The Subtle Mind vs. Loving Kindness

In the Loving Kindness exercise we were asked in meditation to love all and take the sorrow from all the world upon us. I had major issues with that because of my religious beliefs. The concept was beautiful, but I could not apply it. I did, however, send my love during the meditation...

I will not go into this meditation explanation much more because I previously did in an earlier post. Here is the link...

http://notsoemptythoughts.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-believe-in-jesus-christ.html

In The Subtle Mind meditation we are asked to focus on our breath. I regularly participate in breathing meditations. However, the breathing meditations that I do are diaphragmatic breathing meditations. This is where my problem first began with The Subtle Mind exercise. In The Subtle Mind, we are suppose to focus on the rise and fall of our chest when breathing. That goes against what I already know and practice in meditation. So, it was a challenge for me to do this. I have learned that the most effective breath is one that allows the rise and fall of the abdomen. However, the narrator also suggested that we could focus on our breath going in and out of our nostrils. So, that where my focus resided. I am glad I had that option because I kept finding myself belly-breathing.

During the meditation, I found myself distracted by the choppy narration and ocean. When the narrator spoke, the ocean waves were silent. The waves began again when the narrator was not  speaking. It all seemed very amateur to me. It sounds like Dacher just made the audio in his garage...
I did like the duration of meditative time when only the waves played and I could just meditate uninterrupted. Then the alternating of the woman and waves began again.... I was taken out of my peaceful state again.
Overall, I did prefer The Subtle Mind meditation better than the last, Loving Kindness. I believe that is because The Subtle Mind doesn't ask me to do anything against my beliefs.

I have to wonder though.... Does the author, Elliott Dacher, really know what he is doing when it comes to meditation? His ideas seem pure, but his application seems off to me. I have been involved in meditation for about 16 years now and his ideas about how to meditate just don't seem right. I kind of want to know more about his background now.
I know he is an internal medicine doctor and that he was a fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences. But, where did he study meditation and religion, or did he? Is his knowledge on the matters based on personal learning? What type of meditative practice has he learned? I also want to know his religious background. I think that might help me to better understand "where" he is coming from in his teaching and practices.
I believe he certainly knows a lot regarding integral health, far more than I do that is for sure.... I just would like to know more about this man's background.