01-17-2009, 01:45 AM
intervarsity
Outreach to Hindus - Resources..
Here is a short list of good reading on understanding the backgrounds of Hindus living in the western world and how to reach out them with the Gospel.
It is in the form of a letter written to a Christian worker on how to get started in a reading program of self-education on outreach to Hindu students.
I'm delighted to know that you want to do some serious reading and study. In recommending books, a lot depends on where you are already in your understanding of East Indians' background and your perceptions of where current students from Hindu background are coming from in their understanding of their own Hindu faith. Many Hindu students are pretty "secularized," are in varying degrees are rejecting Hindu beliefs and practices and are adopting modern western scientific and materialism assumptions.
In approaching "outreach to Hindus" it does not do to assume a uniform religious experience among them or a concensus of agreement on what's important religiously! Each individual must be listened to and responded to differently and in accord with where that individual "Hindu" is in their thinking and levels of religious commitment (or lack of it).
Still, it helps a bit to have a little understanding of the general background of Indian history and the development of Hindu religious ideals and practices, since all East Indians are acutely aware of these things having grown up with them, especially if they are from village (as opposed to urban) backgrounds or are from families which are more religious.
Here are a few books I would recommend you start with (and stick with if they seem relevant to you as you get into them). Discard what is repetitive to what you already know. I will give brief reasons for why each book is important or helpful, and list these books in order of priority (the ones to start with, first):
1) "Chapatis for Tea, Reaching Your Hindu Neighbor: A Practical Guide," by Margaret Wardell and Ram Gidoomal (Highland, a subsidiary of Inter Publishing Service Ltd, 59 Woodbridge Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4RF UK, published in paperback 1994). This may still be available in the United States from MacLaurin Inst., 331 17th Ave SE, Minn. MN 55414 Phone: 800/582-8541.
This is a simple book with chapters on everything from "Making Hindu Friends" to "Explaining the Gospel." It's value is in giving a simple and straightforward introduction to the essentials, with practical suggestions for outreach. Though not written with students particularly in mind, it is helpful because written in the context of Hindus living in a western (UK) environment. It is also available for about $8 US from InterServe Literature, PO Box 418, Upper Darby. PA 19082. Phone 610/352-0581 Email: 72400.2234@compuservecom
2) For summaries of Indian history, development of Hindu ideas, and some comparisons of Hindu ideas with Christian teachings, there are small sections in any of the following four books on these areas:
- "The Compact Guide to World Religions, Understanding and Reaching Followers of â¦.Hinduismâ¦and other world faiths" by Dean C. Halverson, staff with International Students International (ISI). The chapter on Hinduism is 15 pages. It's a 1996 paperback pub. by Bethany House Pub., Minneapolis, MN 55438, and available for around about $8 US from ISI in Colorado Springs, CO. Phone: 719/576-2700 Email: AROLAND@ISIONLINE.ORG
- "The World's Religions," Edited by Sir Norman Anderson (1950 paperback, pub. originally by IV Press in England, reprinted many times, with the 1983 version by Eerdmans' Pub. of Grand Rapids, MI). A 32 page chapter on Hinduism by Bruce Nicholls goes into summaries (in some detail) about major religious concepts as they developed within Hinduism. Available in the States from Eerdmans' - Phone: 800/253-7521.
- "Neighboring Faiths A Christian Introduction to World Religions," by Winfried Corduan (Hardback volume, published in 1998 by IV Press, Downers Grove, IL. Cost is $28 US). This 30 page chapter on Hinduism with graphs and photos is very readable. Excellent commentary at the end of the chapter on the differences with Christianity and "Relating the Gospel," plus some ideas for further study and a bibliography.
- "Eerdmans' Handbook to The World's Religions" (same publisher as above. The 1982 hardback volume, pages 170-196, focuses on Hinduism with an excellent summary (incl. contemporary color photos) of its history and religious development. No comparisons with Christianity in this chapter.
3) "The Christian's Attitude Toward World Religions - Responding to the idea that Christianity is just another religion," by Ajith Fernando (192 page paperback, pub. 1987 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. in Wheaton IL). May still be available from Tyndale or can be ordered through a local Christian bookstore. Tyndale House Pub.: 336 Gunderson Dr., Wheaton, IL Phone: 312/668-8300. It was $5.95 US originally, probably more now.
This book is a really good discussion of many of the issues for Christians trying to relate to adherents or other religions, written by a student worker with Youth for Christ in Sri Lanka, and a frequent speaker at 1980s Urbana student missions conventions and post-Urbana conferences. It's particularly good because it demonstrates how important the essentials of the Gospel message are in clarifying religious truth about the nature of God and the human situation. It is written with an irenic (non-judgemental) spirit. He refers to things we can learn as Christians from other faiths. Though he doesn't get into Hunduism as such, it is worth reading for Christian values in approaching other faiths.
4) "The World of Gurus A critical look at the philosophies of India's influential gurus and mystics," by Vishal Mangalwadi (1992 paperback, 244 pages, pub. by Cornerstone Press, 939 West Wilson Ave, Suite 202C, Chicago, IL 60640â¦originally pub. in India in 1987). Cost was around $12 US ordered from India, but you can get it in the States from the MacLaurin Inst., Minn. MN (see #1 above).
