World Religions: A Beginner's Guide: Questions and Answers for Humanity's 7 Oldest and Largest Faiths

Just the facts. no proselytizing. Very informative covering several religions in a concise way. Excellent to review prior to meeting business clients, new neighbors etc. very scholarly author. .

Do you have questions about any of the world’s largest religions? If so, it’s guaranteed that you’ll learn at least a few fascinating facts from thumbing through this easy-to-read guide. The style is perfect for reading in any order you like. Even the chapters can be read by skipping around from tables to summaries to short paragraphs. Read it anywhere you might have 5 minutes or so to pick it up.

This book provides basic knowledge of all major religions of the world, without judgment or prejudice. I recommend it to anyone looking to acquire a beginner's knowledge of comparative religion.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher to read. I now have a much better understanding of these world religions - their history, key dates, sacred texts, beliefs and customs they observe. I feel it has equipped me to be far more respectful and supportive of my friends and colleagues who have religions different from myself.The book is easy to read and well organized. Written for any age. I shall be keeping it handy as a reference in future

I am interested in world religion and want to find one that resonates with me. This book gives a nice review of common religions practices, beliefs and history.

Nothing in this book that can notbe found in Wikipedia.Waste of money.

This is a good book for anyone who wishes to learn more about the major religions of the world. The author doesn't delve deeply into each religion, but provides enough knowledge for the reader to come away with a solid idea of what that religion believes, how the basic practices work, the history of that religion, and its status currently. Information is presented in an unembellished way so that the reader isn't unconsciously biased by the author's personal thoughts and feelings. When dealing with a subject as charged as religion, presenting information as blandly as possible is rather important. This book isn't an exciting, fast paced read. It's pretty much a smaller version of a theological textbook.Unfortunately, this approach by the author may not appeal to readers who wish for something more than bare facts. There aren't any stirring legends of religious leaders or amazing stories of miracles meant to engage religious fervor. Readers gain a basic understanding of these religions and are offered further reading sources at the end of the book should they wish to continue learning more about one or all of the seven religions presented. Each of the religions is presented in the same way, with key dates, key historical figures, and the same questions posed. One religion isn't presented with favoritism over another, or takes up the majority of the book while others are barely given any space. I'm quite impressed that Dr. Carroll was able to avoid inserting her personal feelings or biases into her writing. She skillfully gives the reader a chance to gain the knowledge needed to be a more understanding, educated, and (hopefully) tolerant human being.Even though some readers will find this material dry and lackluster, there IS knowledge to be gained from persevering through to the end. Dr. Carroll has created a fantastic learning opportunity for those willing to expand their minds and understanding of the world, and I hope anyone that comes across this listing will take the opportunity to learn.

Unless you have taken a good class in comparative religion, you need this book. It gives you the basics on the different faiths that cover most of the world's eight billion (almost) people. Being a coward, I started with Christianity, since that is what I know the most about. The book gave a thorough, impartial description of my faith, along with a bit of history and answers to questions I hadn't thought to ask.I found that the author did the same thing for each belief covered. The only gotcha is that the book only covers the seven oldest and largest religions, and there are so many other beliefs and cults. I'd have liked to see more, but something that covers better than 90% of the people on Earth is a huge achievement.