Product Description

Huston Smith's masterpiece explores the essential elements and teachings of the world's predominant faiths, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the native traditions of Australia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.

Customer Reviews (13)

...
I really cannot stand this book. It's my textbook for my religion class and it is the most difficult thing to read. He just rambles on and on...just get to the point! I have to read a section 3 times before it makes sense. What kind of a book is that. I know I'm not the only one with this opinion because that is what everyone in my class says as well. If you have to buy this for college, that's unfortunate. If you're making this purchase for pleasure, I advise against it.

Great
The book arrived earlier than i anticipated, which worked out really well for me. It was in very good condition and i'm pleased with my purchase.

OH-MY-GOD!!!
This book is one of the best books I've ever read. It's really a complete package. The subject is of utmost relevance; the research, impeccable; and the writing, of the most enjoyable elegance. This author portraits the major religions in their purity. It's just beautiful, profound and informative. Huston Smith is one of the best writer's of the 20th century. His eloquent writing brings you understanding with both simplicity and poetry at the same time.

An appropriate read for all circles and a MUST for all those in search of spiritual wisdom and knowlegde of religion/culture.

stinks in God's nostrils!
Worst book on comparative religions I know of.It's really awful.The man seems to know Christianity and Islam very well but as for the others, it's as though he's guessing.

The chapter on Judaism, in particular, is deplorable.The guy goes on for about 40 pages on what he views as the central them of Judaism:the Hebrews' search for meaning!After reading it you still won't have any grasp of the basics of that religion.Similar irrelevant discussions cloud the chapters on Buddhism and Hinduism.

If you're coming to this book because you want a book that discusses the basic principles of each major religion, what their holidays mean, their basic theology, their basic eschatology, etc., you are going to find yourself disappointed.This is more a series of philosophical musings on the part of the author centering around certain elements from each religion that at some time or other have struck him as noteworthy.

Book for church class
Very analytical and well written. I was unhappy with price as we could have gotten local at half price books for less but delivery was quick. You must be open minded to read this book as it challenges your concepts no matter your faith. ... Read more

Product Description
Taking a refreshing new approach to understanding different faiths, World Religions looks at the beliefs and practices of many different religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Islam. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Good Overview of World Religions
Aside from the slightly annoying introduction and conclusion of the book, in which the author voices his opinions as if they are fact, the book provides a good general overview of world religions and is a good starting point in the study of religion. The religions are explained with extensive usage of pictures, which makes the reading somewhat more interesting and distinct from most non-fiction books.

Objective???
The author writes from religious bias...It would be nice to see a book on religions that is objective...

Almost Perfect, Flawed by Moments of Religious Bigotry
First, this book is the most accessible, well-written and even-handed single-volume overview of current world religion I've ever found in English.I'd recommend this to anyone seeking to get at least a baseline grasp of what our neighbors believe.I will likely buy a copy for each of my nieces and nephews (with a few words of warning about the objectionable parts).At first the image-saturated, magazine-style format made me a little worried the book would be too lightweight, but the appealing and accessible format is well-used to convey a genuinely well-chosen selection of information.Author John Bowker has perfect credentials, as the author of The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions and editor of the The Cambridge Illustrated History of Religions (Cambridge Illustrated Histories).The last section, which draws attention to the hopeful & empathetic common message seemingly at the heart of all major faiths, is particularly welcome.

Author John Bowker makes a few odd choices I wouldn't agree with -- like translating the title of the Tao te Ching (Book of the Virtuous Path) as 'The Way of Power,' but generally these are only quibbles.The only element of this book that makes me slightly uneasy is when the author allows some religious bigotry against non-Christians to sneak into an otherwise excellent book.For example:

* The section on Islam includes a photograph of the Twin Towers burning and a picture of an angry-looking Islamic man in military gear holding up an assault rifle in one hand and the Qur'an in the other.Wow!Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf that his attempted genocide of the Jews was in the name of his Christian god, so why does Bowker not include photographs of the mass graves at Auschwitz in the Christian section?It's clear that Bowker's idea here is to make it clear to Western readers that not all Muslims agree with the 9/11 attacks -- many see them as having violated the very exacting conditions of Jihad (holy war) set down by the Qur'an and the Hadith.I can see what Bowker was going for, but this comes across as the demonization of a single faith.

* The non-religious (including atheists and agnostics) make up more than 12% of the world population, but they receive almost no mention here (compare to Jews, who make up 5% of the world population, yet receive their own chapter).Bowker's only acknowledgement of this huge segment of world belief seems to be this dismissive sentence: "Even though many people would deny that they are religious, it is clear that we are prepared for religion the same way as we are physically prepared for breathing, speaking a language, being musical, eating, and so on."This seems a very slippery way to say, "I, the author, disagree with atheists and agnostics."I do not have a problem with Bowker personally considering these moral systems inferior to his own (Christianity), but feel that his personal prejudices are out of place in an otherwise scholarly overview that pretends even-handedness.

* Bowker implies that native religions are mere silly, childish superstitions, in contrast to his own Christianity, which is an authentic understanding of capital-G God.Shaman travel to places that are "taken to be the other worlds" (while Christian otherworlds like Heaven are *real* places, not "taken to be" real places).Native peoples "translate" natural events such as famine into made-up Gods, while the famines described in the Old Testament *really were* due to Bowker's *real* Christian God.This comes across as transparent religious bigotry, which is a shame in what is generally an excellent and even-handed overview.

* On the last page, Bowker mentions that many people believe that religions are all just different paths to the same goal -- communion with the divine.He definitively states that this is untrue, claiming that "The accounts they [the various religions] give of the universe, of human nature, of the goals of life, of God or of a higher power, of the ways that lead to salvation or to enlightenment are deeply and irreconcilably different."Given that this book is presented as fact rather than opinion, I wish Bowker had been a little less slippery and more up-front here that he is expressing his opinion, not a fact, and more importantly that he is expressing the *minority opinion* in his field.Comparative Religion: A History has largely been a battle between serious scholars, who observe more and more that reigions serve the same social function and offer the same solace cross-culturally, and entrenched Christian scholars like Bowker, who bridle at the idea that theirs might not be the one true religion, and so need to always undercut the increasingly clear picture painted by their own field of study.Joseph Campbell spoke for the *majority* opinion in Bowker's field when he said that the quest for the divine is the same worldwide, and the major religions are "no more than local inflections."

I'm sure it's really good.
Haven't seriously read it. But it has beautiful pictures and seems very comprehensive. I'll get to it one day.

World Religions: The Great Faiths Explored & Explained
I was very impressed with the arrival of my book, this service provider was very quick and efficient, and the book was in good condition. ... Read more

Product Description
Experiencing the World's Religions provides a clear and compelling account of the world's major religious traditions. With an engaging narrative and powerful photographs from around the globe, the text conveys the vitality and richness of the world's religions.It views religion as a living cultural wellspring that not only concerns systems of belief but how those beliefs are expressed in ceremonies, food, clothing, art, architecture, pilgrimage, scripture, and music. The text goes beyond traditional approaches to personally connect students with the traditions discussed. With additional pedagogy, primary source excerpts, expanded discussion of religious controversies, and more, this fifth edition has been thoroughly updated in both content and design to provide students with a better understanding of religion and the world at large. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Text for College
The Book was Like new when I got it. I would say that you need this book if your take a college class that calls for it.

Experience the Worlds Religions
Book was in very good condition as promised. Received within a few days. I was very pleased!Excellent!

My professor isn't really pleased...
It's an interesting book, but my professor chose it as the lesser of all evils. He keeps having to supplement the book with handouts because of important points that the author seems to have omitted.The stories are interesting though.I just don't really understand why our professor chose a book he is unhappy with.We pay a lot of money for our texts just to have him criticize Molloy constantly for leaving out important details about different religions.

The book is fine so long as your professor isn't nit picky.

La Chino
This seller sucks. Appearantly the item was out of stock and never shipped. Also I contacted them and never got a response, and Amazon.com had little advice for helping me. If you do not buy it through Amazon they cannot help you. Be aware that this seller is uncapable of expedient shipping.

Thanks!
I know I'm a little late for a review, (i recieved the book in January), but Came quick and the book is beautiful. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

excellent reference
I purchased this book because I wanted an overview of the main world religions.This book did not disappoint.Each of the religions is covered in a sensitive way and gives the main philosophies and beliefs behind the religion.My only complaint is now that my appetite is whetted, I feel I want more detail!The religions covered include Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Buddhism.Other religions are covered in less detail and native and ancient religions are briefly brushed upon.The version I had was an internet-tie-in, where links were given for more information (links are maintained and updated at the parent site).What this book did for me was to confirm my own belief that we all believe in the same things, but we just call them different names. Sad that we all just can't see that and live together peacefully.

One world many religions
Short but well informed. You get an idea of the different views without the mountains of texts to wade through. I like the pictures too!!

Colorful, fun, and accessible
This book is great for young people. They cover a lot of different traditions, including some Indigenous traditions and African diasporic religions. The book expresses complex concepts in a simplified form making it easy for young readers. I am using in a Middle School religion class. Additionally, the book has linked to relevant Internet sites which is a plus. So far, this is my favorite children's world religion text.

Great, Fun Resource
I bought this book so my children could learn about other religions. I recently took a college Religions of the World class and I used this book throughout my class. It simplified complex religions and made them easier for me to understand. The internet links are great. There were many wonderful sites that make it fun to learn. I will definately buy more books from this series for my children.

Great educational book!
I'm a high school social studies teacher and encountered USBorne books at a teacher workshop. They are very informative and vibrant texts. The internet-linked versions are wonderful. They include numerous links that accessed through the USBorne website, not the book. This allows for dead links to be eliminated and new links to be added (even more than are mentioned in the book). The pictures are wonderful, colorful, and some illustrations can even be downloaded for classroom use. I'm very happy with this book and use it in the classroom. ... Read more

Product Description

Conceived for students with little or no background in the academic study of religions, Religions of the World offers the most broad coverage of world religions supported by primary source documents, coverage of religions as they exist today, and integrated media resources.

In preparing the eleventh  edition of  Religions of the World, Mark Woodward drew on his experience in teaching an introductory course on the religions of the world to thousands of undergraduates over the last two decades, living and working in Buddhist, Muslim and Chinese cultures for extended periods and on conversations with friends and colleagues in the Arizona Native American community.  In this edition, he has edited the text closely for clarity and readability and made other changes to keep it up to date and accurate including updating all sections on religion today for each tradition. Religions of the World  is comprehensive, readable, and engaging for all students.

Customer Reviews (23)

great stuff
This book came really quickly and I am happy I was able to get it in time

Very good
The book quality was very good and I am satisfied with my purchase. However the shipping took way too long (2 weeks) and thats why I gave it 4 stars. Overall very good.

Not too bad.
When I got my book in the mail the package was almost ripped open all of the way. I do not, however, blame this on the seller. I wish that the postal service had respect for our packages. The book considering how it arrived was in pretty good condition. No writing or rips/tears as stated. If this seller has books that I need in the future I will use them first.

Eh
My professor required this book, didn't read it, not organized very well, boring to read.

Feedback on purchase
I received the book very quickly.It looks brand new.I will definitely check this site when I need other books. ... Read more

Product Description
Retaining all the beloved qualities of Huston Smith's classic The Religions of Man and the current fully revised and updated The World's Religions, this stunning pictorial presentation refines the text to its wonderful essentials. In detailed, absorbing, richly illustrated, and highly readable chapters on Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity and primal religions, we find refreshing and fascinating presentations of both the differences and the similarities among the worldwide religious traditions.

The approach is at once classic and contemporary, retaining all the empathy, eloquence and erudition that millions of readers love about the earlier editions, while being edited and designed for a contemporary general readership. This delightful marriage of winsome text and remarkable pictures vividly brings to life the scope and vision of Huston Smith's expertise and insight. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

A classic ....even for diverse opiniated people!
This classic by Houston Smith is a great way for those with predetermined religious opinions to explore the unknown.
The beautiful book transends the preconceptions and wild tales of "I'm right, They are Wrong!"
His introduction, "Point of Departure," promises a fair and factual analysis of each covered religion.
The objective is to understand where each religion comes from, the best wisdoms of many traditions.

good book
great explanations!!! used it for a world religions class... just great to read and easy to understand!!

Difficult, but fulfilling read
I purchased this book by Huston Smith for my world religions class.It does not read like a classic "text" book.This may please you, or it may drive you crazy.Mr. Smith has a very compact way of writing.He fits his descriptions into as little space as possible and uses a lot of little-known words.However, he has a very magical sense about him that just begs to be quoted.If you prefer a traditional text book, this book is not for you.I enjoyed reading it but couldn't help more than a few times to feel like I was missing out on a lot of information in the name of brevity and eloquence.I'd like to give this book a 3.5-star rating, but that's not a choice.3 is unfair, so I chose 4 mainly because it's very inexpensive and that's good for us college students.

earlier than on time
My book arrived 2 days earlier than expected in a beat up box. That doesn't matter though because book was in good condition for reading!

A Vague Impression
You might leave with an impression or feeling of what the religions are about but I dont think you can take away anything concrete.He rarely gives clear explanations about the various practices and beliefs.Instead his explanations have an esoteric feel as though intended for people who already have knowledge of the religions.It is also written in a hifalutin way which at times seems a bit poetic but overall it lacks a clarity in explaining things.I was hoping for a better understanding of the various practices (for example how each religion dealt with death but it was either like putting together a puzzle after intense scrutiny or not explained at all).It seemed he would just discuss whatever he felt like going into with each particular religion.I especially felt that when I went into the chapters with the western religions I'm more familiar with.He did not describe them well at all and it was unclear what he was talking about which led me to believe he did not explain well the religions I'm less familiar with.The positives are that he had an open mind about the religions themselves and religion as a whole and you do come away with a vague impression about the various religions.

... Read more

Product Description
Illustrated with black-and-white andfull-color photographs. "Today,

most religious people in the world practice one of these seven religions

[Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and

Taoism].All have had a deep effect on the laws and customs of every country.

They have shaped art, literature, music, and education. They have given the

world magnificent stories, songs, buildings, holy objects, ceremonies, and

festivals." From the Introduction to Many Religions, One World.

Best-selling children's author Mary Pope Osborne presents an accessible and

elegantly crafted volume that introduces young readers to the world's seven

major religions. Six short readable chapters--perfectly targeted to fourth,

fifth, and sixth graders--detail the history, beliefs, and practices of

Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.

Handsomely designed and featuring fifty oversized color photographs and a full

complement of reference materials, including a map, time line, and

bibliography, this book provides a thorough and thoughtful presentation of the

diverse ways people worship around the world.




Amazon.com Review
It's hard enough to find a good survey of world religions foradults, let alone for children, so when I found One World, ManyReligions, I was stunned. With a sensitivity for detail and aneasy style, Mary Pope Osborne delivers a valuable introduction to allof the world's major religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam,Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. The balanced yet brieftreatment; vibrant photographs depicting children around the worldengaged in worship; the glossary, map and timeline all work toprovide a concise, informative and engrossing introduction to thevariety of religions everywhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

An excellent, balanced introduction to world religions
Mary Pope Osborne has been a favorite of my daughter's for two years. She immediately picked up this book and began reading. It is so important for our children to learn about the many faiths to which people in our world cleave. Osborne presents each of the major religions in an illuminating, fair, and systematic manner.

If someone is looking for their own faith to be held up among the rest, then they should avoid this book. Christianity is given no better position than Hinduism, which is exactly how a book like this should be. Still, I can imagine angry zealots railing away that their "one true faith" is mistreated and compared unfairly to the "lesser" faiths. There is no reasonable comeback to such criticism - walk away.

I am happy to find that there are a few books out there that will serve to educate, not indoctrinate my children about religion and its role in various societies.

Great Overview of World Religions
I bought this book for my 8 year old daughter to give her an overview of the different religions that people celebrate. It has wonderful pictures, and by reading it together I was able to answer all her questions. The chapters on the different religions were simply stated and easily understood. It is a great resource to begin the disscuss with your child about all the differences around the world...differences that should be understood, celebrated, and recognized.

Beautiful
A wonderful book to have if you want to learn about the different religions. Great to give to children to help them understand the differences. Would recommend to everyone.

A book on religions for people age 9-90+
Osborne presents a well illustrated book on worldreligions that is apparently for children but ismore than adequate for most adults. Sentences are brief. Words are not overwhelming - a glossary defines newexpressions. The book can be a starting point for satisfying curiosityabout great world religions. It is also a great help in reminding oneselfabout the basics. ... Read more

Product Description
A comprehensive look at ideas about God-in every corner of the globe.

More than at any other time in history, ordinary people are reading up on the world's major religions. Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Islam often seem at odds with each other, and as readers struggle to understand, The Complete Idiot's Guide to World Religions, Third Edition, provides expanded and updated coverage to answer their questions. Here, comparative theologists Toropov and Buckles provide many answers to today's questions about both major and lesser-known religions and beliefs. Each of five parts, one for every major religion, discusses history, rituals, celebrations, holy documents, deities, and structure. Included are Asian paths of belief, non-scriptural religions, ancient creeds, and the earth-based religions practiced in parts of Asia, Africa, South America, island nations, Europe, and North America. New coverage includes: ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Astonishingly Biased / Skewed
One of the authors of this book, Brandon Toropov, is very pro Islam.A quick google search on "Brandon Toropov" will confirm this assertion. The book praises the Islamic faith while casting dispersions on other religions. Below I have included excerpts from the book that are taken from the introductory pages for a particular religion:

Christianity:
"Although its adherents are to found around the world, and acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, is central to the faith, Christianity's "basic doctrines" defy simple explanation.In part, this is because of the many divergent traditions and structures that have emerged over the centuries as the result of disagreements over doctrine and practice;in part, it is because the role and teachings of Jesus himself remain, after two millennia, a fundamental mystery."

Islam:
"The battles Muhammad's Arabian warriors fought during his lifetime and afterward were important in historical terms, of course, but they do not reflect his most enduring influence on human affairs.For that we must look to the Islamic faith, which has retained its extraordinary appeal and power from Muhammad's day to ours."

Just in case you're still not convinced, take a look at the introduction to Hinduism...
"The beliefs and practices described by the word "Hinduism" form one of the oldest living religions on Earth. Not one single person in history can be credited with the development of this faith.As you will learn in the chapters that follow, the absence of a single founder is only one of several fascination "gaps" outsiders may encounter in examining this faith.(Another "gap:" formal doctrine!)"

If you are looking for an unbiased overview of world religions... this is *not* the book for you.

Informative
Okay. So I haven't technically read anything in this book. But I flipped through it. It seemed good. I'll start reading it one day.

Kindle version is old edition
The kindle version of this book (as of 04/03/09) is the second edition of the book published in 2002.Yet the third edition was published in 2004 and is the one being sold in paperback on amazon.I can't figure out why they used a old edition for the kindle version.Of course I didn't realize this until after I purchased the kindle version.

Idiot's guide to the religios idiot!
I am not a baha'i but I have read on this religion much, and know that babism is not a sect of Islam. I don't know that much about eastern religions, but I bet they've made mistakes on those to. And what would a priest and a village Idiot know about other religions any way.

Good reference book
It does not go overly in depth with each religion nor does it present many alternative views on each religion however it does what it is supposed to do. This is a beginner's book to understanding some basic concepts within some of the Major world religions. Rituals and customs are briefly explained as well as core beliefs are outlined. This is a good book for anyone who is just getting into studying world religions and provides a good foundation as a quick reference book when having any sort of discussion with a person of faith. It also gives some tips on how one should approach a conversation with someone of a different faith. Overall very good for an entry level aspiring biblical scholar or anyone who has an interest in religion in general. ... Read more

Product Description

A world Bible for our time from Buddhist, Hindu, Confucian, Taoist, Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and primal religion sources!

In this perfect companion to Huston Smith's bestselling The World's Wisdom, Philip Novak distills the most powerful and elegant expressions of the wisdom of humankind. Authentic, poetic translations of key texts are coupled with insightful introductions and "grace notes."

Customer Reviews (13)

Better price than bookstore for sure.
Bought it for my daughter as textbook for her school. It's always better price than school's Textbook store.

A tremendous and affordable little book.
To begin, Novak assembled this book as a compendium to accompany Huston Smith's book on world religions, so you may want to give both of them a shot at the same time, reading Novak's sections after the corresponding Smith sections.

Concerning the book itself, it is a fantastic collection of original sources and it looks like you can get a used copy + shipping for less than $10.For me, that says a lot.Concerning what was selected, there is no doubt that Novak put some serious effort in selecting what he did.The reader will get a very nice exposure to many elements within each religious tradition. However, the translations chosen are not so impressive, but there may be issues beyond the author's control here, so I cannot fault him too much.For example, the Dao Dejing was translated by Stephen Mitchell, who did an alright job, but his is hardly considered to be the authoritative translation.The good news is that it is nearly published in it entirety!On a similar positive note, the citations in the back are often quite informative.With a flip to the back, you will be brought to the original source. Now, I don't want to say that this book is showing its age, but many of the sources seem a bit dated.My suspicion is that this was how the price of the book was kept to a minimum.Also, in the last fourteen years since this was published, a lot of good translation work has come from Chinese philosophy.I worry that some of the older translations may give false impressions as to the state of the research today.

With this book, you have to take the good with the bad, and the best part seems to be the affordability.You will not be able to find a collection as thorough as this for anywhere near the price.

Awesome!
I recieve the book in recorded time and in great condition. A great buy, thanks.

Excellent Reference Material
This book, filled with excerpts of sacred texts of many of the major world religions, is a planned companion in structure to Huston Smith's masterpiece, World Religions. It offers the sacred texts without commentary or judgement to support the reader in simply BE-ing with the texts and finding their own interpretation of the essence of the writings. "The World's Wisdom" is a book I will continue to reference throughout my ministry - and that I will share with interfaith students as a valuable source of inspiration and comparison.

The World's Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World's Religions
This book is a wonderful read and gives a broad view of the sacred stories of the world's major religions.The language is clear and easily understood.This is a good resource for understanding the basic precepts of a variety of beleif systems.I really enjoyed it. ... Read more

Product Description
With a new preface and fresh package, this completely revised and updated version of The Religions of Man explores the essential elements and teachings of the world’s predominant faiths, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the native traditions of the Americas, Australia, Africa, and Oceania. Smith emphasises the inner – rather than institutional – dimensions of these religions and gives special attention to Zen, Tibetan Buddhism, Sufism, and the teachings of Jesus. He convincingly conveys the unique appeal and gifts of each of the traditions and reveals their hold on the human heart and imagination.Amazon.com Review
The World's Religions, by Huston Smith, has been astandard introduction to its eponymous subject since its firstpublication in 1958. Smith writes humbly, forswearing judgment on thevalidity of world religions. His introduction asks, "How does itall sound from above? Like bedlam, or do the strains blend in strange,ethereal harmony? ... We cannot know. All we can do is try to listencarefully and with full attention to each voice in turn as itaddresses the divine. Such listening defines the purpose of thisbook." His criteria for inclusion and analysis of religions inthis book are "relevance to the modern mind" and"universality," and his interest in each religion is moreconcerned with its principles than its context. Therefore, he avoidscataloging the horrors and crimes of which religions have beenaccused, and he attempts to show each "at their best." YetThe World's Religions is no pollyannaish romp: "It isabout religion alive," Huston writes. "It calls the soul tothe highest adventure it can undertake, a proposed journey across thejungles, peaks, and deserts of the human spirit. The call is toconfront reality." And by translating the voices of Hinduism,Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, Christianity, and Judaism, amongothers, Smith has amplified the divine call for generations ofreaders. --Michael Joseph Gross ... Read more

Customer Reviews (123)

Th Religions of Man
The service was fine and both book orders came promptly and were in good condition -- as advertised.

Good
The book itself is in good condition, my only complaint really was that it took two and a half weeks to get to me. I've ordered other books on Amazon that I receive with two or three days so in comparison this just sinced much longer.

good but not great
It was informative but it didnt have exactly what I was looking for.I was expecting more direct citations from the sources for which the religion is supported.

It is a good overview, however, and as I have yet to find a better book, is worth the purchase.

Informative but Not Much Citing of Sources
I found this book to be very informative but I was constantly wishing he would tell me where this information was coming from, where it could be found in the original texts (or later religious writings if that is the case). This was true in all the sections, but I think especially in the sections on Hinduism and Buddhism, where so many times he would have lists of "the three main points," or "the 5 aspects of such and such," and he wouldn't mention where this information could be found. Not only does it not open many doors for further study, but it kind of makes you wonder how accurate and genuine the information really is -- or if it is just "his take" on things. Often times he will even have unique and revealing phrases in quotes without citing where on earth that quote came from, which is frustrating.

That said, he does seem to be extremely knowledgeable and the book contains a lot of information about the major religions in a completely unbiased way, which I really liked. So I would say it is a very worthwhile read as a one-volume overview but I really wish he would have given more source information to validate his words and to give the reader more grounding and more direction for further study. I would give it 3.5 stars.

Textbook like
This book has a wide variety of different religions but is written more like a textbook. I can only read a few pages at a time and then have to come back to it. It has great information in it and is perfect for a class or for a study group. ... Read more

Product Description

At the dawn of the twenty-first century, dizzying scientific and technological advancements, interconnected globalized economies, and even the so-called New Atheists have done nothing to change one thing: our world remains furiously religious. For good and for evil, religion is the single greatest influence in the world. We accept as self-evident that competing economic systems (capitalist or communist) or clashing political parties (Republican or Democratic) propose very different solutions to our planet's problems. So why do we pretend that the world's religious traditions are different paths to the same God? We blur the sharp distinctions between religions at our own peril, argues religion scholar Stephen Prothero, and it is time to replace naÏve hopes of interreligious unity with deeper knowledge of religious differences.

Customer Reviews (50)

Skip this One
When I read an article promoting God is Not One by Prothero in the Christian Science Monitor I was excited that finally there was a book that would discuss the differences between religions and why those differences matter. Eager to learn more I put aside another book I had started and downloaded God is Not One onto my e-reader.I cheered when I read in the introduction, "No one argues that different economic systems or political regimes are one and the same. ... Yet scholars continue to claim that religious rivals such as Hinduism and Islam, Judaism and Christianity are, by some miracle of imagination, essentially the same ..." Yes, I thought, they are different.I continued reading expecting to learn more about those differences and their implications only to be disappointed. While Prothero states that each faith takes a journey up a different mountain he never explains why that difference is more important than the common moral and ethical principles most religions share.
As I read the first chapter I became uneasy. Even though Christians out number Moslems Prothero declares that Islam will be the faith of this century since their numbers are growing rapidly. Really?Perhaps we should wait another 90 years before declaring who the religious winner will be. Since neither Prothero nor I are likely to live that long, I think it more prudent to limit conclusions to the present and the past.
By the second chapter I realized that I had been duped. God is Not One is essentially a liberal treatise on religion written by a man will little or no faith and who has a strong bias against Christianity. Raised an Episcopalian, Prothero declares all non-Christian religions to be superior to his own religious heritage. Enthralled with the order Confucianism promotes, Prothero fails to follow its central tenet to respect and learn from his elders and ancestors. I urge Prothero to consider more carefully why his ancestors followed Christ.
The chapter on Christianity calls into question the credibility of the entire book. Since I am Christian I can easily pick out the author's errors and distortions but my knowledge of Buddhism and Hinduism isn't extensive enough to know if he has made similar errors in those chapters. In criticizing Christianity he states Christianity has "texts of terror" and that there are whole books in the Bible devoted to war. The books he is referring to are called the Old Testament by Christians and the Torah by Jews. They contain a theological interpretation of historical events. Oddly in another chapter he proclaims the virtues of the Torah as if they are completely different books. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all draw from the covenant God made with Abraham. If the Christian God is implicated in genocide then so is the God of the Jews and Moslems.
Prothero implies that Islam is better than Christianity because they have rules for war such as it is okay to behead any non-believer who refuses to convert while Christians have no such rules. He never mentions that Jesus instructed his disciples to walk away if someone rejects the gospel and to turn the other cheek when attacked. He also never mentions the rich Christian theological tradition that among other things talks about war and when it is or isn't just. Whether the Islamic or Christian approach has led to more or less war is open to debate.
Although I have always enjoyed learning about other faiths, I am sorry I purchased this book.Prothero does not achieve what he set out to do. Instead of a thorough, non-bias discussion of the important differences between faiths and how those differences impact the world, he essentially has given us another comparative religion book. I will have to search for another source containing the information I desire.

