God's Rivals: Why Has God Allowed Different Religions? Insights from the Bible and the Early Church

I came across this book after I began wondering about the spiritual experiences of non-Christians. After discussions with Muslims, Hindus, and Mormons, I realized that persons of other faiths often have powerful spiritual experiences. I wondered how these could be accounted for from an orthodox Christian worldview. Gerald McDermott's book is the only one that I know of that addresses this question for a popular (non-academic) audience and that does so within the confines of a biblical Christian worldview. After I finished reading the book, I was very pleased with the understanding provided. The book is not intended to be a lengthy, academic treatment of the subject. McDermott provides a brief but satisfactory overview of the Bible's teaching on the origins of the religions and how early Church fathers understood the role of the religions in light of the truth of Jesus Christ. He then ties it all together and offers some suggestions on how we modern Christians might understand the non-Christian religions and how we might approach the members of these faiths. I think that McDermott provides a convincing account that resonates well with traditional Christian beliefs. I recommend this book to anyone curious about this subject.

information unknown by most Christians, a must read. there is more to this world than what you see.

Still reading this but it's very good mix of supernatural biblical worldview of early church and it's very well written and easy to read.

Very thought-provoking. Well-written and a thorough biblical discussion of the topic. This book would make an excellent group discussion.

I love it.

school book for my kid

Dr. McDermott does a fantastic job of distilling excellent information into a very useful format.

To write another book after his award-winning, well-reasoned yet provocative volume "Can Evangelicals Learn from World Religions? Jesus, Revelation & Religious Traditions" (IVP, 2000) was, no doubt, a daunting task for Gerald McDermott. Nevertheless, his most recent offering on the theology of religions does not disappoint.God’s Rivals, as its predecessor, takes a thorny, debated subject and – through thorough research and explication – elucidates a topic that many just shake their heads at and wonder about: “In the providence of God, why are there other religions?” As the back cover of the book continues, “Was the God of the Bible wise in allowing them? Can they serve any purpose?”After broaching the subjects of “the scandal of particularity” – the idea that God has only revealed Himself to certain particular times, peoples and places – and the perhaps surprising recognition of profound knowledge of God among biblical personages who were outside of Israel and the Church, McDermott proceeds to carefully survey the Old and New Testament data regarding the existence of other gods, the so-called “excluded middle” – real, spirit beings with real power and authority. Following his review of the biblical record, he faithfully presents the usually insightful perspectives of some of the early church fathers (Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria and Origen) on other religions and gods.McDermott’s desire is that his study should truly enlarge our view of God, but not as a pluralistic, anything-goes, pseudo-deity. Yes, he encourages the study of other religions, but with a caveat: “Mature believers can discern truth from error in the religions. But younger believers are often confused...Serious study of other religions is better after deep spiritual and theological roots have had time to thicken” (p. 168).It is incumbent followers of Christ to know their audiences – what they really think, believe and feel. Christ-followers must also increasingly become aware of bridges (if you will, common ground) that they might use to present the truth of the Gospel to people yet in darkness, even as Paul did in Athens (e.g., Acts 17).McDermott makes no provision for salvation apart from Christ, but he does argue that God has superintended the development of cultures and religions such that, therein, there may be some true (non-saving) knowledge of Himself.God’s Rivals closes with this powerful statement:"Other religions may be inspired in part by other powers, but God has not abandoned whole cultures to perdition and untruth. God is still at work, using even distorted truth to teach truth. And His Spirit is still actively leading individuals within the religions closer to himself." (p. 168)This is our hope, our confidence – that God is at work and will be pleased to use His people to accomplish His purposes. McDermott’s fine book helps us to better understand how other religions might fit into God’s providential plan.

A must read