Product Description
The current religious climate poses unique challenges to those engaged in mission. Thus the authors of this book propose a new, yet very biblical, model for interacting with people of other faiths. They term this model giftive mission, as it is based on the metaphor of free gift. We bear the greatest gift possible--the gospel message. Adopting this perspective not only has the potential for greater missionary success but also enables us to more closely imitate God's gracious activity in the world. The core of the book explores eleven practices that characterize giftive mission. Each practice is illustrated through the story of a figure from mission history who embodied that practice. Further discussion shows how to incorporate these practices in specific mission settings. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a book which brings the world's religions to life, making them relevant and accessible to today's children. The beliefs, history and customs of all the main religions are dealt with individually, while the introductory sections address more general questions such as: why do human beings have religions? what do different religions have in common? what has been their part in human affairs? With its descriptions of many lesser-known religions and sects, glossary, maps and time chart, the book forms an accessible introduction to the subject for children aged 10 and upwards. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Culture for a young child
My nine year old enjoys reading from this book and learning about other cultures and religions. It's about right for her age group and gives enough information to spark interest without going into too much detail to be boring or confusing.

Well-written Guide to World Religions
This well-written book ought to be required reading for young people (and adults)growing up in a very religiously diverse world.

Wonderful Book!
I loved this book.It provides information about the 5 major religions in a comprehensive manner.I plan to share this book with my students, who were confused by the discussion of religion and what religion is.Some have come from communist countries and never heard of the subject. ... Read more

Product Description
For the five billion people who inhabit the earth, religion is an important part of culture and identity. From the Buddhists of China to the Muslims of the Middle East, people of different origins, languages, and customs have also embraced varied ways of worship. Through detailed illustrations and descriptions, Betsy and Giulio Maestro take a historical look at religious--and show that faiths around the world are as diverse as the people who practice them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Great intro to religion book
As a mom, I had no idea where to begin with my child when it comes to religion as I am spiritual and not aligned to any particular practice.I found this book a great comparative religion book- it explained what many of his friends at school believe and provided a background for many religions so that my son has the opportunity to learn more.I am glad I got the book.

Wish there were more
My four year old has been bringing up God a lot to me, especially since my devoutly Catholic parents came for a visit. I want my son to respect adults so I didn't want to disparage anything my parents had told him but at the same time, I wanted him to know that some people believe in different things and that it's okay. Then his camp took him to see the movie, Evan Almighty, and my son came home telling me that he had seen God and that God talked. My boyfriend showed him a picture of Morgan Freeman on the internet and explained that he was an actor pretending to be God. So I've been reading this book to my son but we haven't gotten through the whole thing yet. There just aren't a lot of books like this for his age. This is a little bit over his head and he's somewhat bored by it but it is doing what I needed it to do.

Great starter book on religions for kids.
My 8 yr old was starting to ask questions about religion so I purchased this book so I could teach him about the main religions in a language that he could understand.I have found it an excellent starter book as it gives just the right amount of information for his age so as not to overwhelm him. We have been reading it together and I have also found it very informative as there was quite a bit I didn't know about certain religions. Even my 6 yr old has been sitting in with us.

Very Disappointed...
I was very disappointed with the obvious bias of this book; I do personally hold to a particular belief system, but I want my child to understand the background and tenets of other beliefs and cultures, as well.We read a wide range of books on many religions and belief systems, and he has a working knowledge of many of them.

One thing I found particularly frustrating was the disparity between the descriptions of the religions - some are outright stated as being "Truth", and some are stated as "the followers of such and such happen to believe..."; quite frankly, if a book is to be written about world religions, especially for children, all religions should be treated with equal objectivity.

Religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism were treated as peaceful "Truth", while Judaism and Christianity ended with bluntly telling children that "sinners will burn in Hell."Wow, gather up for story time, kids.

I was also extremely disappointed with the outright "truth" statements and bias at the end of the book; teaching children a statement like "there is no truth" and that people who have the gall to hold to a certain belief system (whatever it might be) have caused all the misery since the beginning of time is neither objective or logical.

This book was nothing more than propaganda, aimed toward teaching children that truth is nonexistent and that they should just strive to be "good people", accepting everything and believing nothing.Honestly, the last few pages even blatantly state that idea.I would not recommend this book for anything but the trash can.

Global View
I was looking for a resource to open my daughter's eyes to the world of religion without a biase and I found it. This book offers a peek into many religions without stating who's right or who's wrong. The Story of Religion is a wonderful way for an agnostic or non-practicing believer to share the nuisances of peoples faiths without exposing them to the divisiveness found in so many introductory religious resources. ... Read more

Product Description
The perfect companion to Huston Smith's The World's Religions-- a classroom-tested workbook for the understanding of humankind's wisdom traditions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not what I was expecting
I ordered this book thinking that this would help me understand "The World's Religion".Though this book is only questions about the text and doesn't help clarify the complicated reading in "The World's Religion".This workbook still can be useful if you use the questions to keep you focused and to help you remember all that is being said.But if you are a college student who is in a panic because she has to write essays about the book that she can't comprehend and hopes this will be a quick fix, well think again because this workbook still requires you to read the book and understand it.

