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(Volume 1: Number 6) -- June 16, 1997

The Compact Guide to World Religions

This book is significant enough that I have held back on my review until now to give it maximum exposure. I only regret that I was unable to offer it sooner.

An Apologia Report Review

The Compact Guide to World Religions, Dean C. Halverson, ed. (Bethany, 1996)

Long ago I encountered the epic dilemma of the bibliophile. It came to me that: 1) there are more good books out there than I could ever read, and 2) there is a good chance I will waste time reading books I wish I hadn't started.

Book reviews give us insight into the reading choices we must make. Reviews help us both select and avoid. They can carry news which is quite helpful by itself even if the book reviewed goes unread. If your career and/or ministry is enhanced by what you study, then book reviews become more important to you as time goes on.

A strong motivation behind my enthusiasm for the Guide is the weakness I have sensed regarding Evangelical scholarship in the field. Who are the evangelical scholars of world religions?

The Compact Guide to World Religions is the best Evangelical introductory work on the subject now available. Topics covered include Animism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Marxism, the New Age, Secularism, Shintoism, and Taoism. The Guide's beginning overview creatively presents an evangelistic philosophy supported by the authors of its separate chapters. There is welcome sensitivity for respecting the perspective of others in dialog. There are also valuable insights alerting readers to the potential of finding counter-productive bias on their own parts.

A number of the Guide's authors respond to common objections from members of the religions considered. The advice offered contains a healthy balance between strategy for the moment and faith in the Sovereign who alone changes hearts.

While written by multiple specialists, the Guide has solid continuity front to back. This is helped by the application of 39 charts spread throughout. The availability of these charts alone is worth the price of the book. If you ever plan to offer a class on world religions in your church, get the Guide.

Beginning students of non-Christian religious traditions will treasure the multiple glossaries and bibliographies within theGuide. Those active in evangelism will appreciate the lists of specialized ministries unique to individual chapter topics. Such ministry resources are invaluable when the inevitable deeper questions come up in evangelistic encounters.

The attention to statistical data at the beginning of several chapters is particularly appreciated. This information helps to convey the degree of influence that the particular worldview has achieved. Where statistics are unavailable one finds a discussion regarding the pervasiveness of the religion in view. This was helpful for my own work of contrasting ancient animism to New Age thought. Similarly, it was enlightening to better understand the current force of Confucianism in Asian culture.

Those sharing their faith with adherents of other religious persuasions can expect objections in two primary areas; the exclusive claims of Christ and the reliability of the Bible. In anticipation of this, Halverson includes excellent resources addressing these issues at the book's conclusion. Rick Rood, Director of Publications for Probe Ministries and a Ph.D. candidate at Dallas Theological Seminary, presents a well-developed response for today's pluralist trend that says Jesus isn't the only way to God. Norman Geisler is a master at defending Scripture. The final chapter offers one of the best condensations on biblical reliability by Geisler that you will find anywhere.

For all of these reasons, The Compact Guide to World Religions will make a valuable addition to your library.