing yoga and Hinduism, with little or no experience or basis in the Bible. I have been using a dictation program to transcribe my notes. So this thing is not formatted all the way yet. You will find it here: Attachment 2884. If you have a few moments and a monumental amount of patience could you take a look and give me your thoughts? I want to try to refrain from attacking here. I just want to open this man's eyes to the problems with this text - that's it.

Appreciate your help!
- DreamBliss

I have engaged in similar debates with similar characters in the past. The issue that I always find is that the two incompatible statements are "I have chosen him because my questions will not shake his faith and he thoroughly knows the Bible" and "I want to try to refrain from attacking here. I just want to open this man's eyes to the problems with this text - that's it."

This man's belief system has been built and self-reinforced year upon year. His belief system can not remain intact whilst at the same time his eyes becoming opened and his ignorance being challenged. His belief system IS based on his own ignorance. He has never seriously questioned his belief system. I'm sure his belief system happens to largely coincide with the belief system of his parents and his local community - it's not even his own belief system, it's just a shared ignorance that he decided to subscribe to because lots of people around him conditioned him to.

With all belief systems, those things that reinforce it are grasped on to, whilst those things that point out the gaping great holes in it, are ignored or explained away with phrases including "god moves in mysterious ways," which, whilst making for a nice sound bite, unfortunately mean absolutely nothing.

This is an issue close to me as someone I care for just blindly bashes every belief system and religion other than his own, repeating a few quotes, phrases and "facts" that usually aren't even accurate, and just evading any other questions that he doesn't like.

Thanks for the feedback there. I'm not challenging the guy's faith - yet. Just that stupid book he lent me. I want to try to create an unbiased view that provides a door, if you will, into other questions, with no obligation to opening or closing the door. I just want him to question the validity of the book. To understand that just because something is written by Christian authors doesn't make it automatically good. I'm just planting the seed of doubt here, not through force or hatred, but through a simple provision of information that calls the statements the authors make in their book into question. Not worried about whether or not he even pays attention. All I want out of this is to see is his response to my review. This will tell me if he is the kind of person who I can send the more challenging questions, the sort that only someone like him can answer.

Just looking for feedback, a sort of keeping me on track, of my review, to ensure that I'm not attacking the authors, writing as they do.
- DreamBliss

I haven't read it but Paramahansa Yogananda toured the USA in the 1920's to teach meditation. I believe the Self Realisation Fellowship centre is still running in California teaching the awesome Kriya yoga course. Interestingly his guru, Sri Yukteswar, wrote an awesome book, 'The Holy Science' outlining the fundamental unity between the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita. An excellent read.