Great supplement!
This book is an excellent supplement to Huston Smith's "ExploringWorld's Religions".This book follows his book chapter by chapterwith a workbook page devoted to each.The questions really help the readerto outline the material from the chapter, thereby getting a betterunderstanding of it. It also occasionally includes extra information notlocated in the original book.Overall, I would suggest this book, not onlyfor students, but for anyone reading Smith's book who wants to ensurethemselves of a clearer understanding. ... Read more

Product Description
The Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. This ethical dictum is a part of most of the world's religions and has been considered by numerous religious figures and philosophers over the centuries. This new collection contains specially commissioned essays which take a fresh look at this guiding principle from a comparative perspective. Participants examine the formulation and significance of the Golden Rule in the world's major religions by applying four questions to the tradition they consider: What does it say? What does it mean? How does it work? How does it matter? Freshly examining the Golden Rule in broad comparative context provides a fascinating account of its uses and meaning, and allows us to assess if, how and why it matters in human cultures and societies. ... Read more

Product Description
This illustrated basic introduction to the faiths which have shaped our world--Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Taoism, and many more--gives a clear and accurate overview of each religion, along with helpful photos that relate their emotional impact and appeal. Color photos; diagrams. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Little of Interest
"Christianity and the Encounter of the World Religions" by Paul Tillich is a short collection (approx 80 pages) of lectures given by the author in 1961. Tillich is one of the better-known liberal protestant theologians of the mid-twentieth century - with perhaps his most significant work being the multi-volume "Systemic Theology".

Although Tillich touches briefly on Buddhism, the main focus of his comments is centered on what he calls quasi-religions: communism, fascism and liberal humanism and the challenges that they pose for Christianity.Although someone familiar with the author may be able to glean insight from these lectures - those unfamiliar with Tillich and the context within which he is speaking may find his comments broad and vacuous with little value.This observation is as much a comment on transcripts of public lectures as it is on Tillich - i.e. when you translate spoken comments to the written page they often lose some of the appeal they had in the original medium.

Though it is not clearly evident in this short work, Tillich has been accused of being excessively concerned with accommodating faith to popular culture - i.e. his work seems to be strongly influenced by Late 19th and early 20th century thought (existentialism and psychology).As a result, from my perspective Tillich reads very much as a period piece - providing some historical insight into the social and intellectual influences of his time but little of lasting significance.Indeed, some critics have referred to Tillich as the last great 19th century liberal theologian - this is probably not fair, however, I think many contemporary readers when exposed to his work will be struck by its' mid-20th century continental feel.

In closing, I would only recommend for this work for serious Tillich fans.It does not provide a good entry point into his theological views - by itself, it reads as a limited period piece.Those seeking an introduction to Tillich may find one of his other works as a better entry point.

Full of interesting ideas.
This is my first direct aquaintance with Paul Tillich.I found this book extremely thoughtful and interesting.It is quite short, just ninety pages or so, but concentrated: on dwarf stars, you get more matter per teaspoon than in a herd of elephants; so here with abstract thought, compressed and weighty compared to more glib discussions.The book is not hard to read, however.

Tillich argues as follows.First, he defines religion and "quasi-religions" such as liberal humanism and Marxism: "the state of being grasped by an ultimate concern . . . "He differentiates "religions of the spirit," such as original Christianity, Buddhism, and liberalism, from "legally organized religions," such as Medieval Catholicism, Islam, and later secular faiths.He fairly and, I think, accurately differentiates between the kind of discrimination between faiths that follows from an affirmation of the truth of one's own, from various forms of more absolute denial.He follows this question through Christian history in an interesting way, arguing that the dominant Christian approach is not to absolutely repudiate non-Christian beliefs, as is commonly thought. "They did not reject them unambiguously and of course they did not accept them unambiguously . . . they acknowledged the preparatory character of these religions and tried to show how their inner dynamics" should send pagans to Christ.I have been studying this question for some years, and while I believe in God and the whole nine yards, and I'm not sure exactly what Tillich believed, I think on this point he was quite right, and insightful.(Like the Church fathers ,I havegone further and suggested in my books -- Jesus and the Religions of Man, True Son of Heaven: How Jesus Fulfills the Chinese Culture -- that God in some way seems to have prepared world cultures for the Gospel.)Tillich traces the various competing solutions to the question of how Christianity relates to other faiths to modern times, and his own contemporaries.He offers names, but few details.