This book is about the current Hindu missionaries to the western world, called "the Gurus" by many. Though you will find it more helpful in understanding how Hinduism is often presented to westerners by these contemporary or recent guru-missionaries of Hinduism, it does give a unique "take" on the underlying elements of eastern mystic religion. Normal Geisler calls this book "the most imformative, insightful and helpful expose of those major Hindu missionaries in print," and our own (IVP editor) Jim Sire says, "an outstanding analysis by one who lives 'cheek to jowl' with the real world of the gurus."
I do not recommend this book unless you are interested in the modern day advocates of Hinduism. Most of our students from Hindu backgrounds do NOT follow one of these gurus, and often even scoff at them. The Mahareeshi Mahesh YogiI experienced such scoffing in India when he tried to lecture once to Hindu students in Benares Hindu University! The Hindu students thought he was a "charlatan" (fake) because he was evangelizing for Hinduism, and in their minds a true yogi or guru would be more reclusive and ascetic, waiting for people to come to the guru for spiritual instruction, perhaps in a retreat center (ashram).
===================
There are many thousands of books on Hinduism and its historical development based on the early Vedic literature (which is written roughly during the same period as the Old Testament). Most of these book are irrelevant to modern day Hindu students who are rejecting mystic religion, though the basic mystical concepts are still deeply ingrained in the way many Indian "Hindu" students think about religion.
These concepts qualifiy how they think about Christianity, which, in their minds, is just another version of religion as they know it. So studying these ancient religious ideas may seem as irrelevant to modern day students as it does to us who witness to them about Jesus, but eventually we have to get a grasp of what the essence of these ideas are so we can help correct the world view assumptions of most educated Hindus while sharing with them the Gospel.
To me the essential battleground surrounds the nature of God. Is He infinite or finite (as are idols)? Is He a Person external to the created order, or simply a force within and part of the created universe? As a Person, has he revealed Himself uniquely in Jesus Christ, or do we see only partial "manifestations" of Him in various "incarnations" (avatars) appearing and disappearing over centuries of time? (eg: Ghandi, like one of the ten incarnations of Vishnu, was thought by some religious Hindus to be a modern-day incarnation, though he would have denied this). And finally, do we find salvation in Jesus alone as the "fullness of the Deity (revealed to us) bodily" (Colossians 2:9), or is salvation simply an absorption into a sea of spirituality or a "liberation" (moksha) of the human spirit?
Outreach to Hindus - Resources..
Here is a short list of good reading on understanding the backgrounds of Hindus living in the western world and how to reach out them with the Gospel.
It is in the form of a letter written to a Christian worker on how to get started in a reading program of self-education on outreach to Hindu students.
I'm delighted to know that you want to do some serious reading and study. In recommending books, a lot depends on where you are already in your understanding of East Indians' background and your perceptions of where current students from Hindu background are coming from in their understanding of their own Hindu faith. Many Hindu students are pretty "secularized," are in varying degrees are rejecting Hindu beliefs and practices and are adopting modern western scientific and materialism assumptions.
In approaching "outreach to Hindus" it does not do to assume a uniform religious experience among them or a concensus of agreement on what's important religiously! Each individual must be listened to and responded to differently and in accord with where that individual "Hindu" is in their thinking and levels of religious commitment (or lack of it).
Still, it helps a bit to have a little understanding of the general background of Indian history and the development of Hindu religious ideals and practices, since all East Indians are acutely aware of these things having grown up with them, especially if they are from village (as opposed to urban) backgrounds or are from families which are more religious.
Here are a few books I would recommend you start with (and stick with if they seem relevant to you as you get into them). Discard what is repetitive to what you already know. I will give brief reasons for why each book is important or helpful, and list these books in order of priority (the ones to start with, first):
1) "Chapatis for Tea, Reaching Your Hindu Neighbor: A Practical Guide," by Margaret Wardell and Ram Gidoomal (Highland, a subsidiary of Inter Publishing Service Ltd, 59 Woodbridge Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4RF UK, published in paperback 1994). This may still be available in the United States from MacLaurin Inst., 331 17th Ave SE, Minn. MN 55414 Phone: 800/582-8541.
This is a simple book with chapters on everything from "Making Hindu Friends" to "Explaining the Gospel." It's value is in giving a simple and straightforward introduction to the essentials, with practical suggestions for outreach. Though not written with students particularly in mind, it is helpful because written in the context of Hindus living in a western (UK) environment. It is also available for about $8 US from InterServe Literature, PO Box 418, Upper Darby. PA 19082. Phone 610/352-0581 Email: 72400.2234@compuservecom
2) For summaries of Indian history, development of Hindu ideas, and some comparisons of Hindu ideas with Christian teachings, there are small sections in any of the following four books on these areas:
- "The Compact Guide to World Religions, Understanding and Reaching Followers of â¦.Hinduismâ¦and other world faiths" by Dean C. Halverson, staff with International Students International (ISI). The chapter on Hinduism is 15 pages. It's a 1996 paperback pub. by Bethany House Pub., Minneapolis, MN 55438, and available for around about $8 US from ISI in Colorado Springs, CO. Phone: 719/576-2700 Email: AROLAND@ISIONLINE.ORG
- "The World's Religions," Edited by Sir Norman Anderson (1950 paperback, pub. originally by IV Press in England, reprinted many times, with the 1983 version by Eerdmans' Pub. of Grand Rapids, MI). A 32 page chapter on Hinduism by Bruce Nicholls goes into summaries (in some detail) about major religious concepts as they developed within Hinduism. Available in the States from Eerdmans' - Phone: 800/253-7521.
