This is an inrteresting take on reincarnation and karma. I don't know much about Hinduism. The author says that it isn't really a religion, and the points he brings up are valid. His opinions on Christianity may offend some, I advise to take if you have a strong belief in Christianity and are easily upset when your beliefs are challenged.

I really enjoyed this. I often wonder what is in store for people after they have left this life. Sherman's ideas on this are another possibility. Did this book change my beliefs on anything? No, but it did make me more aware of certain ideals.

A friend of mine just started reading my copy. He is probably more qualified to write a review on this book from a religious standpoint. I will link to his review once he has posted it. 

 

Excerpt:

 

Let me start with my personal opinion, an opinion shared by millions of Hindus, Gandhiji is one of them. Caste is an abomination, a black mark againsT Hinduism, and I wish it would be gone! Racism, to me, is like caste. Many would rather have it gone, live in a racist-free world. But, just like caste, racism has defied manybattempts to kill and eliminate it. Or take sexism: Most religions regulate women to a second-hand status; but somehow this misogyny of religion is tolerated.

 

I compare Caste to the Pedophile issue in Catholicism today or Terrorism in the Islamic religion. Does Catholicism encourage Pedophileia? Of course not! Does Islam tell it's followers to go kill innocents? Of course not! But the underlying conditions within these religions and the society today have proven fertile ground for such evils to take root. Caste also took root in ancient Indian Hindu Society.

I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

Not for the faint of heart, nor for anyone looking to understand the question "So what is Hinduism or Buddhism, anyway?" Written by a genius who doesn't slow down to wait for you to catch up to him, 75% of the text is footnotes and further references. If you are on your way to post-doctoral studies in Eastern religions, this is the book to begin with.

I found this book in the young adult section of my library. I really enjoyed this book. The only real drawback to it is that sometimes he goes into detail where he doesn't really need to, and doesn't go far enough with some of the questions that his "14 year old son" (dude, I want a 14 year old son like that...) asks him. I found so much good information in this book that I'm sure I'll be looking up more information on all the stuff I wrote down from it on the internet for months...

Although I did not like all the explanations for things, I realize that he was approaching it from a "traditional" Hindu viewpoint. As he says time and time again, Hinduism is a very open minded religion, there is a lot of room for interpretation with many of the ideas contained, and within Hinduism you will find many schools of thought that disagree with one another. I especially liked his comparisons of Hindu ideas with scientific and Christian ones.

Quick little book that gives a brief overview of Hinduism. There is quite a lot of information packed into this book! Sample prayers, hymns, background on a few of the dieties, some holiday info and more. Includes 2 recipes and one craft that seem pretty simple and fun. I read this with my elementary school aged daughter, and she liked it. She especially liked that recipes were included. There is a web link in the back of the book for further info, but it does not work.

Overview of a lot of information! The book includes a glossary, list of Holidays and brief explanations, and sources for further info.