Another point that Tillich emphasizes is that "religions of the spirit" tend to lose their character when they come into contact with more authoritarian beliefs, not so much because they lose the military contest, as that they "fight fire with fire," and become too much like their opponents.His examples here are Islam and Communism.I think he is right that that is a danger, though I don't think the danger is absolute, or that it may never be necessary in fact to take up arms in defense of a free society.But he puts the problem well.

In the following chapter, Tillich discusses the encounter between Christianity and Buddhism.I think he underestimates the success of Christian missions and overestimates the importance of Buddhism to East Asian cultures (on art, for example).But that is a part of his tendancy to speak in big generalizations.

Tillich closes with a chapter called "Christianity judging itself in the light of its encounter with the World Religions."Here he speaks of Christianity as the "negation of religion," and of Christ as a "symbol."He suggests a hope that Christianity will become, rather than an independent, self-enclosed religion, a "center of crystallization for all positive religious elements after they have been subjected to the criteria implied in this center."I agree with the general concept, though I am not sure I agree with what Tillich sees as the "center" of Christian faith.(I am also skeptical about the "wisdom" with which Tillich claims in this chapter that Islam has dealt with "primitive peoples."See V. S. Naiphaul.)Tillich argues "not conversion, but dialogue."Then on the very last page, when I'm hoping he will explain what he thinks people should base future faith upon, Tillichpeters out into rather confused metaphors about the "depths" of a religion, a "point" of time that "breaks through (the) particularity" of a given religion and "elevates" it to freedom.I'm not at all sure what he means by that.But there are many interesting thoughts in this grand sweep of a little book, and I found it well worth reading. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent Overview
I've had this book for at least 15 years that I can remember and I refer to it constantly.What I really like about this book is that it looks at religion from a historical perspective, referencing both scriptures and history from the secular standpoint. It also gives a concise description of the major tenants of enumerated religions. The book does not give its own opinion, rather it references known experts and lists their specific contributions in the body of the text thereby allowing one to go to the various authors quoted for more indepth and detailed information/analysis. The book is extremely well illustrated with both archeological and historical photos and renderings.
Its purpose is to juxtapose extant religious literature and archeological data and place it within its historical timeframe and context.I found the information of Early Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism along with Zoroastrianism to be particularly helpful.It also explains the effect of known human migrations (again referring to Buddhism) and its influence on both early Hinduism and subequently, Buddhism especially insiteful.
The book is dry, accurate, and encyclopedic in nature.If I had only one reference book for my religious studies available to me, this would be the one that I would choose.

Good price, good book, but not hardcover
The book arrived with good speed, in excellent condition. It wasn't hardcover as advertised, although the price cannot be beat, and I can't imagine why anyone would want hardcover over paperback... but that should have been noted.

Outdated and unclear
I've only read the first six chapters of this book and I am already frustrated with it.It was first published in 1971 and in the chapters I've completed so far, it does not appear that the reference information was updated in the 1983 edition. They still refer to population statistics from the 1966 Australian Census as a viable purview of Maori religious distribution.In addition,I am disappointed as the chapters provide virtually no framework for time periods, religion origins, establishment of the Gods and adaptions through the religion life spans. In addition, they do not coherently link the religious practices with the Gods and their evolution and modification from evolving populations.If you are hoping to get a basic understanding of the religions discussed book without reading other world religion books, you will be disappointed.My advice is not to waste your money.

world religions
I love learning about other religions and I think everyone should know about other religions so that way they wont be as judgemental about them and this book gives really useful information about them.

an encyclopedia of religions
This book follows the religious history of the world. It starts from ancient times, continues with religions of Egypt, India, Greece, China and Japan, and concludes with Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It gives the sense that religion almost everywhere arose as a result of a particular need, and evolved in a certain way to address those needs. I found the section on Chinese religions (Confucianism, Buddism and Taoism) especially well-written. (I am no content expert; I mean this section was interesting and easy to read). Some sections are packed with information, and one does not remember much after a few days (such as the section on religions of Greece where several gods are mentioned one after another without going into much detail). I didn't like the organization of pictures. There are quite a few black and white photographs, but instead of being scattered in the book close to the place where they are mentioned, the pictures are gathered on a few pages throughout the book.This makes it difficult to match them with their mention in the text. I think it could have been written in a less formal way to make it easier to read. It seems that it was aimed to be an encyclopedia, a book of reference, and that is what it is. ... Read more

Product Description
The Encyclopedia of World Religions, Cults and the Occult is designed to be of maximum assistance to those who may know little about the religions and sects that span the globe. It also serves as a comprehensive resource for those who wish to glean more detail about a particular religion or cult group ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent
I was able to use this book for most of the theology class.Thank you very much for the condition of the book.

