Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions, 3rd ed.

by Winfried Corduan

Publisher:

IVP

, 2024

Overview

World religions are not merely abstract sets of doctrinal beliefs. They are embodied worldviews and practices lived out by real people around us. Encounters with these neighboring faiths often challenge our own beliefs and traditions, making us think more deeply about our faith commitments.

For all who want to understand the religious faiths of their neighbors, Winfried Corduan offers an introduction to the religions of the world. This classic text covers major as well as lesser known religions, including Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, African traditional religions, Native American religion, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Baha’i, Chinese popular religion, and Shinto and Japanese religions.

Neighboring Faiths emphasizes not just formal religious teachings but also how each religion is practiced in daily life. Dozens of photographs, charts, and maps help illustrate how the faiths have developed and how they’re lived out today. Corduan offers specific insights into what to expect from encounters with adherents of each religion and suggestions for how Christians can engage them in constructive dialogue. Each chapter offers lists of key points, ideas for term papers, and recommended resources to help students, instructors, and small groups go deeper.

This third edition has been updated and revised throughout. The chapter on militant Islam is significantly revised to address more recent events and issues, and questions for reflection and discussion have been added to each chapter.

Neighboring Faiths is an indispensable guide for Christians seeking an informed, empathetic perspective on different religions and the people who practice them.

Key Features

• Provides an indispensable guide for Christians seeking an informed, empathetic perspective on different religion
• Emphasizes not just formal religious teachings but also how each religion is practiced in daily life
• Offers specific insights into what to expect from encounters with adherents of each religion

Contents

• Acknowledgments for the Third Edition
• Introduction
• 1. Religion: Study and Practice
• 2. Judaism
• 3. Islam, Part 1: Basics and Issues
• 4. Islam, Part 2: Understanding Radical Islam
• 5. Baha’i
• 6. Zoroastrianism
• 7. Traditional Religions: Introduction and African Religions
• 8. Native American Religion
• 9. Hinduism
• 10. Buddhism
• 11. Jainism
• 12. Sikhism
• 13. Chinese Popular Religion
• 14. Shinto and Japanese Religions

Praise for the Print Edition

I commend Winfried Corduan for bringing out a third edition of this clear, thorough, and fair textbook on world religions. I have used the previous two editions for graduate courses and would use this one as well, given its multidimensional analysis of world religions from a Christian perspective. Bravo!

—Douglas Groothuis, professor of philosophy at Denver Seminary

Neighboring Faiths is the best Christian introduction to the world’s religions available today. And given that the Western world is now a truly global society with all the religions present, it is imperative that Christians have a basic knowledge of the religions of the world. While Winfried Corduan is deeply committed to the unique truth of historic Christianity and evaluates the different religions from a Christian perspective, he nevertheless treats each religion with fairness, respect, and empathy. There is no better book to read and study on this critical topic than Corduan’s work. Every school, church, and personal library should have this book.

—Kenneth Samples, senior scholar with Reasons to Believe

Product Details

• Title: Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions, 3rd ed.
• Author: Winfried Corduan
• Edition: Third Edition
• Publisher: IVP
• Print Publication Date: 2024
• Logos Release Date: 2024
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Religions; Christianity and other religions
• Resource ID: LLS:NGHBRNGFTHS3RDD
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-12-12T19:27:28Z

About Winfried Corduan

Winfried Corduan received his Ph.D. from Rice University and is professor of philosophy and religion at Taylor University in Indiana. He is the author of A Reasonable Faith: Basic Christian Apologetics and A Tapestry of Faiths.