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Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day
User-Friendly Beginner's Guide to World Religions
The world is becoming more integrated. What once seemed like the religions of exotic faraway lands are now practiced by families next door. These short, easily digestible readings give an overview of the beliefs, histories, and practices of dozens of religions, including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and many more. Garry Morgan blends the knowledge of a college professor with real-world experience and an accessible style. Broken into forty brief chapters, this book can be used as a reference for those who need quick and clear answers or read straight through by curious readers.
The world is becoming more integrated. What once seemed like the religions of exotic faraway lands are now practiced by families next door. These short, easily digestible readings give an overview of the beliefs, histories, and practices of dozens of religions, including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and many more. Garry Morgan blends the knowledge of a college professor with real-world experience and an accessible style. Broken into forty brief chapters, this book can be used as a reference for those who need quick and clear answers or read straight through by curious readers.
- GenresNonfictionReligion
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 29, 2017
Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day by Garry R. Morgan
“Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day” is an educational tour of the beliefs and practices of over twenty main religions around the world. Professor of Intercultural Studies at Northwestern College, Garry R. Morgan takes the reader on a journey across cultures and their religious practices. This instructive 178-page book includes forty chapters covering over twenty religions.
Positives:
1. Well-written and succinct book. It’s a breeze to read in fewer than 178 pages.
2. The always-fascinating topic of religious beliefs around the world.
3. Fair and even-handed treatment, which is essential on such a topic.
4. Solid, consistent and easy to follow format. Each chapter covers a specific topic about religion and always ends with “An Extra Minute”.
5. Right from the gates clearly defines the term of religion. “Religion is an organized system of beliefs that answers ultimate questions and commends certain actions or behaviors based on the answers to those questions.”
6. Covers the most important practices and beliefs of each religion but does so acknowledging that there are many differences among the sects.
7. Covers the main practicing religions in a little more depth than the non-traditional practices. In Christianity, “We look to Jesus not just as a gifted teacher and moral example but as our Savior.”
8. The origins of Christianity. “Constantine took two other actions that significantly shaped Christianity. In 325, he called the Council of Nicaea, to be held in present-day Turkey, inviting 1,800 bishops from all over the empire to discuss and settle questions regarding the nature of Christ. Several hundred were able to attend, and they produced the Nicene Creed, still used in some worship services today.”
9. Describes the three major branches of Christianity. “Today, Christianity is described as having three major branches: Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox.”
10. The role of Protestants. “Ultimately, Protestants contributed considerably to the rise of nationalism and the development of today’s European countries. This association developed into the state church system, in which a whole country officially recognized just one denomination (e.g., the Lutheran Church in Sweden or Norway).”
11. Key terms described. “Today, evangelical has become an umbrella term for Christians who believe in the Bible’s accuracy (the theological term is inerrancy) and full authority. They also believe in the necessity of being born again for salvation (see John 3).”
12. A look at Native American religions. “As with other animistic systems, maintaining good relations with the spirit realm is at the core of most beliefs and practices.”
13. A look at Judaism. “Practicing Judaism is more about daily life than about specified beliefs or formal rituals, although these do exist.”
14. A look at Islam. “For Muslims, everything in life is either haram (forbidden) or halal (permitted).”
15. The beliefs of Hinduism. “The core beliefs that underlie all the various Hindu expressions are karma and reincarnation.” “Hindus, by their own calculation, worship more than 330 million gods and goddesses.”
16. The fascinating religion of Jainism. “Jainism is atheistic in practice, if not in absolute doctrine. If any gods exist, said Mahavira, they are in a different sphere of reality and are of no use to humans, who must find moksha by their own efforts, not by depending on supernatural help. Therefore, gods are irrelevant and any question of their existence is pointless.”
17. The Four Noble Truths of the Buddha. “Life consists of suffering and pain. Suffering exists because of desire. The way to end suffering is ceasing to desire or crave things. The way to cease desiring is to follow the Eightfold Path (often called the Middle Way because it avoids both extremes of indulgence and asceticism).”
18. A look at Confucianism. “The core of Confucian teaching concerned proper relationships and reciprocal obligations.”
19. A look at cults.
20. A fascinating look at Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Socially, the Jehovah’s Witnesses face a number of challenges. They do not celebrate any holidays, religious or national, or even birthdays, since they view a holiday as giving honor to someone or something other than Jehovah.”
Negatives:
1. As a secular humanist myself, I was disappointed in how “my” group was portrayed. Consider the following quote, “Secular Humanists hold that belief in God is the greatest danger humanity faces, and human “salvation” requires total elimination of belief in the supernatural.” Greatest danger? Ignorance and believing without enough evidence is a grave danger, certainly religion is a part of that, but the greatest? Also, atheism is merely the lack of belief in “Gods”.