Encyclopedia of World Religions, Cults & the Occult
This is an excellent book for seeing what different Religions believe. It is a fact based book. Not written for reading with facts like Walter Martins Kingdom of the Cults. That is also an excellent book to have. This one has it seems like almost every Religion or Cult covered. I am glad that I have it as a reference book.I scanned the table of contents so you could see, but I don't see how I can add it for you. ... Read more

Product Description
An easy-to-understand pocket reference guide. Gain a brief overview of the historical and doctrinal backgrounds of the worldÃ''s major religious groups in this full-color pocket guide. The book emp ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Intentionally Biased
World Religions Made Easy is intentionally biased. Written from one Christian perspective, it promotes division and misunderstanding, denounces established Christian religions and others holding differing viewpoints, uses Biblical passages taken out of context to justify or chastize, and generally provides inaccurate and misleading information about other religions.It certainly should not be relied upon for accurate information. For an accurate and fair picture of beliefs and practices, researchers should refer to materials provided directly by each faith group. In an age where greater tolerance and understanding is needed, this book is an inappropriate resource for those seeking truth.

Not merely biased but intentionally misleading
Having already studied various religions somewhat I read this book hopeing to learn a few more facts. Instead I was horrified to find it saturated with statements like, "The stated goal of Islam is world domination," and "Hindusim isn't really a religion." The author cleary despises any system of belief other than a handful of protestant sects, the only religions to escape his scathing rhetoric. I'd like to say that the author is merely biased, but unfortunately he strays far from the realm of opinion and presents outright lies as facts. Worse, the nature of the information -- that it could be obtained withing fifteen minutes of research at a county library -- suggests that he isn't simply mistaken but intentionally misleading and (often) inflammatory.

If You Love Jesus You will Love this Book
I bought this book because I was preparing to teach a course on World Religions to a group people from different countries.I wanted to be able to give them away.I appreciate this little volume because it is distinctly Christian in its content.In a world that is growing increasingly intolerant of the Christian faith and religiously pluralistic it is refreshing to have a solid (small and colorful) readable text.If you are a Christian you will like this book.

Disgustingly Bias, to the Point of Predjudice
The day after I recieved this book as a gift, it found its way straight to the trash.Written by a Protestant Christian author, the book is extremely bias.Supporting insult with scriptural verses, Water mischievously downplays all other religions besides his own.Catholicism and Christian sects are not even safe from his blows.Besides for this, the actual information is shaky in many instances.Definately not a book for anyone wanting fact, not opinion.

Superficial and biased
"World religions made easy" is not an introduction to the major religions as much as a description of their "heresies."From a Protestant perspective, Mark Water explains how each religion (Protestantdenominations and Eastern Orthodoxy ecscape his condemnations, Catholicismdoes not) fails by rejecting Jesus and by relying on its own traditions. Bible quotes pepper the text -- sometimes in argument against specificdoctrines, sometimes serving only to insult.(For instance, "Theirzeal is not based on knowledge"illustrates the section onMormonism.)

The author does provide basic information, such as corebeliefs and number of adherents, on each relgion he discusses, but all ofthis is availableelsewhere.There is simply too little realcontent andtoo much Protestant ferver to warrant purchase. ... Read more

Product Description
The perfect text for anyone wanting to understand the largest of faiths on the world stage, this new introduction clearly locates Christianity in its global context.Structured by geographical region, covering Latin America, North America, Asia, Africa and Europe. This guide is designed to explore the varied expressions of Christianity worldwide.Clearly organized and comprehensive, it deals with four dimensions of Christianity in each context: history, churches and society, inter-religious relations, distinctive worship and theology. This is the perfect text for anyone who wants to understand the largest of faiths on the world stage. ... Read more

Product Description
Drawing on experience as an interreligious monk, Brother Wayne Teasdale reveals the power of spirituality and its practical elements. He combines a profound Christian faith with an intimate understanding of ancient religious traditions.Amazon.com Review
Author Wayne Teasdale believes that we're entering the"Interspiritual Age," when a new civilization will be formed--a globalculture based on common spiritual values. "Such a universal societywill draw its inspiration from perennial spiritual and moral insights,intuitions, and experiences," Teasdale predicts. Throughout thisambitious book, Teasdale examines the world's religions and highlightsthe underlying beliefs and yearnings that will ultimately linkhumankind.

