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Engaging
Engaging with Hindus: Understanding their world; sharing good news
Hindus are the third largest faith in the world, and yet many Christians know very little about their beliefs and lifestyle.
This short book is designed to help both Christians and whole churches understand more about Hindus, and to reach out to them with the good news of the Gospel.
This short book is designed to help both Christians and whole churches understand more about Hindus, and to reach out to them with the good news of the Gospel.
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2014
14 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Robin Thomson
37 books2 followersRobin and Shoko Thomson met when he was travelling to India and she was returning to Japan after studying abroad. They were married and lived in India for over twenty years, teaching and training church and community leaders. After they returned to the UK Robin wrote and taught on cross-cultural understanding and leadership development.
In January 2012 Shoko was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
“We had no clue what lay ahead. Later, when the disease really began to bite, we learned the hard way. We had been married over forty years, living in twenty-three homes in India, the UK and Japan, bringing up our two children, sharing our life together. Now we went through discouragement and relentless pressure as her personality changed and she lost her capacity in many areas of life. What kept us going were the love and practical help of family and friends, and the remarkable friendship and support of the carers who visited us, backed up by health and social care professionals. Shoko died of heart failure in 2018.”
“Everybody’s experience of dementia is different. But there are common themes and I thought our story might be helpful to others facing similar experiences – the same pain and pressures, as well as the hope and resources.”
“I wanted to share our story as openly and honestly as possible. It’s quite difficult to convey the sense of bewilderment and sometimes hopelessness that you can feel, as well as the real joys and hopes.”
More at https://www.livingwithalzheimers.life/
In January 2012 Shoko was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
“We had no clue what lay ahead. Later, when the disease really began to bite, we learned the hard way. We had been married over forty years, living in twenty-three homes in India, the UK and Japan, bringing up our two children, sharing our life together. Now we went through discouragement and relentless pressure as her personality changed and she lost her capacity in many areas of life. What kept us going were the love and practical help of family and friends, and the remarkable friendship and support of the carers who visited us, backed up by health and social care professionals. Shoko died of heart failure in 2018.”
“Everybody’s experience of dementia is different. But there are common themes and I thought our story might be helpful to others facing similar experiences – the same pain and pressures, as well as the hope and resources.”
“I wanted to share our story as openly and honestly as possible. It’s quite difficult to convey the sense of bewilderment and sometimes hopelessness that you can feel, as well as the real joys and hopes.”
More at https://www.livingwithalzheimers.life/
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 7, 2022
A helpful book for thinking about how to engage with Hindus. There were a few sections I thought felt a bit incomplete, but it’s a good introduction to Hinduism. I thought the section on responding to Hindu questions was helpful for understanding a Hindu perspective of Christianity and the gospel. Some good practical ideas of how to engage Hindus which could work well in international student ministry too. A quick & easy read!
January 19, 2023
4.5 Stars
This is a highly practical and actionable little book that makes me want to read the others in the collection. While Sharing Your Faith with a Hindu contains a more thorough exploration of some of the nuances of Hinduism, this book takes a slightly broader perspective and focuses more on giving the reader homework (consider this, answer these questions, take these steps).
Some of the suggestions made me a little uncomfortable (such as the suggestion to show friendship by visiting a Hindu temple with a Hindu friend), and I would have to spend more time in the scripture and prayer to discern if it's advice I would heed, but overall I found the book to be encouraging and useful.
Read with discernment, check against Scripture, and be open to having your perspective challenged.
This is a highly practical and actionable little book that makes me want to read the others in the collection. While Sharing Your Faith with a Hindu contains a more thorough exploration of some of the nuances of Hinduism, this book takes a slightly broader perspective and focuses more on giving the reader homework (consider this, answer these questions, take these steps).
Some of the suggestions made me a little uncomfortable (such as the suggestion to show friendship by visiting a Hindu temple with a Hindu friend), and I would have to spend more time in the scripture and prayer to discern if it's advice I would heed, but overall I found the book to be encouraging and useful.
Read with discernment, check against Scripture, and be open to having your perspective challenged.
December 31, 2019
Engaging Motivation for Engaging Hindus
Engaging with Hindus: Understanding Their World, Sharing Good News by Robin Thomson is part of The Good Book Company’s Engaging Series that includes Engaging with Muslims, Engaging with Atheists, and Engaging with Jewish People. These are short, equipping guides for reaching these people groups in a very relational and cross-cultural manner that remains true to the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and the exclusivity of His Gospel.
Though I did not find Engaging with Hindus as enjoyable as Engaging with Muslims, both books are easy reads that provide relational and cross-cultural paradigm shifts for building bridges and crossing barriers in witnessing and evangelism. In fact, these books provide much-needed reminders on how to engage anyone with the gospel, especially in a postmodern culture.
