Customer Reviews

Compact Guide To World Religions, The

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The Compact Guide to World Religions has a very simple format yet it says a lot in a few pages. It goes through the major world religions, gathering the expertise from a number of qualified Christians. I have spoken to adherents from all of the faiths that are talked about in this book, and I must say that I was thoroughly impressed with the information the writers were able to give with an average of only 20 pages for each religion. I especially liked the "answering the objections" sections, with practical advice on how to effectively communicate with these groups. If you are a Christian who would like to better understand the religions of the world, I highly recommend this book!

I was looking for a book that would help me, as a Christian, understand what those in other world religions believe. This book hit the nail on the head! And it did it from a Christian perspective too. Neat!

This is a wonderful book explaining a variety of worldviews comparatively to Christianity. If is excellent for christians and non-christians alike. Unfortunately, not everyone will find this book useful, because not all people are open to hearing the truth. If you have any doubts and want to grasp a better understanding of world religions without being inundated with details, pick up this succinct little book.

It was interesting to see so many religions compared to Christianity, the differences and similarities. Some people may find this book biased because the author tells you how you can talk to people of other faiths about Christianity. I learned quite a bit from this book and feel that much more confident in my decision to be a Christian and raise a Christian family. The compared religions are Buddhism, Jadaism, Taoism, Animism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Marxism, New Age Movement, Secularism, and Shinto. There are many grpahs and charts. It is formatted in a very easy to read context.

The book is okay. It has some good information. *BUT the Reader should be aware that the book is not a "fair and balanced" guide to the world's religions. I guess most things that say "fair and balanced" really aren't that at all-at least not today. The book is saturated with bias. The whole goal of the book is to show how Christianity is the better religion or at least how Christianity differs from all the other world religions and tries to point out where the other religions go wrong. I found that the author makes generalizations and misses many of the deeper meanings and beliefs of some of the world's other relgions. If one were to take an intro cultural anthropology class, one of the first words one would learn is ethnocentrism. This book is a classic example of that type of bias. If you are looking for a Compact Guide To World Religions without bias don't buy this book. If you are looking to find a book that points out some differences but often distorts facts and uses quotes out of context to support his agenda-get this one. I don't have anything against any religion, but it seems this guy does. That is my problem with the book.

Overview and Purpose

Through careful analysis and research Dean Halverson provides an insightful introduction to world religions, including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Secularism, and the New Age Movement. In fourteen chapters Halverson identifies and defines the spectrum of religions and religious beliefs, discusses eleven different world religions, defends the exclusives claims of Christ, and the authority of the Bible. Each world religion is dealt with individually in its own chapter. He provides a brief history of the origins for each world religion. A statistical breakdown of the adherents to each particular religion is provided. He explains their basic beliefs and compares those beliefs to Scripture. Objections to Christianity commonly raised by followers of a particular religions are presented and answered. Suggested methods for evangelism are presented. In most cases a glossary of terms is also provided. Bibliographies and other agencies with resources are provided for further study at the conclusion of each chapter.
Halverson's main purpose is to prepare evangelical Christians for the work of evangelizing people, particulary international students, who are followers of these world religions. He desires to inform readers of the teachings of these religions and the mind set of their followers, equipping true believers in Christ to reach the growing masses of people who are lost without Christ.

Critical Evaluation

Halverson successfully fulfills his purpose. This work is both insightful and practical. The authors clearly communicate the belief systems of the different world religions. This book's greatest strength is in the apologetic material provided and the practical pointers on witnessing. The charts that are included are excellent resources for quick reference. In some chapters more Scripture reference would be helpful. Some chapter are not as well written as others.
This book is useful for gaining an understanding of world religions, refuting their teachings, answering objections raised to Christianity, finding resources for deeper study, and practical advise on how effectively communicate the gospel of Christ to people with different world views.

The editor did an excellent job of focusing on and comparing critical aspects of the various world belief systems. Establishing a worldview that is truth, is livable, and is backed by reasonable evidence is essential to understanding our reason for existence. Comparing each world religion by the same standard allows the reader to adequately compare the significant and critical differences as well as the surface similiarities. Outstanding as a concise, comprehensive yet understandable, reference material. Highly recommend for any student of comparative religions.

This is not a book for those looking for an unbiased introduction of the religious traditions of the mankind. It gives a series of sketchy portraits of non-Christian religions with guidelines for proselytizing members of other faiths.

As a Buddhist, I read only the section on Buddhism and my rating reflects only this part of the book.

I was heartened that the author didn't make any of the grotesque factual errors that I often see in evangelical Christian coverage of Buddhism. However, the account was terribly superficial and the author demonstrated no true comprehension of Buddhist beliefs. It seems to me, as an evangelical tool, this chapter failed. I found that the tactics recommended for proselytizing to Buddhists were laughable and couldn't imagine them succeeding with a practicing Buddhist.

I would encourage anyone wanting a more sophisticated presentation of Buddhism from a Christian perspective to read some of the offerings of Brother David Steindl-Rast, Father Heinrich Dumoulin, or Thomas Merton.

The book came in fast and I was in possession of it before fall classes started. It was a new book so there is no need to comment on the condition. In my opinion, Amazon always does a good job. I have been doing frequent business with them for three years now, and they have never disappointed me yet. Thanks Amazon