Nonetheless, Teasdale is also a proponent of spiritualdiversity, urging readers to protect and study their own indigenousreligions (or in many cases the religions of their childhoods) beforerejecting them. In his glowing introduction, the Dalai Lama alsospeaks to the importance of preserving religions while simultaneouslyjoining forces to create a more spiritually evolved and compassionateplanet. In his final chapters, Teasdale offers ideas for cultivating amore spiritual life. Although his suggestions aren't startlinglyoriginal ("Gravitate toward silence," "Always leave the door of hopewide open.") they are tried and true and well worth the reader's timeand investment. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Exploring religious pluralism from a Christian perspective
This book was the result of many years of study and interfaith dialogue as well as a dedicated regular practice of various forms of prayer such as the Rosary, Lectio Divina, Centering Prayer, and the Eucharist.There is an enthusiasm and exuberance in Br. Teasdale's ongoing communion with God that he is eager to share with the world -- not as a boast but as a gift.To show that such faith, hope and love is accessible to all.He takes the affirmation of Vatican II, that all major faiths contain their own take on the greater truths of life and death, very seriously.His exploration of other religions is done from the perspective of someone who is rooted in his own tradition, and while he presents his own synthesis of how he interprets other faiths, he doesn't force this on those from other religions.Everyone, religious and irreligious, interprets other religions and beliefs through the lens of their own views, and Teasdale does so generously, accurately and honestly.His vision isn't one of a sloppy, indistinct mush made up of pieces of various religions that is so generic and bland as to be useless.In fact Teasdale writes so lovingly of the structures and liturgical gems each tradition has inherited that one suspects he would find such an indiscriminate merger of religions to be a tragedy.His view for an inter-spiritual age is based on the idea that each tradition is a complete system which can interact with and learn from others without losing its distinctiveness.I purchased this book many years ago and have re-read it several times, and each time I find something I didn't notice or fully appreciate before.It is a wonderful companion to have on your spritual journey.

Above average comparative analysis
It was a pleasure to add this book to my library of original religious texts, cultural history books, philosophical writings, and various psychological and socialogical human and animal behavior studies.Quite interesting.But make no mistake, this is clearly a PRO-RELIGION book and as such, is not capable of moving you past a certain point spiritually.At the end of the day, if the goal is to know truth, all religions, with their illusions, colorful gods, dogmas, mantras, rituals, and their underlying egoistic concepts need to be set aside.

This is a book on religion, NOT a book on spirituality.The two words on NOT interchangeable.Worth reading though!

Mind-opening
This book is a fount of information about religions and spiritual practices.The premise is also excellent.We would do best to look at all religions as a part of the whole answer rather than one being "right" and others being "wrong."Much to think about and embrace.

The Mystic Heart
It is a little early.Our class at church will spend 4 Sundays reviewing the book.It is quite interesting and will lead to good discussion.

Interspirituality is vital for the planet's future
If you found Tolle's A New Earth Awakening to Your Life's Purpose or Carolyn Myss's Entering the Castle, then you will find this book very enlightening as well. It is a very easy, pleasant read, but very profound. ... Read more

Product Description
This wide-ranging reader combines some of the best and most valuable contemporary perspectives from leading and significant writers, teachers, and thinkers who together address critical challenges and opportunities for the world's religions in a post 9/11 world. Edited by Arvind Sharma and organized by topic, the essays in this reader consider broad questions such as, What influence does religion have on contemporary life? Can religion destroy or preserve us? Could the world's religions join together as a force for good? The thematic arrangement of topics includes diverse religious perspectives on: pluralism, human rights, war, peace, globalization, science, spirituality and other topics. ... Read more

Product Description
In Political Islam, Nazih Ayubi traces both the intellectual sources and the socio-economic bases of political Islam, arguing that it is a modern phenomenon dating back only to the inter-war period. His distinctively broad definition of politics encompasses innovative material on sex and the family, and on the emerging alternative economic and social networks of Islamic banks, schools, and hospitals in the countries discussed. ... Read more

Product Description

A comprehensive and up-to-date approach to all those who compete for the minds and hearts of humanity.

Author James Beverley is one of the few who has interviewed the Dalai Lama in India. He has consulted as a legal expert on world religions.

This book covers more than 200 religions, sects, and cults, most of them ones the reader might encounter on any given day. Lots of illustrations and charts make this a user-friendly text. Perfect for the student as well as the layperson. Contemporary and up-to-date scholarship, this book will become the standard by which all other religions books are measured.

This book will be packaged in a way that suggests its being authoritative, a resource that will be used for a long time. This will include a beautiful dust jacket and be packed full of illustrations.

Customer Reviews (50)

Good but not Great
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.

The book is a helpful reference book. It presents the reader with a good introduction to each major religion of the world, including historical background, the current state of the religion today, and the appropriate Christian response to said religion. It's a bit difficult to just sit down and read though. There are some great things about this book, and some things I might have done differently.

First the things I like about the book. The print quality is excellent. The pages are made of nice paper with attractive color printing for graphics and photos. The book is well put together and feels good in your hands. Each religion is briefly introduced and then the reader is given a section in which the basics of that religion are presented in list form. This is the 101 section of the religion, i.e. Islam 101 in which you are given a brief overview of the five pillars of Islam, their beliefs about Muhammad "The Prophet" and the Qur'an, their sacred writings. Following the 101 section is more detail on each of these topics and more. Historical accuracy is considered, a timeline is presented, various branches of each religion are explored, any major issues related to the religion are discussed, and finally a section is given with what the author feels is the appropriate Christian response to the religion. At the end of each chapter is also a list of books and websites for further reading. Altogether, a very nice presentation is given for each religion, which should educate the reader sufficiently for most purposes.

