Customer Reviews

Illustrated Guide to World Religions, The

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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".

I believe the negative reviews below are unfair. As the author states in the Intro: "This book was written primary with the Christian in mind, but not exclusively.. I invite you to consider the arguments.." The book is easy to read, very broad, and clear but very insightful.
It frames the primary issues all religions deal with and shows how Christianity contrasts with other religions. In each case it describes how Christians should present their beliefs to those with other beliefs. The tone is respectful of other religions, but, of course, since the issues are goodness, meaningful lives, just societies, and eternal bliss, it does not paper over the profound differences. I'm so sorry to hear those who preceive differences and the belief that one way is correct as equal to hate. Could science or any other field have advanced with this as the governing assumption?

I had read a friend's copy in preparation for a Sunday school class.
I ordered a new copy to give as a Christmas gift.

This book covers some of the more well known religions and some I have never even heard of. It has good tables that contrasts every religion to christianity. It seems written from a christian point of view since each chapter ends with how to relate and find similarities to the other religion to help with your witnessing efforts.

I picked this book up on an impulse at the library last night. The book's title and front cover gave me the impression that I had in my lucky little hands an objective, unbiased overview of major world religions. You know what I mean: "Just the facts, ma'am." That sort of thing.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I began flipping through the pages and discovered that Christianity was conspicuously missing from the alphabetical list. I blinked. I checked again. Sure enough, the book jumped straight from Buddhism to Confucianism, giving Jesus the ol' snub. Oh, my goodness! Whatever could be wrong? Could it be that the authors hold Christianity in such low esteem that they decided it wasn't even worth a mention? Could it be that the authors are in fact evil, crazed, Mr. Burns-like fiends who are plotting to destroy Christianity by systematically ignoring it in all of their books?

No--just the opposite, in fact. It turns out that this is a book written by Christians for other Christians. The reason Christianity is not included is that the writers assume you are already a believer and only want to read their book so you can debate with and convert people of other faiths. The book should have been titled, Religions of the World: A Guide for Proselytizing Christians. Instead of going for the "multicultural" look by putting images of a Hindu woman, a Buddha statue, some praying Muslims, and the Ten Commandments tablets on the front cover, they should have showed a Christian trying to convert someone. It's obvious that *somebody* in the production process wanted to be a sneaky little weasel and rope non-Christians into reading the book, too.

I know the Bible is a bit fuzzy on the "honest book marketing" issue, but I have a feeling a certain weasel--or party of weasels--is in serious need of redemption.

I give the book four stars because it's well-organized, visually appealing, and it describes the basic tenets of each religion very clearly. But if you're looking for "objective and unbiased," give it a big fat miss.

This must be one of the most vicious, hateful, evangelistic books I've ever seen. It is such a threat to world peace and goodwill. Under the guise of a great title "The Illustrated Guide to World Religions," is a manual of how to brainwash non-Christians into rejecting their own religion and to convert them to Christianity. Please don't support such endeavors.
Raja

The goal of this book is to teach about other religions so people can use that knowledge to convert others to Christianity. If that's not your goal, don't bother. I find it very offensive and am throwing it away.

Having just begun to delve into the wonderful world of our world's religions, I was looking for a good book that would give me an objective survey and history of the major religions. This book was very disappointing because in each chapter the author discredits each religion and attempts to show why christianity is the only way to be saved. Dean Halverson goes so far as to say that the only way to salvation is through the writings in the bible. As you probably know, the christians believe that those who are not saved will go to hell.

I believe this book paints a very grimm, and closed-minded picture. Humankind has inhabited this earth for over 25,000 years and religions are our ways of handing down tradition and wisdom. It is outrageous for this author to suggest that most of the world is lost and to-be-found. Please don't buy this book unless you're the narrow-minded and evangelical type of christian.

A better book is by Huston Smith (world reknown author on religion) and is titled "The Illustrated World's Religions: A Guide to Our Wisdom Traditions". The Amazon recommendations under that listing are also very good.