Well structured and just the right length
The author's goal was to outline, "... how the eight rival religions wrestle with the human predicament -- their problems solutions techniques and exemplars."He achieved his goal completely.His basic approach is to compare and contrast these different religions.Christianity is about doctrine, Islam is about ritual, Judaism about narrative and for Buddhism; "Is it true?" is subordinated to; "Does it work?"etc.
The eight religions are ranked by greatness.The rank is indicated by the order in which each religion appears in the book.But this rank does not come with the privilege of more space in this book.Islam is number one with 39 pages, Christianity is number two with 36 pages, Confucianism is number three with 31 pages, but Yoruba number six gets 40 pages.The author's structured outline consistently applied to each religion apparently determined the length of each chapter.

Serious topic but treated superficially with major flaws
I read the book because it was recommended at a bookstore, but I was disappointed after reading it. Although it is plainly written and understandable, the material it delivers is superficial beyond the Abrahamic religions, as many reviewers have already clearly pointed out. This weakness is glaring when the author deals with especially Eastern religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Daoism. I chuckled when Buddhism is described as a "fairy tale...." If one can characterize religious narratives as such, isn't true that other religions can be said likewise as well? (I hope this is only a careless slip of thought. Otherwise, he would be suspicious of mocking theology and, his own expertise, religious philosophy, which are originally based on such "fairy tales".) The author appears confused in distinguishing Confucianism as a religion and as a humanistic moral philosophy when he mixes them in discussion. He also misses major social and historical reasons in dealing with Daoism. (I am not sure the author really understands Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi.) Such shallowness is palpable even when the author introduces Judaism.

But the biggest downer came in the end: I am completely bewildered by the author's negativity about atheism, to a degree bordered on attacking reason. (He cites the characterization of "cult of reason" with a positive undertone.) If the book is geared at promoting religious literacy and tolerance, as its title indicates (if my reading is correct), why would the author go out of his way to make cheap shots at secular humanism, which is centered on reason, values human beings, and seeks solutions to societal problems? As a recent Pew survey shows that atheists have a better understanding about religions than any group of religious people, isn't true that, while attacking atheists, the book serves the opposite of religious literacy? If the book is intended to promote religious tolerance, why would the author attack atheists, who are, as a minority community of faith, openly discriminated by the religious majority in our society? (Professor Prothero: Please think again what you intend and what you put down!)

The Readers Digest View of Religion
I opened this book with great interest thinking I was going to learn something about the world's religions and to see their beliefs were different but still leading in essentially the same direction.Alas that is not what I found.There is at least a superficial review of the great religions of the world including a rationalization as to why Confucianism should be viewed as a religion.

However, I found the writing style to be chatty, flip, and annoying.His presentations come across as insincere and flippant.The writing seems to have been a direct transcription of his freshman lectures and not a serious review of the subjects - in fact he doesn't actually treat any of the subjects in any detail.Perhaps the most annoying part of this book is the author's continued comparisons of the subject at hand to his personal experiences and beliefs about Christianity.He comes across as a professor of Religion who is a non-believer.

His section on Islam seems to be apologetic and an attempt to excuse the terrorism and murder being conducted daily in the name of Allah and he sums up that section by concluding that the 21st Century belongs to Islam.This is followed by his chapter on Christianity which he views from his personal experience which is not positive or at least has left him something short of a believer.

He throws in a chapter on Atheism which I agree is becoming more and more like a religion.He throws a few stones at Bush and Blair for their faith while giving more positive views to Dawkins and his extremist views.

All in all I felt this book was a waste of my time.It is poorly written, superficial, and comes across as a review of religions by someone who has little regard for any of them.

good intro to religious studies
shaped by years of teaching religious studies the book is an excellent introduction to the topic of God in human societies. a really organized and coherent (as well as interesting and strangely alluring and sympathetic) look at islam, christianity, confucianism, hinduism, buddhism, yoruba religion, judaism, daoism and atheism. each chapter is an independent look at a religion from a scholarly teacher's viewpoint meant to show it's major points.

well worth the time to read and ponder. puts this author on my must find more by him list. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Well Done!
It covered the major religions and was accurate.I looked very closely at the Christian section, because I am one, to see how close to the truth that section was and I was amazed at the accuracy of it, considering how many denominations there are.That way I could breath a little easier when I read the rest of it.As a whole it seemed unbiased and was fairly easy to read.I think it's a good book for anybody for the person who know nothing about different religions to someone how needs a refresher coarse to the vet how needs to solidify his knowledge from another source.

Great overview of the many world religions, good photos/illustrations
This is an excellent book for someone interested in world religion, historical and modern.Well illustrated with good commentary.

I came to the conclusion long ago that all religions were true and also that all had some error in them."-Mahatma Gandhi
This book is one of the few books (along with calculus and other basic professional books) that I used in college and still use today.
The three main three religions; Judaism, Christianity and Islam, along with other philosophical and religious traditions are explained in a clear unbiased way.I, specifically, learned a lot about Taoism, Hinduism and Buddhism.Books of this sort help people understand each others' customs and motives and make tolerance an achievable task instead of an impossible one.

First time user & extremely satisfied!!
What a great deal!! Paid less than $10 for this hard cover, great condition, with shipping!! I will be ordering books in used condition from now on! Thank you...
Rosie from Wisconsin

Religions of the World
When I purchased this I believed it was another book that I had seen which was quite outstanding.This had some interesting information, but was not what I thought it was and didn't impart the sort of detail I was looking for. ... Read more

Product Description
This leading seller successfully addresses what a person should know about religions, and why. In an exceptionally clear and compelling account of the teaching of the world's religions, the text goes beyond traditional approaches to personally connect students with the vitality of the great religions. The third edition has been thoroughly updated in both content and illustration, to address recent world events. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Exactly as described
Exactly as described...took a little longer for shipping (even though it was still within time frame) received just a few days after class started.