There are a few things I dislike about the book though. Many of the Christian Cults are not treated as such. The chapter on Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, does not include the section on an appropriate Christian response. The only reason I can see for this being left out, is that the author groups the cult with other Christian denominations and therefore does not see a need for such a response. The same is true for all the Christian cults such as Mormonism and for the Christian sectarian groups as well. I regard this as an undue level of toleration for heresy. These groups are cults and the true Christian needs to be instructed in how to respond to them, every bit as much as Hinduism.

The one other thing I might have done differently is in the way the book is organized. It's completely alphabetical. Every major religion is given a full chapter, and these are arranged alphabetically. One chapter is devoted to Christian sectarian groups and they are arranged alphabetically within that chapter. I understand why it was done this way. It makes it easy to find any particular religion you might be looking for. I think I would have done things differently myself. There's a table of contents and an index to assist with finding the religion of interest. I would have arranged the various religions so that if a reader chose to read strait through the book from cover to cover, as I did, related religions would be grouped together. Reading the chapter on Christian sectarian groups can be confusing because many of them are related to one another having branched and split from each other over the years, yet these are not grouped that way, but instead are arranged alphabetically making it difficult to follow the progression from one group to another. Then the major religions, represented by an entire chapter, are grouped oddly because of this alphabetical arrangement. Your read about Islam, then Jehovah's Witnesses, then Judaism, then Mormonism, then New Age, Orthodoxy, Protestantism, and then Roman Catholicism. I would have arranged those much differently.

In the end though, this really is a reference book and not one most people are likely to read start to finish. So I can overlook the arrangement issues. I like the overall presentation and treatment. My only concern is the toleration shown to heretical Christian cults. Still, this is a valuable resource for those wishing to education themselves on the historicity and major beliefs of the world's major religions.

Good intro resource, but why?
I received a review copy of Nelson's Illustrated Guide to Religions from Thomas-Nelson Publishers.

This book is interesting in a couple of ways. First, it as more of a reference book than something you sit down to read. I was expecting a more conversational book about various religions and their differences; however, the book is neatly organized with each religion, or sect thereof, in its own section. That's not bad, just not what i was expecting. Secondly, with each religion having its own section, i would have assumed a basic alphabetical ordered format of the religions. They are not. It is organized like a hierarchy with similar religions grouped together. This, too, is not bad, just not what i was expecting after discovering that each religion had its own section. Want to find out about [insert religion here], you will need to refer to the index to find it.

Setting organization aside, Beverly has done a good job with the content. The information is clear and concise and seems accurate. But i kept asking myself, if i wanted to learn more about [insert unknown religion here], why would i go to a book? Honestly, the Wikipedia articles for the religions i reviewed are more thorough and are illustrated as well.

I gave the book a 4/5 because i think the book honors the title pretty well.

An Excellent Resource
I was very pleased to have the chance to review this very informative guide to religions. Did you know that Buddhists believe there is no God or supreme creator while Hindus believe there is one supreme God who manifests in various forms and can dwell in images? And Muslims believe that there is no God but Allah and, although their prophet Muhammad was sinless, he is not divine.

These are very superficial comparisons but there is so much more depth in this book. It is well set out and easy to read. The individual sections are comprehensive and give an excellent overview of the religious covered, and are a good place to begin an in depth study of any religion, faith or cult.

Interesting and informative, I would recommend Nelson's Illustrated Guide to Religions to anyone who wants to find out something particular about a certain religion, is considering the study of religion in general or those who, like me, are just interested in discovering the foundations of the different faiths in our world.

A Great Resource for Christians
This huge hardback book is as the subtitle states "a comprehensive introduction to the religions of the world".From a Christian perspective, it introduces the reader to the history and evolution of the prevalent religions we see today.Each entry also includes some questions and answers and Internet sources for further information.The religions included are Baha'i, Branch Davidians, Buddhism, Christian Science, Christian Sectarian Groups, Hinduism, Islam, Jehovah's Witnesses, Judaism, Mormonism, The New Age, Orthodoxy, Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Satanism, Scientology, Sikhism, Unification Church, and Witchcraft.

I really enjoyed reading this book, though it did take me quite a while to get through.It is quite lengthy (over 700 pages) and is not just a light read.It's a great resource to keep on hand when meeting people of a different religion and then being able to fully understand what they believe.The fact that it is written from a Christian perspective makes it my choice of a resource like this for our family.I would recommend this book to someone who is interested in becoming of aware of what other religions/cults believe (for evangelistic purposes), but mostly just as a good resource to have on the bookshelf to refer to.

Informational and Interesting
Nelson's Illustrated Guide to Religions by James A. Beverley is a great resource for any Christian family to have on their bookshelves. It is written by an Evangelical Christian scholar who has put together a comprehensive summary of each major religion, as well as a couple of newer religious movements.

