The Illustrated Guide to World Religions

By Eden O'Neill

Book Overview

In clear, concise chapters, charts, and illustrations, The Illustrated Guide to World Religions presents the origins, basic beliefs, and evangelistic opportunities of the world's major religions. Included are Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Secularism, The New Age, and other world faiths. Book jacket.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764228382
• ISBN13: 9780764228384
• Release Date: November 2003
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Length: 284 Pages
• Weight: 1.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

World Religions

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.

a christian perspective

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.

Insightful and Easy to Read Overview

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?

Religion as knowledge

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.

Pictorially, graphically, information-wise a great primer

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.