World religions
This book gives a clear and very understandable outline of most common and uncommon religious traditions we experience today. Important for anyone interested in understanding what each religion teaches without bias. The writer does a great job giving the facts without passing judgment.

great
Arrived on time & in great condition (better than I even expected- minimal wear, no marks). This older edition was basically identical to the later one, so worked great for my Religions of the World class. Facsinating. Good price. Thanks!

I Wish I Could Combine Them All

I've used several college religion texts through the years.Each has its strengths and weaknesses.EXPERIENCING THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS is no exception.I especially like the chapters on Hinduism and modern religious expressions.This book comes close to labeling post-modernity without actually going out on a limb to predict the future.The last chapters elevate this book beyond the norm for religious textbooks. The author includes a personal experience (which I like) in each chapter and a hypothetical experience for the reader (which I find distracting) opens each chapter. It doesn't put quite as much emphasis on basic (oral) religions as some texts.For instance, I wish it had a little more on Native American and Traditional African religions.

This is an excellent text for the instructor who is able to bring supplemental material into the classroom.Someone embarking on a private study of world religions should not feel as if the surface has been scratched until more than one text is read.I also reviewed RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD by Hopfe & Woodward.The two texts compliment each other nicely.

Perfect
I got my book in record time.I ordered it on a friday, and got it on Monday, when I needed it for school.I did not have any problems during the entire process. I highly recommend this seller to everyone. ... Read more

Product Description

Originally titled The Religions of Man, this completely revised and updated edition of Smith's masterpiece, now with an engaging new foreword, explores the essential elements and teachings of the world's predominant faiths, including:

• Hinduism,

• Buddhism,

• Confucianism,

• Taoism,

• Islam,

• Judaism,

• Christianity,

• and the native traditions of the Americas, Australia, Africa, and Oceania.

Emphasizing the inner -- rather than institutional -- dimensions of these religions, Smith devotes special attention to Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, Sufism, and the teachings of Jesus. He convincingly conveys the unique appeal and gifts of each of the traditions and reveals their hold on the human heart and imagination.

Customer Reviews (3)

A much-needed approach in a sea of "studies"
Smith is very clear to lay out his purpose for this boko in the introduction: "This is a book about values."Smith likens his book to a music appreciation course where the "bad music" is ignored in order to more closely consider the good.I thinnk this is an excellent approach as it casts religions in the best light possible.It is an "inspirational" book by Smith's choice to give us the best of each faith.Smith himself is an expert in the subject matter.I had the honor of participating in an Interfaith Conference with him once and the depth of his knowledge, combined with his compassionate approach to each faith made for a phenomenal weekend.

That being said, I would suggest this book as a supplement to the many "studies" on the market.As a world religions professor, I make a point to assign Smith's book alongside a more "scientific" study.Where the other book offers the "mind" of the religion, Smith offers the "heart."I would not suggest Smith as a stand-alone for serious students of religion.It is, however, an excellent introduction for those who wish to see other religions as they (presumably) see their own: as sources to uplift and encourage the beliver.

Learning about major religions
Wow.I am shocked by the last review on here.I have been very pleased with this book so far.I must admit I have only read the first 60 pages, but I can already tell that this is going to be head and shoulders above most religious books. I would rate it five stars, but since I have not completed it will refrain, and rate it only four.

I was actually on here to buy it as a gift because I am enjoying it when I saw the negative coment on this.I don't think that being critical of these religions is necessary to teach what they believe.in fact I would be highly disapointed in such a book. I want to learn what they believe not why I should love or hate them.

Many people have killed and committed atrocities in the name of all religions, but that does not mean that the God they worship, their prophets, or the religous books, teach killing and atrocities as a spiritual path to righteousness. Both Christianity and Islam had several wars in the name of God, or crusades and jihads respectively.That bad fruit does not mean that Jesus or Mohamed said kill thy neighbor and take his land, in fact Christianity teaches the opposite at its core, and my guess is that Islam basically teaches love thy neighbor as well. I am looking forward to reading the section on Islam.

This book looks at the major religions' core belief structure. Each major religion writen of here has lasted centuries and has prospered with many followers that believe they are on the correct path to making themselves and the world a better place. This book describes the main tennants of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and Primal Religions. From what I can tell so far it does not praise nor criticize the religions that it describes. It gives you the root structure and tree trunk of the major religons, as well as a glimpse of some of the larger branches, but one book can not do justice to the many branches of each of these religions.

Horay for belief!
I had hoped to find a factual description of various world religions.Instead I found an author who is a cheerleader for all beliefs.This book is full of tedious quotations from other sources extolling the virtues of _____(fill in the blank with any religion).The book has more poetry than facts, more praise than critical evaluation.The repression of women in much of the Islamic world is dismissed as un-Islamic without so much as a single sidelong glance.The endless cycle of religiously motivated violence is blithely ignored. Interestingly ,the only (faint) criticism to be found is directed at Christianity, and even that is so minimal, that even the hardcore fundamentalists aren't likely to be offended. You'll likely get more satisfaction and a more thought provoking analysis looking up religions online. ... Read more

Product Description
Keys to understanding our shrinking world

A generation ago almost everyone a Christian encountered went to church or at least knew he or she should. Today, with the world at America's doorstep, evangelical Christians more than ever need to understand their neighbors and their changing beliefs.

The Compact Guide to World Religions is a complete, easy-to-use handbook of the origins, basic beliefs, and evangelistic challenges and opportunities of the world's major religions in clear, easy-to-use chapters and charts.

"This book is a storehouse of information, the most insightful and practical guide I have seen on this subject. It is a rich resource for every Christian who seeks to communicate effectively in a maze of worldviews."

Ravi Zacharias, President Ravi Zacharias International Ministries

"The Compact Guide to World Religions brings together some of the best apologetics material available anywhere. This is a great help to those of us committed to carrying out the Great Commission."

Franklin Graham, President Samaritan's Purse

"Cultural diversity is the mark of every large city all over the world. The time has come when those who would better understand their neighbors need a primer on world religions. The Compact Guide to World Religions not only details the beliefs and practices of non-Christians but offers clear pointers on witnessing, inviting you to respectfully communicate with people of each religion h ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Exceeded Expectations
Wanted to order a book, 2 copies from Amazon, read the previews of the supporting vendor and took the plunge.I expected something would go wrong, like wrong book, not new, late delivery.To my surprise, I got exactly what I ordered, and received it a day or two earlier than expected.Great Job Amazon and a special thanks to Treasure Christian Books for delivering a perfect product.

I'll shop again on Amazon.

Comparing World Religions
If you ever wondered what other religions were about, this book offers a little glimpse inside each.They do a marvelous comparison against Christianity.It offers ideas of debating one religion against Christianity if approached to defend your God with their god.

It was perfect for my needs
I got this book for my world religion class, it was in great shape and got here in time for my class, without paying for uber fast shipping and paying an arm and a leg.It was about the same price as if I would have went to the college book store which is a bummer, but still okay cause it got here in time for class.I would reccomend this seller, and the book had good though somewhat vaige descriptions of each religion.

very informative
This book had all the information i needed to know about the major religions. I appreciated the format and the Christian perspective on it.

