What's the Big Deal About Other Religions?: Answering the Questions About Their Beliefs and Practices

by John Ankerberg, Dillon Burroughs

Authors John Ankerberg and Dillon Burroughs continue their exciting What's the Big Deal? series with concise, informative answers to the many questions people are asking about the major religious groups in the world. The groups in this book are so widespread that readers are likely to encounter their followers in their own neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces. Which makes it important to understand what they believe, and why. Included in this volume are Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonism, and the Jehovah's Witnesses. And for each group, readers will discover... Ankerberg and Burroughs are masterful at focusing on the key essentials readers need to know. And they include many exclusive interviews with experts, as well as numerous fascinating insights--all of which makes for compelling reading.

Genres: Christianity, Spirituality

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

About the author

John F. Ankerberg (born Dec 1945) is the host of a nationally syndicated evangelical Christian television talk show. The show is broadcast from Chattanooga, Tennessee via satellite and highlights contemporary Christian viewpoints and debates among well known Christian scholars.

Ankerberg holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Rice Seminary and is an ordained Baptist minister. He is the author or co-author of numerous books including Darwin's Leap of Faith: Exposing the False Religion of Evolution (Harvest House, 1998), and The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge: A Christian Perspective (Moody, 1990).

He is married and has one daughter.

Reviews

[Anne-Marie Madore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The age of a book does not deter me from reading it. What’s the Big Deal About Other Religions? Answering the Questions about Their Beliefs and Practices, was released in 2008. When I came across it, knew it would be of great interest to me. I was not disappointed. A wealth of information was found within its pages. A chapter is devoted to 16+ world religions in the following order:

Christianity – Roman Catholicism – Judaism – Islam – Mormonism – Jehovah Witnesses – Wicca – Kabbalah – Hinduism Buddhism – Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto – New Age Religions – Agnosticism – Atheism

We may know tidbits about other religions but not have answers to questions like: What is the origin of these religions? When did they get started? What do these religious teach? How different are they from Christianity?

The book begins with Christianity and asks the question, What’s the big deal about Jesus? That is the ultimate question to consider when comparing Christianity with other religions. A summary is included giving readers the basic belief and description of key teachings of Christianity regarding:

God - Holy Book – Sin - Jesus Christ – Salvation - Afterlife

I’m a born-again Christian and believe whole heartedly in the teachings on Christianity. Reading through the chapters on the other religions was an eye-opening experience. The summary of beliefs in Christianity were placed alongside those found in the other 15+ religions. One could see what makes Christianity different from other religions.

The Discussion Guide enables readers to use the book within a small group, Bible study, or among book club members. Questions to ask are included to assist whomever facilitates the group. And additional resources are listed for those desiring to learn more.

The book was co-written by two Christian authors. What they wrote was well researched, with pages of footnotes provided. Religion is a hot topic, readers may not totally agree with what’s shared in the book. Yet; biblical truths speak for themselves, and is why Christianity differs from all other religions.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is despicable. It is the worst and most tainted horrible non-fiction book written for Christians that I have ever endured the pain of reading. I do not recommend this book for anyone. It's not even worth the paper it is printed on. When I first found the book, I was so excited and thinking that this would be along the lines of something that would have been of great benefit to me during my schooling where I received my BA in Religious Studies. Boy was I ever wrong! This book is one of those that twists scriptures and peoples quotes to make it fit whatever point they are trying to make. I am thoroughly disgusted and severely angry at the waste of time and effort that was put into something that could have provided such a blessing. Don't waste your time on the junk that is referred to as a book.

[CJS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good,precise, and straight to the point overall book on religions and their belief and practices.
Very good book for the christian that is on the go and would like to put in 10-15 minutes a chapter
before bed time to get a comprehensive overview of different systems of thought among religions.
John Ankerberg has been in the game for a long time. Pre-millenial and Pre-trib, he has interviewed countless of peoples of different ethnic and religious backgrounds on his show for over 30 years, christian and non-christian and even some were converted christians who explain their background persona from which they came out of (explaining the fallacies for which they encountered and were previously unaware of). Despite the fact of some, i believe this is a very good read in my humble opinion:-)

[Melissa Frye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read my review at Suite101.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

good overview, easy to understand the basis of different religions

[Mary Sanders · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible. Just awful. Don't waste your time.