While I knew that reviewing this book would not be an easy thing (this book is 738 pages), I was hoping to find in this book a resource that would help me explain the various world religions to my children. I was not disappointed. This book not only gives the basic information, but an added bonus is that it is written from a Christian perspective.

Some of the extra features that I love about this book are the timelines, lists of website resources on each religion, and the glossary of terms. One of the features that make this book not just informational, but enjoyable, are the grey boxes that are scattered throughout the book. They are filled with interesting facts such as presidential quotes and "famous" people in each specific religion.

I am excited to have this book for our family. It is written in an easy, readable way that I think will really be beneficial as our children grow older and have more questions about our beliefs and the beliefs of those around us. ... Read more

Product Description
This highly accessible resource distills Mircea Eliade’s lifework of detailing and comparing humanity’s entire religious heritage, providing fascinating insights into the character and worldview of the 33 principal religions. Including Buddhism, Christianity, Jainism, Judaism, Islam, Shinto, Shamanism, Taoism, South American religions, Baltic and Slavic religions, Confucianism, and the religions of Africa and Oceania, The HarperCollins Concise Guide to World Religions covers all kinds of relgious figures, histories, sacred texts, mythologies, and mystical techniques. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Historical Guide, Not A Religious One
This book is very detailed and 'concise'. The two readers who have reviewed it looked at it as a religious book, when really it is a brilliant historical account of the basic religions of the world. And looked at from that perspective, it deserves 5 stars, because you can never detect any biasedness while reading it. You can't tell what religion the writers belong to, which gives this book a distance which is necessary when studying one of the greatest emotional tools of the world: religion.

But how do these religions effect people's lives?
The title of this book, "The Harpercollins Concise Guide to World Religions," seems to be a bit of a misnomer.While it isgreat as a concise historical reference, it says almost nothing about the teachings of each religion.For example, the section on Christianity gives a splended account of the historical devopement of various denominations and factions, but it doesn't tell us what the Ten Commandments are, or what a Christian beileves he or she must do to get to heaven.In other words, religious values and morals are not discussed in this book to any meaningful extent, which dissapointed me quite a bit.Various conceptions of a particular divine being might be described, but we are left to wonder how a believer might apply a particular conception to their daily life.To me, this book seems to "miss the point."The fact that one of the authors lauds the book's successes in its introduction really makes one wonder.Having said that, however, I would like to repeat that this book is valuable as a quick historical reference.

Far too clinical in approach....
Rather than a well written and enlightened book about the world's religions, this book is excrutiatingly difficult read.It is more like a graduate student's thesis with references interrupting the flow of every other sentence.I found this book very disappointing in style, organization, and with too much information about religions that don't exist anymore.The content is there, but it is too difficult to dissect.....Find another guide that will help you understand the similarities/diffences in the world's religions.This one doesn't cut it. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is the most comprehensive and up-to-date dictionary of religion available in paperback.Written by an expert team of 80 international and multi-faith contributors, the volume contains over 8,200 entries and an original and in-depth introductory essay.
Readers will find information on:
Religions: Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, and much more
Movements, Sects, and Cults: Over 500 entries on everything from Cargo Cults and the New Age movement to Rastafarians and Soka Gakkai
Sacred Texts: Over 1,000 entries covering the sacred writings of religions worldwide
Individuals: Including founders, leaders, gurus, philosophers, mystics, and heretics
Sacred Sites:Cities, buildings, centers of pilgrimage
Customs:Religious practices, dogmas, beliefs, traditions, festivals and fasts, and artifacts such as altars, rosaries, icons, and torah ornaments
Ethics: Entries cover world-wide religious teachings on abortion, animals, birth control, war, sexuality and homosexuality, and suicide
In addition, the Dictionary features a 13,000-item topical index, directing readers to subjects that might not have their own entries, such as Brahman, breathing, death, heavens and paradises, mandala, mantra and yantra, Sufism, yoga, and Zen practice. There is also a detailed system of cross-references so that readers can explore related topics in the book, and suggestions for further reading for those who wish to pursue a subject in greater depth.
The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions is the definitive reference work on this subject, the most comprehensive and authoritative one-volume resource available. Now in an affordable paperback edition, it is the first place to turn for information on virtually any aspect of religion worldwide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A good reference
I am constantly doing research on the topic of religion and spirituality, I found I needed a dictionary of world religions as an easy reference, although I have others, this one I found to be less cumbersome and I find myself constantly referring to it, more so than the other dictionaries of religion that I have. I highly recommended.

