Nelson's Illustrated Guide to Religions: A Comprehensive Introduction to the Religions of the World,Used

Understand the Religions of the World from Christian Perspective and Be Equipped to Engage their AdherentsChristians live their faith more than ever in a pluralistic religious context. How should a Christian respond to the complex spiritual alternatives available today? Are all religions the same? Does the New Age fulfill the second coming of Jesus? Is Sun Myung Moon sinless? Is Islam a religion of peace? Is Mormonism true? Is Scientology a religion? How does the Dalai Lama view Jesus? Do witches worship Satan? Is the pope infallible? These and other crucial issues are examined in Nelsons Illustrated Guide to Religions.Nelson's Illustrated Guide to Religions covers more than 200 religions, sects, and cults, most of them ones the reader might encounter on any given day. Key features include: Historical information on each major religion with detailed timelines Profiles of each groups primary leaders An inventory of key principles and beliefs of each religion An analysis and critique of religions from a Christian perspective Opinion and commentary on the controversial issues related to specific religious groups Recommended resources bibliographic information and extensive Internet sources for further study New groups exploredincluding The Lord Is Our Righteousness Church and the SoldOut Discipling Movement Ten Tests for Truth in Religionsa set of multifaceted tests that Christians should apply when approaching the faith traditions of othersand their own faithThis volume offers both description and evaluation of the hundreds of religions in todays spiritual marketplace and provides basic data on the major world religions: Bahai Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Islam Judaism New Age Sikhism.Nelson's Illustrated Guide to Religions also explores the major divisions within Christianity (Roman Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism) and provides an introduction to over twentyfive Protestant denominations. The book examines famous sectarian movements including: the Branch Davidian, Christian Scientist, Jehovahs Witness, Mormon, and Unification Church movements. The occult worlds of Witchcraft and Satanism are analyzed as well.In addition to basic information, the reader has access to critical analysis of the controversies that arise in the debates about various religious groups and leaders. The author addresses the new evangelicalMormon dialogue, the Emergent Church controversy, Local Church debates, CatholicEvangelical tensions, the integrity of Seventhday Adventism, the crimes of David Koresh, controversies over Muhammad, the extent of satanic ritual abuse, and much more.Nelsons Illustrated Guide to Religions is based on Professor James Beverleys thirty years of research and frontline investigation of world and new religions. He has had facetoface encounters with some of the worlds most influential religious leaders, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Beverley has observed witchcraft rituals in Africa, conversed with Muslim leaders in Syria and Lebanon, visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar, seen Hindu ceremonies along the Ganges, had private meetings with cult leaders throughout North America, and consulted with leading scholars all over the world. Professor Beverley is frequently interviewed by the media for his knowledge of religions and has served as an expert witness in both civil and criminal trials.Nelsons Illustrated Guide to Religions is a comprehensive and engaging Christian guide to world religions and is ideal for students as well as the laypeople in the church.