Christianity and World Religions: Questions We Ask about Other Faiths

by Adam Hamilton

Pastor and best-selling author Adam Hamilton returns to one of his most popular topics, Christianity and world religions. This new, fully updated book explores four major world religions--Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism--and compares the beliefs of each with those of Christianity. He deals openly and honestly with questions people ask about other religions, such as:
Why are there so many different religions? How should Christians view other religions? How is God at work in other religions? What is the fate of those who earnestly pursue God through other religions? In examining these major world religions and the beliefs of their followers, Hamilton urges us as Christians to build bridges with others so that we might grow in our faith, seek peace in our world, love our neighbors, and find positive ways to share the gospel.

Additional components for a six-week study include a new Leader Guide to help facilitate each weekly session and a DVD featuring Hamilton in new 10-15 minute segments, each including an interview with followers from that tradition.

Genres: Christian, Religion, Nonfiction, Christianity, History

160 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2018

About the author

Rev. Adam Hamilton is the founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. He grew up in the Kansas City area. He earned a B.A. degree in Pastoral Ministry from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection has grown from four people in 1990 to more than 16,000 adult members with an average weekly worship attendance of more than 8,600 in 2011. The church was listed as the most influential mainline church in America in a 2005 survey of American pastors.

Adam has been married 30 years to LaVon. They have two grown daughters.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is a Methodist minister who tries to answer questions that we all might have about different religions. He does so in a very straightforward, non-biased way. The five main religions covered are: Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. I learned that we have a lot more in common than I thought. One nice thing he did was to include a timeline of events for each religion. I think everyone could learn a lot from reading this book.

[Makenzie Muñoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

GREAT resource to begin the huge task of understanding other religions! Before reading this, I knew some bits and pieces from each of the religions talked about in this book, but all of those bits had mixed together in my head. There was nothing that really separated Hinduism from Buddhism for me. Some of the beliefs of Islam, I thought were the beliefs of Judaism. It was all just a big mixture of "not christian" in my head. My interest in learning about them all has grown and the list of questions has also grown! I loved how Adam Hamilton showed that other religions all have at least one aspect, practice, or tradition to admire. It honestly pushed me to consider how I live, how I show honor to God, and how I have been slacking as a Christian in one area or another.

[Darby Knox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been an Adam Hamilton fan for a few years now. What I love about his books is how he will take the most complex theme (religion) and break it down into easily read and easily understandable writings. This particular book is intended to be a group study (as most of his books are), and I think it should be studied with a group, rather than read alone. I liked this book and still learned a lot, but would love to get others' input to really get the most out of it.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Christian in the world should read this book. Maybe there’d be more love and less hate if people made an effort to better understand their neighbors and realize that we all aren’t that different from each other.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read.

It follows a pastor of a United Methodist Christian church who after reading different holy texts and speaking with different pastors (or the equivalent) goes to explain the similarities and differences between major religions and Christianity.

I really liked how each chapter starts with a brief background of the religion and how it started. Then we get some background on the major holy texts and then some comparisons and differences. I felt the author did a very job explaining in a more elementary type way to the readers who may not be familiar with each of the religions. I also felt he did a good job in mostly sticking with the facts in this section. The comparisons and differences really surprised me as there were a lot of comparisons to be made between Christianity and every religion discussed. And I felt like the differences were interesting and really the only section that the author provided an opinion that may not be viewed by everyone. But as a Christian myself, I found it to be very respectful, although I can’t speak for how it may have come off to others.

I felt like the sections on Judaism and Islam were done especially well, with the author including major historical events and times where Christians were at-fault and in the wrong as well.

Overall, since this is a comparison between Christianity and the other major religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam) the text did feel dense at times. But, for the most part it was easy to understand and I really enjoyed the author’s reasoning for wanting to create a book like this. I believe mostly Christians would get the most out of this, but I think others might also learning about some of the other faiths.

[Matthew Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very informative without being overbearing on the mind as you learn. Hamilton offers a quick and insightful view into the major religions of the world showing common ground where they intersect on certain issues, but also shows the other side of the coin, displaying some major differences. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a quick read, but very informative. Hamilton did a great job of sticking to his points and not wandering off base, which gave just enough information to stir interest and leave you wanting to research for yourself. Will definitely be checking out more of his writing.

[Tonya · Rating 1 out of 5]

This study was so bad I couldn’t even finish it. Doesn’t help that the videos basically are the chapter being reread to us. Or that half of the questions from the leader guide have us go back and reread half of the chapter.

I suppose the info was simple but informative but it was terrible as a group Bible study.

[Dawne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to get a basic overview of World Religions. I enjoyed how he explained the origins of the religion and then the similarities and differences with Christianity. The goal in reading a book such as this to create more compassion and understanding of others and their religion views.

[Vicki Bivens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational and practical perspective on major world religions and building relationships among people of different faiths. At the same time Hamilton's book is packed with concise but thorough information about major religions of the world. Although Christian in perspective, this is an open minded exploration of the differences among Christian and non Christian faiths.

[Vanessa Chavis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to understand explanation of major religions.

Easy to read and understand. I thought the author was concise and informative. I read after a trip to Nepal to understand more about Hinduism and Buddhism and the book was written in a way I could comprehend. It also was written with love for all people of faith or no faith.

[Ltcls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book for Bible Study. Good discussions and we learned a lot. Compares world religions to Christianity and how we are similar in many ways. Basic overview of Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and Hinduism.

[Becky Dye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great, short and easy to read look at five of the world’s most common religions. As a devout and lifelong Christian , I know the importance of understanding what other faiths believe. This was eye opening and educational.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be an older book, but the message is more timely now than ever. This was 1 of the better Hamilton books, and I've read most all. He is very clear about loving all our neighbors, and how knowing about other religions helps us understand our own. Well written

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

World Religions Lite

A good over view of world religions, but not very thorough. Once we are discussing the book in our group, missing concepts were brought up that aren’t covered in the book. If you think you are getting a complete understanding of a religion, you are not.

[Janet Mahlum · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good synopsis of the major religions, includes discussions with prominent members of the different religions. The author pointed out similarities and differences. Easy to read, written in layman's terms rather than for religious scholars.

[JX Crystals Inc (Consignment) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admire Jesus Teachings.

Christ and the Budha were gentle. Adam Hamilton missed a chapter on science and space relating to humanity's future. Is god out there somewhere in the universe?

[Karen Roettger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative book about Christianity & other major world religions. We attended a Bible Study at our UM church & enjoyed having this book as our focus for discussion.

[Daniel Casciato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in a bible study. Interesting to explore other faiths from the Christian perspective. The reviews are not exhaustive and not a scholarly treatise, just a review.

[Richard Raup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting Book. Author made you ponder a lot of issues with different Religions

[Vance Christiaanse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very carefully written to avoid controversy at every step. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

[Toby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book

I book not only full of knowledge but also full of love. It clearly lists the differences and similarities among major faith groups.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Done so well. Gives you lots of info to understand and be culturally relevant to friends of different faiths. Hamilton also does a wonderful job of explaining our own Christian faith.

[Zach Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, very informative!

Pastor Adam is a great writer and speaker. Full disclosure, he is the Senior Pastor of my church, but I find it fascinating that he takes this approach to teach about other religions and not just dismisses them as incorrect and should be avoided at all costs. This world is in desperate need of love and we must seek to understand those with differing views rather than spread hate and falsehoods.

[Amy Fowles]

A great introduction to other religions. I just wish the information went a little deeper. But it is a quick read and a good overview/introduction.