- "Neighboring Faiths A Christian Introduction to World Religions," by Winfried Corduan (Hardback volume, published in 1998 by IV Press, Downers Grove, IL. Cost is $28 US). This 30 page chapter on Hinduism with graphs and photos is very readable. Excellent commentary at the end of the chapter on the differences with Christianity and "Relating the Gospel," plus some ideas for further study and a bibliography.
- "Eerdmans' Handbook to The World's Religions" (same publisher as above. The 1982 hardback volume, pages 170-196, focuses on Hinduism with an excellent summary (incl. contemporary color photos) of its history and religious development. No comparisons with Christianity in this chapter.
3) "The Christian's Attitude Toward World Religions - Responding to the idea that Christianity is just another religion," by Ajith Fernando (192 page paperback, pub. 1987 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. in Wheaton IL). May still be available from Tyndale or can be ordered through a local Christian bookstore. Tyndale House Pub.: 336 Gunderson Dr., Wheaton, IL Phone: 312/668-8300. It was $5.95 US originally, probably more now.
This book is a really good discussion of many of the issues for Christians trying to relate to adherents or other religions, written by a student worker with Youth for Christ in Sri Lanka, and a frequent speaker at 1980s Urbana student missions conventions and post-Urbana conferences. It's particularly good because it demonstrates how important the essentials of the Gospel message are in clarifying religious truth about the nature of God and the human situation. It is written with an irenic (non-judgemental) spirit. He refers to things we can learn as Christians from other faiths. Though he doesn't get into Hunduism as such, it is worth reading for Christian values in approaching other faiths.
4) "The World of Gurus A critical look at the philosophies of India's influential gurus and mystics," by Vishal Mangalwadi (1992 paperback, 244 pages, pub. by Cornerstone Press, 939 West Wilson Ave, Suite 202C, Chicago, IL 60640â¦originally pub. in India in 1987). Cost was around $12 US ordered from India, but you can get it in the States from the MacLaurin Inst., Minn. MN (see #1 above).
This book is about the current Hindu missionaries to the western world, called "the Gurus" by many. Though you will find it more helpful in understanding how Hinduism is often presented to westerners by these contemporary or recent guru-missionaries of Hinduism, it does give a unique "take" on the underlying elements of eastern mystic religion. Normal Geisler calls this book "the most imformative, insightful and helpful expose of those major Hindu missionaries in print," and our own (IVP editor) Jim Sire says, "an outstanding analysis by one who lives 'cheek to jowl' with the real world of the gurus."
I do not recommend this book unless you are interested in the modern day advocates of Hinduism. Most of our students from Hindu backgrounds do NOT follow one of these gurus, and often even scoff at them. The Mahareeshi Mahesh YogiI experienced such scoffing in India when he tried to lecture once to Hindu students in Benares Hindu University! The Hindu students thought he was a "charlatan" (fake) because he was evangelizing for Hinduism, and in their minds a true yogi or guru would be more reclusive and ascetic, waiting for people to come to the guru for spiritual instruction, perhaps in a retreat center (ashram).
===================
There are many thousands of books on Hinduism and its historical development based on the early Vedic literature (which is written roughly during the same period as the Old Testament). Most of these book are irrelevant to modern day Hindu students who are rejecting mystic religion, though the basic mystical concepts are still deeply ingrained in the way many Indian "Hindu" students think about religion.
These concepts qualifiy how they think about Christianity, which, in their minds, is just another version of religion as they know it. So studying these ancient religious ideas may seem as irrelevant to modern day students as it does to us who witness to them about Jesus, but eventually we have to get a grasp of what the essence of these ideas are so we can help correct the world view assumptions of most educated Hindus while sharing with them the Gospel.
To me the essential battleground surrounds the nature of God. Is He infinite or finite (as are idols)? Is He a Person external to the created order, or simply a force within and part of the created universe? As a Person, has he revealed Himself uniquely in Jesus Christ, or do we see only partial "manifestations" of Him in various "incarnations" (avatars) appearing and disappearing over centuries of time? (eg: Ghandi, like one of the ten incarnations of Vishnu, was thought by some religious Hindus to be a modern-day incarnation, though he would have denied this). And finally, do we find salvation in Jesus alone as the "fullness of the Deity (revealed to us) bodily" (Colossians 2:9), or is salvation simply an absorption into a sea of spirituality or a "liberation" (moksha) of the human spirit?