2. This book was begging for charts, diagrams, tables and other visual material to complement the narrative.
3. The book is more an appetizer than the main entrée.
4. No formal bibliography.
In summary, the misportrayal of Secular Humanism notwithstanding this was an instructive and fun book to read. It succeeds in providing readers with a succinct look at religions around the world. Professor Morgan was as far as I can tell fair and evenhanded. I recommend it!
Further recommendations: “The Mormons” by David Fitzgerald, “Inside Scientology” by Janet Reitman, “Religion for Dummies” by Marc Gellman and Thomas Hartman, “The World’s Religions” By Huston Smith, and “12 Major World Religions” by Zephyros Press.
“Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day” is an educational tour of the beliefs and practices of over twenty main religions around the world. Professor of Intercultural Studies at Northwestern College, Garry R. Morgan takes the reader on a journey across cultures and their religious practices. This instructive 178-page book includes forty chapters covering over twenty religions.
Positives:
1. Well-written and succinct book. It’s a breeze to read in fewer than 178 pages.
2. The always-fascinating topic of religious beliefs around the world.
3. Fair and even-handed treatment, which is essential on such a topic.
4. Solid, consistent and easy to follow format. Each chapter covers a specific topic about religion and always ends with “An Extra Minute”.
5. Right from the gates clearly defines the term of religion. “Religion is an organized system of beliefs that answers ultimate questions and commends certain actions or behaviors based on the answers to those questions.”
6. Covers the most important practices and beliefs of each religion but does so acknowledging that there are many differences among the sects.
7. Covers the main practicing religions in a little more depth than the non-traditional practices. In Christianity, “We look to Jesus not just as a gifted teacher and moral example but as our Savior.”
8. The origins of Christianity. “Constantine took two other actions that significantly shaped Christianity. In 325, he called the Council of Nicaea, to be held in present-day Turkey, inviting 1,800 bishops from all over the empire to discuss and settle questions regarding the nature of Christ. Several hundred were able to attend, and they produced the Nicene Creed, still used in some worship services today.”
9. Describes the three major branches of Christianity. “Today, Christianity is described as having three major branches: Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox.”
10. The role of Protestants. “Ultimately, Protestants contributed considerably to the rise of nationalism and the development of today’s European countries. This association developed into the state church system, in which a whole country officially recognized just one denomination (e.g., the Lutheran Church in Sweden or Norway).”
11. Key terms described. “Today, evangelical has become an umbrella term for Christians who believe in the Bible’s accuracy (the theological term is inerrancy) and full authority. They also believe in the necessity of being born again for salvation (see John 3).”
12. A look at Native American religions. “As with other animistic systems, maintaining good relations with the spirit realm is at the core of most beliefs and practices.”
13. A look at Judaism. “Practicing Judaism is more about daily life than about specified beliefs or formal rituals, although these do exist.”
14. A look at Islam. “For Muslims, everything in life is either haram (forbidden) or halal (permitted).”
15. The beliefs of Hinduism. “The core beliefs that underlie all the various Hindu expressions are karma and reincarnation.” “Hindus, by their own calculation, worship more than 330 million gods and goddesses.”
16. The fascinating religion of Jainism. “Jainism is atheistic in practice, if not in absolute doctrine. If any gods exist, said Mahavira, they are in a different sphere of reality and are of no use to humans, who must find moksha by their own efforts, not by depending on supernatural help. Therefore, gods are irrelevant and any question of their existence is pointless.”
17. The Four Noble Truths of the Buddha. “Life consists of suffering and pain. Suffering exists because of desire. The way to end suffering is ceasing to desire or crave things. The way to cease desiring is to follow the Eightfold Path (often called the Middle Way because it avoids both extremes of indulgence and asceticism).”
18. A look at Confucianism. “The core of Confucian teaching concerned proper relationships and reciprocal obligations.”
19. A look at cults.
20. A fascinating look at Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Socially, the Jehovah’s Witnesses face a number of challenges. They do not celebrate any holidays, religious or national, or even birthdays, since they view a holiday as giving honor to someone or something other than Jehovah.”
Negatives:
1. As a secular humanist myself, I was disappointed in how “my” group was portrayed. Consider the following quote, “Secular Humanists hold that belief in God is the greatest danger humanity faces, and human “salvation” requires total elimination of belief in the supernatural.” Greatest danger? Ignorance and believing without enough evidence is a grave danger, certainly religion is a part of that, but the greatest? Also, atheism is merely the lack of belief in “Gods”.