These are great texts to use for equipping yourself and others to reach international students, immigrants, and refugees. They would also be great small group studies and equipping/debriefing short-term missions teams.
Engaging with Hindus: Understanding Their World, Sharing Good News by Robin Thomson is part of The Good Book Company’s Engaging Series that includes Engaging with Muslims, Engaging with Atheists, and Engaging with Jewish People. These are short, equipping guides for reaching these people groups in a very relational and cross-cultural manner that remains true to the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and the exclusivity of His Gospel.
Though I did not find Engaging with Hindus as enjoyable as Engaging with Muslims, both books are easy reads that provide relational and cross-cultural paradigm shifts for building bridges and crossing barriers in witnessing and evangelism. In fact, these books provide much-needed reminders on how to engage anyone with the gospel, especially in a postmodern culture.
These are great texts to use for equipping yourself and others to reach international students, immigrants, and refugees. They would also be great small group studies and equipping/debriefing short-term missions teams.
March 28, 2018
Encountering Hindus and Hindu beliefs can sometimes be overwhelming to some Christians because it all seems so different. Yet the basic principles of respectful listening, genuine love, faithful prayer and presenting Christ not Christianity are fundamental to living well in a pluralistic culture.
In this simple and easy to read book Robin Thomson gives a very good primer to engaging with Hindus in a respectful & genuine way. He introduces basic concepts and worldviews and shows both the similarities and the differences. There is humble acknowledgement of past failures by Christians and churches and a genuine desire to engage not just 'win'. Most helpfully he focuses the Christian not on winning arguments but on presenting Christ.
If you end up having ongoing and consistent engagement with Hindus then this won't be the only book you need to read. But if you've no idea where to start in engaging with your Hindu friend then this is a great place to start.
In this simple and easy to read book Robin Thomson gives a very good primer to engaging with Hindus in a respectful & genuine way. He introduces basic concepts and worldviews and shows both the similarities and the differences. There is humble acknowledgement of past failures by Christians and churches and a genuine desire to engage not just 'win'. Most helpfully he focuses the Christian not on winning arguments but on presenting Christ.
If you end up having ongoing and consistent engagement with Hindus then this won't be the only book you need to read. But if you've no idea where to start in engaging with your Hindu friend then this is a great place to start.
September 30, 2025
Easy read and very informational.
January 28, 2019
Decent. I'm not sure exactly what I expected. At times, this was spot on. At other times, I found myself scratching my head. There is good information relative to the believe of Hindus—much that I didn't know at all. Many of the suggestions on outreach were OK. Then, there was that repeated suggestion of visiting a Hindu temple (for education, not worship). Maybe I'm the weaker brother here, but I wouldn't be comfortable with that—nor would I be comfortable recommending that to others.
I would like a more clear presentation of the Gospel in the book. Certainly, Jesus as the sacrificial substitute for sinners is there. But, it's not as complete as a book on (any type of) evangelism needs to be.
That said, the information about Hinduism being as much cultural as religious was greatly helpful. It was also helpful to view Christianity through Asian eyes.
Now, to try and apply some of this knowledge.
I would like a more clear presentation of the Gospel in the book. Certainly, Jesus as the sacrificial substitute for sinners is there. But, it's not as complete as a book on (any type of) evangelism needs to be.
That said, the information about Hinduism being as much cultural as religious was greatly helpful. It was also helpful to view Christianity through Asian eyes.
Now, to try and apply some of this knowledge.
June 1, 2017
Helpful general introduction to Hinduism. The focus is on getting to know Hindus as people--befriending them, and asking them about their beliefs rather than just assuming.
The author does a good job of summarizing some general beliefs while guarding against blanket assumptions. More importantly, he does a great job of humanizing Hindus, a useful step for a book aimed at Christians who have no previous experience Hindu friends or family.
He also helpfully exhorts patience in witness. The chapter explaining typical questions/objections about Christianity is worth the price of the book.
*reviewed from a perspective of relative ignorance, so take it with a grain of salt!*
The author does a good job of summarizing some general beliefs while guarding against blanket assumptions. More importantly, he does a great job of humanizing Hindus, a useful step for a book aimed at Christians who have no previous experience Hindu friends or family.
He also helpfully exhorts patience in witness. The chapter explaining typical questions/objections about Christianity is worth the price of the book.
*reviewed from a perspective of relative ignorance, so take it with a grain of salt!*
November 29, 2022
These little books are amazing! They give you general sight into each belief and how we can friend and share the Gospel with them. This particular one on Hindus did not hold up as well as the others however. While still a great beginning understanding of them, for me it lacked umph. That being said, still an excellent resource to have.
January 14, 2019
A helpful resource!
January 8, 2020
I meet enough Hindus on campus that I wanted a good primer on Hinduism. This was a helpful overview.
May 13, 2020
This was a helpful, practical, encouraging little book!
August 20, 2016
not what I was expecting but a very good little book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews