The Baker Pocket Guide to World Religions: What Every Christian Needs to Know

by Gerald R. McDermott

Book Overview

Did you know that about half of the world's population is either Muslim or Christian? Or that atheists comprise only 2 percent of the world population--and that number is shrinking? Our world is one... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801071607
• ISBN13: 9780801071607
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: Baker Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.2" x 7.1"

Customer Reviews

Thorough, easy-to-read, overview of world religions

I purchased this book to teach a Sunday School class on world religions. I bought some other sources as well, and had some text books from seminary. But I ended up using this book the most. It is as thorough as I'd imagine most SS teachers want to make their material, and goes as deep as most participants are willing to go that early on a Sunday morning. It's easy to read and each chapter is logically laid out. There are a few sidebars that deal with tangent subjects in the chapters, some of which I chose to research further in other resources. It is presented from a mildly evangelical perspective, so it worked well for a SS class. If someone were studying religions to determine what they believed, this would probably agitate them, unless they wished to know how Bible-believing Christians see other religions. If you are looking for something that you can easily read (would be easy enough for high school students to ingest), and gives you a good overview, this would be a great choice.

Evangelistic Tool

The Baker Pocket Guide to World Religions by Gerald McDermott may be small, but it provides all the information Christians need to get a basic understanding of the major world religions. The book devotes separate chapters to Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism, Christianity, Shinto, and Islam. Each chapter describes the particular religion and explains its belief system. Sidebars provide additional interesting information on such topics as reincarnation, yoga, the differences between Catholics and Protestants, and The DaVinci Code. In addition, each chapter contains a testimony from a practioner of the faith. In the chapters on the non-monotheistic religions, McDermott provides comparisons to Christianity and/or an analysis of the religion from a Christian perspective. The final chapter is devoted to two questions: Should we evangelize people in other religions? and Can we learn from other religions? McDermott answers yes to both questions and uses this last chapter to explain how and why. McDermott writes respectfully of each religion in a style that's clear and easy to understand. This book would make a great evangelistic tool and an excellent study guide for a small group or Sunday School class. When Paul met with the Greeks on Mars Hill, he brought with him a knowledge of their poets and gods that enabled him to connect with his listeners. In The Baker Pocket Guide to World Religions, Gerald McDermott has given today's Christians a resource that, wisely used, can help them prepare for their own Mars Hill encounters.

A must for anyone who wants to avoid a faux pas when traveling abroad.

In dealing with other cultures, Christians sometimes forget that their religion isn't the only one. "The Baker Pocket Guide to World Religions: What Every Christian Needs to Know" is a crash course in the faiths of the world so that Christians may better understand the world around them. With an essay from a speaker from each of the many faiths of the world, today's spiritual leaders, customs and traditions of each, and more, it's highly educational in its content. "The Baker Pocket Guide to World Religions" is a must for anyone who wants to avoid a faux pas when traveling abroad.

An amazing resource

Dr. Gerald McDermott's latest book provides an amazing resource for Christians wanting both to know the basics of other world religions and to speak more personally to those religions in the light of Christ. McDermott helps the reader to see what's true and meaningful in each religion; every believer of every religion has something good to learn from the other. At the same time, he then provides an analysis of each religion from a Christian perspective. In this way, a Christian might engage in knowledgeable, positive conversations with persons of different faiths while always keeping an eye on those opportunities in the conversations to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe every Christian household needs this resource in order to engage the world better for the sake of Christ's love and truth.