Doron Alon
Author of "The Bible and the Law of Attraction"
www.bibleloa.com

Best reference of its kind -for breadth
With a field of over 80 leading religion scholars working on and contributing 13,000 entries, generated from Oxford University Press and edited at the University of Pennsylvania, it's got to be pretty good.While every dictionary is going to have interesting flaws and idiosyncrasies - what do you need in a work of this kind?1) comprehensiveness 2) precision 3) ease of use.On all these counts, the Oxford meets or exceeds the criteria. For instance, there is an excellent, concise Topic Index, useful for double-checking whether the topic is covered - and the vast majority are.Best of all, it's pretty affordable. I teach religion, and it's been a great quick reference for me. For depth, however, one must go to the source. If you need a personal bookshelf general reference of religion, it doesn't get any better. Before buying, however, I would definitely heed the editorial reviews of the book.They point to a serious omissions - such as a complete lack of references regarding Native American and other indigenous religions. The Wade-Giles/Pin Yin Index with which the text ends seems an awkward bit of organization.Why not simply include the alternative transliteration in parenthesis with each entry? Further, there are a number of less expensive, more svelte, "concise" dictionaries of religion available. In fact, Oxford has produced a concise version of this one to compete in that market.Again, the most popular alternative, the Harper-Collins is a better exploratory browse.Still, the Oxford has packed an overwhelming amount of critical, and most commonly referenced material into a mere 1,111 pages.

COMPREHENSIVE, YES, BUT A BIT STRANGE TOO
Most reviews have described the Oxford Dictionary as comprehensive, as it indeed is.Almost everything connected to religion in any way seems to be in here, including topics of amazingly recent importance.It is most unlikely that anyone looking through this volume will fail to find what he's looking for.The book deserves several stars for this alone.

But the book is also a little strange, even weird, in other ways.For one thing, the editor has an obsession with genetics that shows up in most of the entries he has worked on.He sees us as beings whose moral behavior is guided entirely by our genetic code.The article on adultery for instance, ignored the matter of how different religions have viewed the issue, and instead explained it away as a system of genetic enhancement!The same can be said of many other entries.His beliefs may be correct, but does this belong in the dictionary?

I was also a bit troubled by the left-liberal bias that permeated the book.Authors choose to ignore conservative and even mainstream belief, and thus give misleading and incomplete information on their topics.We are not even told, for instance, about homosexual sin in Sodom and Gomorah.The author merely says the town was destroyed because of inhospitality!Explanations like this may be popular in some quarters, but fail to do justice to the subject.

World Religions Dictionary
This book is necessary to all persons interested in the study of Religions. Gives to the reader the quick consultation needed when reading other text. It is a "Must Have it" in the library.

C. Giudici

Many faces of faithful response
The 'Oxford Dictionary of World Religions' is a concise and comprehensive single-volume reference to the religions, faith systems, and spiritual practises of the world. This dictionary has one of the broadest ranges for any multi-religious guide around.The book contains nearly 13,000 entries, broadly categorised as follows:

- Religions
- Movements, sects, cults
- Scriptural and philosophical text synopses and analyses
- Biographies of individuals
- Sacred sites
- Customs and practises

- Ethics and moral systems
- Themes on general topics

Edited by John Bowker, the text is introduced by an essay which pulls together philosophical, sociological and historical information tying together the concepts of religion.'A strange thing about religion is that we all know what it is until someone ask us to tell them. As Augustine said of time, "What, then, is time? If no one asks me I know; but if I have to say what it is to one who asks, I know not." That has not stopped people trying to define religion, but their definitions are clearly different.'

Bowker, who has published several books including award winning books on the relationship of God and science, and the meaning of death in religious frameworks, has pulled together a team of over 80 contributors, some of the brightest names in the study of religion. Thus, articles and entries are contributed by experts in their respective fields, edited and cross-referenced by Bowker and his team of eight consultant editors who hold academic posts on three continents.

In an innovative fashion, Bowker has included a topical index in back which shows in an abbreviated and quickly-referenced fashion the interrelationship between topics; for instance, if one is using this text to research Anglicanism, in addition to such well-known entries such as Book of Common Prayer and Lambeth Conferences, one would be directed also to see the articles on:

African Greek Orthodox Church
Cambridge Platonists
Sundar Singh
Order of Ethiopia
Latitudinarianism

This makes for interesting reading. Every now and then, an article will be surprising. If you want to research Wrathful Dieties, there is an article so entitled, which discusses both the specifics of events in scripture (God in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scripture is sometimes shown as a wrathful and vengeful) and the general purpose behind the wrathful imagery (moral seriousness).

Also, if you want to know for certain what a Holy Fool is, here is the place! I confess I sometimes feel like a holy fool (as opposed to being more generally an unholy one), but this book has clarified this for me so that I no longer feel that way. According to the dictionary, holy fools are:'Figures who subvert prevailing orthodoxy and orthopraxis in order to point to the truth which lies beyond immediate conformity. The holy fool endeavours to express the insistence of all religions that detachment from the standards of the world is the sine qua non of advance into truth.'

Many of the articles contain suggestions for further reading, either specific titles or, more generally, authors of note on the topic in question.This is a great reference source, and one I have referenced frequently both in my studies and my personal researches. ... Read more