Take a look at one of the most deceptive and dangerous belief systems in the world today through the eyes of this former New Age disciple. This description may be from another edition of this product.
Pro: I enjoyed Brad Scott's biographical tale of how he turned from yogi to Christ. I also agree that absolute non-dualistic monism or Advaita Vendanta is a dead end. If the end goal of man is solely to merge with the absolute then why do anything in the world of illusion (maya)except to try and extinguish your individual sense of self? If all adopted Vendantic yoga there would be no science and everyone would sit around with a vacant look in their eye. Of course the Vendantic yogi would say since the world is an illusion so why bother with it or make it more livable. In fact if the world is more pleasant we would just be tempted to enjoy the world, and not seek for union with the divine. (We wouldn't desire to give up desire.) This viewpoint just doesn't jive with my gut feelings. Who wants to say their wife or baby or best friend is just an illusion? And if they die or suffer who really cares since it's all a cosmic illusion anyway. Just look at the slums and disease in the countries where Hinduism is prominent to see how well Hinduism works in this world. One other problem I have with this type of philosophy is it uses logic to prove it's premises and then turns around and says logic is an illusion. In fact words can only point to the end goal, but the end goal cannot be described with words (being as it is union with the infinite, finite words cannot describe the infinite). So how do we even know that the Yogi's have reached their end goal? Their words cannot describe it and we have only their testimony that they have. As we all know people have testified to all sorts of hogwash.Con: I think the author by rejecting Vendantic Yoga went to the other extreme. Many of the criticisms of the Hindu faith could be leveled against Christianity. I know because I was raised as a fundamentalist Christian. If I had born in India I probably would been raised as a fundamentalist Hindu. The Bible contains many inconsistancies and errors. (Just try to reconcile the differing accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection in the four gospels). The Bible has a god with different human-like personalities. Contrast the vengeful Jehovah of the Old Testament (who gets angry and jealous,etc.) with the loving God of the New Testament. However the supposedly loving god of the New Testament is willing to let the vast majority of all the people who ever lived, be tortured mercilessly for infinity just because they didn't believe the hearsay evidence that Jesus was god. How do christians know that Jesus was god? Because the Bible tells them so, Jesus did miracles and if you accept him into your heart you will know in your personal experience that this is true. This is exactly the same logic the Vendantic yogas use. The gitas tell them what to believe, their yogi saints are proclaimed to do miracles and if you reach enlightenment you will know in (whatever is left of you) your heart that you have found the truth.Conclusion: if you've read this far you know a couple of thing
Excellent Reading!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
This book is an eye-opener for anyone who has tried to understand the appeal of the New Age and Eastern religion. It's told from an insider's (now outsider's) point of view. It sets out to explain and refute a "theology" that many have as yet failed to understand. Especially with millennium fevor in the air, people should read this one."
Shobi........are you ready for the truth?
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
Brad Scott has done what NO other author before him has done in regards to exposing the exactness of the endless falsehoods of "BAD" religion. The truth and humbleness in which Mr. Scott exposes each deceptive layer of his past experience with Eastern Occultism makes this book required reading for any one who seriously attempts to seek the truth about the authorship of the One True God of the universe. What is most compelling, is the honesty in which he reveals the numerous dead end trails that "Religion" led him to, none of which delivered him to God. For the narrow minded (those who trust the Bible as bullet proof), to the open minded (those who accept any premise as valid), this book leads the reader toward the Light by way of the undeniable path of Truth, logic and personal life experience with the Spirit of God as his leader. From one who languished through numerous ideologies in search of God, this man has found and shared the essence of The Creator. Don't hesitate to read this compelling and fallacy-shattering documentary.
"Enlightening", readable, even humorous look at New Age
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
I have read (or attempted to read) several books about New Age practices... I have found them to be heavy, hard to grasp and dull. Mr Scott has shared a personal, empathetic and understandable experience in New Age that I found downright engrossing. I learned alot. I hope to use some of this info in my efforts to un-entangle my brother who is deeply into "Cosmic Consciousness," "Self Realization" "Sacred Geometry" "Love, Harmony and Truth" etc etc I recommend this book to all, especially the un-enlightened of us who wish to better understand the oft times bizarre beliefs of New Age Theology.
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