Great insight
This book has made me to understand a lot, just in the first few pages. It talks about a lot of stuff I never heard about. It is easy to read and flows without big words that you can't understand. ... Read more

Product Description
By gaining a greater understanding of the cultures and beliefs of people around the world, children build respect and tolerance for the differences that make each of us unique. With objectivity and accessibility, this overview looks at the histories, scriptures, places of worship, religious leaders, gods and major festivals that are the foundations of many of the world's religions. Features a glossary and an index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Please Actually Read the Book Before You Review It
We are a home schooling family with conservative values.As Amazon states this book is "designed" for third to sixth grade.Yes, the pictures are pretty.The content is dry and questionable.It specifically says in the book on Page 26 "Khalsa Sikhs promise not to cut there hair, not to have sex outside of marriage, and not to smoke drink alcohol or take drugs." (I was very careful about making sure that quote was typed accurately.)Perhaps, the author is trying to be very accurate in her presentation of the religion.The problem is do third through six graders need to hear about sex in a children's book.

I would have also liked to hear more about the traditions and celebrations of the various religions.The book primarily focuses on the orgins of the religions and not the traditions or customs.It gives two or three very long pages about how it started and then maybe three or four sentences about wedding ceremonies or funerals.The bottom line is it really misses the mark and if anything is down right boring.

A great religion overview
This book does a great job of accurately portraying most of the world's major religions and the people who practice them, without bias toward any specific religion. This book details where the religions are primarily practiced, traditional dress, different holiday practices, common foods, and major ideas and beliefs. Each religion is given several pages, full of facts and beautiful illustrations. There are also questions posed to help a young learner start thinking about the different ideas, how they are connected, and how religion influences a peoples' way of life. Because it is a starter book, it certainly does not cover every fact about every religion, but it does hit most of the most widely practiced religions. This is really a wonderful introduction to religion, and really helps kids get started thinking and learning about many different belief systems.

Excellent Info
This book was purchased for my grand children, but I read it before giving it to them.It was full of easy to understand information and the illustrations were very helpful.

Missing paganism !
This book has good explanations and nice pictures.I was disappointed though that there is no mention of pagan or earth-based religions.I expected at least a blurb about them, since evergreens and Easter eggs were included in the section on Christianity, and neither of these are religious Christian symbols - they are pagan in origin.I think the book would have been more complete with at least a page on paganism.

Very nice overview
This is an excellent book for educating children on the basics of the main world religions.Unbiased and informative.Presents a basic description of the religions, what the representative images and ideas are, and some of the holidays that are celebrated. ... Read more

Product Description

For courses in History of World Religions or Introduction to World Religions.

A History of the World's Religions gives students an accurate look at the religions of the world by including descriptive and interpretive details from the original source materials, and to bridge the interval between the founding of religions and their present state.

Refined by over forty years of dialogue and correspondence with religious experts and practitioners around the world, Noss's A History of the World's Religions is widely regarded as the hallmark of scholarship, fairness, and accuracy in its field. It is also the most thorough yet manageable history of world religion available in a single volume, treating many subjects largely neglected in other texts. The book's depth, breadth, and organization free instructors from having to cover everything in lectures, enabling them to select specific assignments and use class time for questions, discussion, and their own favorite materials.

Customer Reviews (10)

Excellent Product
Extremely fast shipping, and product was packaged perfectly.Would definitely do business with again.

Great!

The conditon of the book was awesome! There was a little bit of highlighting but I really don't mind. Otherwise, perfect!

A fairly good in depth study through secular eyes
Astute observations at times, complex, and a fairly good in depth study, but limited.Let me clarify: This is a study of the history of "religions" in the sense of believing in the supernatural.Though subtle, these authors are telling us from the very first page it (the supernatural) is conjured by man.They give the impression of religion by evolution and that man developed all knowledge over time.The use of the politically correct B.C.E. should also set alarms off.Nonetheless it is very helpful as a supplement.

The textbook begins with the so called "early prehistoric" religions and their practices, and the spreading from the epicenter to the formation into other nations as it evolved into its eventual acceptance.Many influences are gathered, but are used broadly.Much of this time is speculative, which the authors admit, until later B.C. when accounts were recorded.The next chapters then focus on Greek mythology and the views of creationist's Plato and Aristotle.The only reason I can see to put some of these chapters in the book is to show how early man's myths instilled in us many of the beliefs we have today.The authors do a very good job of showing us how each society gave rise to the many different rituals and practices which lead to the religion it is today.The first half follows by regions, where the later emphasizes on the major religions.

And let us give pause, to not make the mistake of merging God's thoughts with mans.
Wish you well
Scott

Logical consistency requires applying reason and logic to relgion too
Professor John Allen Paulos' application of reason and logic to analyze and evaluate the arguments made to "prove" the existence of God, is the very methodology used by most rational people in areas involvingtopics outside of religion, including believers, adamant in their insistence that God exists.

Why then do most - including "true" believers - refuse to apply reason and logic, which they will unhesitatingly use to make rational decisions and come to valid conclusions in every day life, but not in regards to religion?The powerful emotion, fear, often makes the normally rational, irrational.Perhaps Anton Chekhov says it best:
"Man is what he believes."

Satisfied with my purchase
I was generally satisfied with my purchase.The book came well within the promised time-frame so I did not have to wait longer than I expected.I had expected the book to be in slightly better condition than it was, but was otherwise happy with my purchase. ... Read more

Product Description

Adam Hamilton, named by PBS’s Religion and Ethics Newsweekly as one of the top “Ten People to Watch,” has created an inviting new series of video-and-book studies on love and marriage, life issues, world religions, and Christian denominations. Hamilton calls these small-group studies “fishing expeditions,” because they include tools for congregation wide and communitywide programs to draw in new members. Components include DVD, participant’s book, leader’s guide, and pastor’s guide with CD-ROM. 6-8 sessions / 60-90 minutes

Christianity and World Religions: Wrestling With Questions People Ask is a video-based small-group study and outreach program that explores four major world religions- Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism – and compares the beliefs of each with those of Christianity. This six-week study deals openly and honestly with questions people ask about other religions, including why we should believe the claims of Christianity over those of other faiths. As part of the study, author and presenter Adam Hamilton interviews a religious leader from each tradition. He treats the world religions with great respect, recognizing the unique contributions of each.

In examining these major world religions and the beliefs of their followers, the Reverend Hamilton urges us as Christians to build bridges with others so that we might grow in our faith, seek peace in our world, love our neighbor, and find positive ways to share the gospel.

Customer Reviews (9)

Wonderful and Informative
This is a great book if you are at all interested in learning about other religious practices. We used it in a small group and I think everyone in the group learned something that they didn't know about World Religions and how they relate to Christianity. I have very much enjoyed reading Adam Hamilton's books and his videos along with the books are also enjoyable. I highly recommend this book.

book review
I am happy to say, I received the book the next week - in time for our study and to deliver it to the participants.Book was in very good condition and very reasonable since the book stores I checked with said 1)it would have to be ordered and cost was $18.00 because it was out of print. 2)if they ordered it would be longer than what I got from Amazon.
Thanks a bunch!

