Illustrated Guide to World Religions, The [Hardcover]

Dean C. Halverson (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2003

With the world at America's doorstep, today's Christians need to understand the beliefs of their neighbors, who represent many ethnic groups and religions. This book presents the evangelistic challenges and opportunities of the world's leading religions in a colorful graphic format. It prepares Christians to answer the questions "Is Jesus the only way to God?" and "How can we know the Bible is the Word of God?" Ideal for teachers, pastors, and lay Christians who want to witness to their friends and colleagues.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It prepares readers to answer many common apologetic questions, and is ideal for teachers and pastors, families and individuals." -- Christian News, Feb. 2004

About the Author

Dean Halverson is a World Religions Specialist with International Students Inc., a para-church organization committed to sharing Christ with the half-million internationals studying in the U.S. He was a researcher for the Spiritual Counterfeits Project and is the author of Crystal Clear: Understanding and Reaching New Agers. He lives in Colorado with his wife, Debbie. They have three children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 284 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764228382
• ISBN-13: 978-0764228384
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #539,941 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Religion as knowledge, July 13, 2005

By 

Kidmugg (California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Illustrated Guide to World Religions, The (Hardcover)

Contrary to the other review who called this book "narrow-minded," I believe this book is very helpful because it actually treats relgions as something that should be verfied as true. Our culture today treats religion like flavors of ice cream--pick the one that pleases you best. Halverson, however, does a marvelous job of showing the most important details of the world's religions so that the reader can evaluate them based on good philosophical principles. Rather than 'narrow-minded,' I find this book actually encurages the reader to use her mind when exploring some of the most vital questions of life.

This book is a great introduction to a very broad subject. It is accessible, easy to read, and colorful layout. The pictures take the reader beyond sterile 'facts' and into the real world of each religion.

Halverson is a Christian and writes from a Christian perspective. But he calls the reader to think for herself and make her own judgment according to the best reasons for believing.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pictorially, graphically, information-wise a great primer, May 24, 2004

By 

E. Johnson (El Cajon, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Illustrated Guide to World Religions, The (Hardcover)

Although the information in this book is the same as what is found in his 1996 edition "The Compact Guide to World Religions," Dean Halverson does a beautiful job putting this work together. First, it is easy to read and follow. In fact, any layperson should have no trouble with the basics of each of the major religions. In addition, the pictures and charts alone are well worth the inexpensive price of this hardcover book. Finally, the valuable chapters on "Is Jesus the Only Way to God?" and "How can we know the Bible is the Word of God?" make this a must-have in one's library. I don't know of any other resource (from a Christian perspective) that provides the fundamentals of a particular world religion in a context so easy to understand. I teach a world religions course, and it is the first book (out of three texts) that I require my students to purchase.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Overview...For Christians, June 5, 2008

By 

Sean Andrews "Sean Andrews" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Illustrated Guide to World Religions, The (Hardcover)

I borrowed this book from the library because I wanted to read a good, objective overview of the religions of the world. While this book does provide good, generic, simple overview explanations of most of the known (non-tribal) religions of the world, it is heavily bent toward Christianity. I have to agree with what reviewer "kiddmugg" said below: it is very snarky. Within each chapter about other religions, the book compares that religion to Christianty. There is even a chart in each chapter, with one column for that chapter's religion and one column for Christianity. Then it goes on to make lengthy, descriptive comparisons to passages in the Bible.

I would not go so far as to say this book is trying to convert people who have other religious beliefs to believe in Christianity (although I would not put it past the author if he happens to be a Christian), but it is obvious that this book is written FOR Christians and, at the very least, is trying to get Christians to understand what the other religions of the world are about.

The title of the book is inappropriate. It should be "A Christian Guide to World Religions".