Outstanding Study resource
Adam Hamilton presents many thoughtful challenges about how Christians should view other world religions.The material provided a great resource for a 10 week Sunday School study including many dynamic discussion topics.In addition to providing a brief understandable summary of other'sbeliefs and practices, he provides many insightful comparisons with Christianity.There is also available a DVD video containing 5 15-minute presentations by Adam Hamilton and a guide which includes additional ideas for discussion. In an age when we are becoming more globally connected and encountering many more Americans of non-Christian faith, this book is recommended highly.

Insight and not Ignorance
This is a must read for Christians to learn about other faiths.It compares and contrasts other religions against christianity and offers insight into how other religions came about.I am still reading, but I have learned a lot already.It teaches how to love all!

Ecumenism through apologia
This book was the basis for a class I took at my United Methodist church in an 8-week series, which incorporated viewing the supplemental DVD, plus a 50-minute lecture each by 4 local religious experts: a rabbi, a Buddhist nun, an imam, and a professor of Hindu studies.

Subtitled "Wrestling with Questions People Ask", this book presupposes that the reader is a Christian who's curious about 4 other major world religions. The author states in his introduction "I believe that if Christianity does offer us the truth about God, it can withstand a serious study of other religions."

However, this book doesn't claim that it's a "serious study" in 133 pages; it merely introduces basic precepts of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam from a framework where Christians can draw analogies from dogma with which they are most familiar.

Hamilton doesn't cite any other religious writings besides the Protestant Christian Bible. It left some of us in class wondering if this was through fear that directly quoting the Quran, Tao Te Ching, Vedas, or Talmud would misrepresent them "out of context", that it would be considered blasphemy, or that it would "proselytize" us to convert away from Methodism! We were frustrated that other scriptures/commentaries were not allowed to speak for themselves, but were filtered through Hamilton's conclusions.

The book isn't arranged according to the chronological emergence of the religions it discusses, but in an order that places Christianity in the easily defensible final position.

Hamilton on Hinduism: "In Hinduism, God is in everything and everything is part of God." The professor of Hindu studies who spoke to us refuted this by clarifying that Hindus believe we are not *part* of the Divine, not little separate god entities walking around; the Divine is everywhere. I understand it to mean we're more like windows or conduits to the Divine -- similar to Christians allowing others to see Christ through them.

Hamilton on Buddhism: "The ultimate goal of existence is a kind of extinction in which whatever is left of one's energy is snuffed out like a candle, dissipated into the universe." The Buddhist nun who spoke to our class addressed the impermanence of this world. I understand this as an idea emphasized in the Christian Bible that Hamilton couldn't relate to Buddhism; he interpreted it into a clumsy candle simile that frightens people attached to impermanent individualism.

Hamilton on Islam: "So the Quran speaks not of sparing the sword when enemies attack you, and killing them all if necessary." The imam who spoke to us said that particular controversial scripture refers to a battlefield instruction to warriors, not to non-warriors in times of peace. For me, it's equivalent to the Old Testament instruction to Elijah to kill the 450 prophets of Baal; a historical context that Hamilton applied to Christian scripture but failed to apply to the Muslim scripture.

Hamilton on Judaism: "For our Jewish friends, Jesus is a great teacher. He is a rabbi. He might even be a prophet. But he is not the Son of God." The rabbi who spoke to us refuted Hamilton's interpretation; rabbis did not exist during Christ's time, and Jews today don't believe Jesus was a prophet, because he lived during a time after Malachi, when God's word is no longer revealed through prophets, but through study of scripture.

The book concludes with a defense of Christianity and various "rational" illustrations and anecdotes to persuade people to become Christians, somewhat in the tradition of Christian apologetics, but without any deep philosophical or metaphysical arguments. The last chapter also reiterates the differences between Christianity and the other religions presented, reducing a broader sense of worldwide Ecumenism into a narrower sense of Christian Inclusivism.

This book gets a star for opening a dialogue about other religions and for encouraging Christians to respect and understand the basic tenets of other religions. It gets another star for the author admitting in his Introduction that he is not an expert and cannot be completely objective despite his best efforts. ... Read more

Product Description
For introductory courses in World Religions; also appropriate as a supplementary text for courses in Anthropology, Sociology of Religion and Political Science course concerned with the role of religion in the modern world.This introduction to World Religions is ideal for students with no previous exposure to Religious Studies or the study of religion more generally because of its accessible style and comprehensive, yet concise, presentation. Offering accurate, comparative descriptions of religions, it gives background material on religious theory and study, while exploring the historical and cultural factors. Unlike other texts, Religions of the World includes chapters on Native American and African religions as well as Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, and Baha'i. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I do not trust this textbook.
The only good thing about this textbook is that it tries to be neutral. This book was the text for a college level religion class that I took with the intent of learning about other religions. I read the text assuming that the authors did their homework and wrote factual material.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, hence I know a little about my faith. When I read the brief synopses on the LDS religion found on pages 319-320 I was surprised to find several errors. Notably the fourth bullet point is just wrong. Even if these errors are corrected it is still a poor representation of my religion. Even the citations at the bottom of the page are wrong. There is no such thing as Desert News it should be Deseret News. The word Deseret has deep significance for Mormons; desert is just a place with no rain.

What's my point? If I as a Mormon recognize many flaws in two pages of text, I wonder how many errors a Muslim would find in the section on Islam or what any other practitioner of faith would see in their respective sections that I do not see. Pages 319-320 are flawed therefore the credibility of the entire book is compromised. Take what you read with a grain of salt.

useful for the class
I brought this book for a comparative religon class and while it was usefull for the class it was very expensive and I do not think I will use it outside of this class. ... Read more

Product Description
You are on CNN, live. The host leans across to you and asks, What s the major difference between Christianity and the other major religions? They are basically all the same, aren t they? Millions are awaiting your reply. Do you know how you would answer? Most of us are not as prepared as we should be for this all-important task. Discover what almost all religions have in common: By trying to earn their way to Heaven, their followers are robed in works-righteousness. Learn how to gently remove that robe, so those seeking eternal salvation can be clothed in the righteousness that comes only through faith in Jesus Christ.Each religion is discussed according to:It s basic beliefsTestimonies of its followers who turned to ChristSample witnessing conversation ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Brief but Sufficient!
Ray Comfort provides a basic overview of the most common world religions and cults.The value of this book lies primarily in the simplicity of his presentation.I actually do not need a lot of details about the history and beliefs of each religion.In my experience on a college campus, many adherents to these religions don't even have an in depth understanding of their particular religious system.Rather, I want to know how to best share Christianity with them.And that is exactly what this book offers!

Very Informative
A friend of mine suggested this book because I was curious about how to talk to a Catholic friend. I like the friendly format of this book. It tells you the basics on quite a few well known religions and how to speak to them about Christianity in a non threatening way. I recommend it for anyone with friends of many beliefs. ... Read more