2. This book was begging for charts, diagrams, tables and other visual material to complement the narrative.
3. The book is more an appetizer than the main entrée.
4. No formal bibliography.
In summary, the misportrayal of Secular Humanism notwithstanding this was an instructive and fun book to read. It succeeds in providing readers with a succinct look at religions around the world. Professor Morgan was as far as I can tell fair and evenhanded. I recommend it!
Further recommendations: “The Mormons” by David Fitzgerald, “Inside Scientology” by Janet Reitman, “Religion for Dummies” by Marc Gellman and Thomas Hartman, “The World’s Religions” By Huston Smith, and “12 Major World Religions” by Zephyros Press.
March 6, 2020
I can’t speak to the accuracy or bias of the information in the book, but I left off feeling so informed. A great, digestible, manageable way to become informed on world religions (at the surface, of course). A very interesting read.
November 26, 2023
I truly believe this author attempted to present this information in an unbiased manner but he is heavily (and likely innocently) influenced by Marcionism. The chapters on Christianity and Judaism were so deeply flawed that I felt immediate concern about absorbing erroneous information regarding other faiths. Further, opinion and Protestant perspectives are presented as facts in such a way that most readers would not think to question.
If you are a Protestant seeking a brief, validating, and whitewashed view of various faiths this book would be an excellent choice. In that regard, I think it could even be helpful should someone have no intention of educating themselves further.
I did find some great quotes in the bit I read, but the authors limited, from within-the-protestant-box view of others faiths remains firmly entrenched in bias.
In his defense, he is clearly a skilled writer and unwaveringly dedicated to his faith. Again, I think this attempt was earnest and sincere, but missed the mark just the same.
If you are a Protestant seeking a brief, validating, and whitewashed view of various faiths this book would be an excellent choice. In that regard, I think it could even be helpful should someone have no intention of educating themselves further.
I did find some great quotes in the bit I read, but the authors limited, from within-the-protestant-box view of others faiths remains firmly entrenched in bias.
In his defense, he is clearly a skilled writer and unwaveringly dedicated to his faith. Again, I think this attempt was earnest and sincere, but missed the mark just the same.
April 29, 2018
Really a 3.5 but I always err up. I studied a decent amount of Islam and Christianity in college and there was definitely moments where I felt the author didn't explain things fully or chose the wrong things to leave out, but that's just a personal preference thing.
The author definitely has a pronounced bias that I felt should have been taken care of during editing. The chapter on secular humanism was hard to read because of it.
The author definitely has a pronounced bias that I felt should have been taken care of during editing. The chapter on secular humanism was hard to read because of it.
January 5, 2025
I have been wanting to read a book like this for a while now and I found this book on Libby. There’s no way I’ll remember every little detail about each religion in this book but I definitely feel more knowledgeable about them overall and it was a quick read
January 18, 2022
Descent overview but left out basic details on some religions.
December 28, 2012
Garry A. Morgan defines religion as "an organized system of beliefs that answers ultimate questions and commends certain actions or behaviors based on the answers to those questions (p. 16)." In this book, he makes a short, but accurate description of different religions or beliefs, which he selected based on the previous definition; he provides answers to life questions from the different viewpoints. Each chapter is dedicated to one religion or sets of beliefs.
When skimming the index, I was a bit surprised that some chapters refer to more than one religion, or that there were several chapters for one, like Christianity or Islam. Please bear with me in this respect. It may seem obvious that the largest religions nowadays get some sort of special treatment. However, Mr. Morgan also considers the different groups within a religion, which became to be unique whether by historical, doctrinal or even geographical reasons, like Evangelical or Protestant Christianity. In other cases, he describes the changes the same religion has had with time. In other words, I was amazed at how informative this little book is, despite a simple - but challenging format; it is a taxing quest to concise and accurate with this topic.
I personally learned a lot from this book, and what I liked the best is that I can find in it the right information not only to use it myself (apologetically), but also to develop a better understanding about some movements or cultural products, like movies or pop music. In this sense, this book is not exhaustive, but a sort of compass. For instance, Mr. Morgan describes the political and historical context within which the Catholic church came to be, but he does not mention the worship of Mary or the saints in this chapter; he makes a reference to it in another part of the book. I personally think that this fact would be more relevant in the chapter of the Catholic church. However, it does not make the information Mr. Morgan provides less explicit or meaningful.
I would definitely recommend this book as an introductory guide for someone who would like to become familiar with the main religious movements our time. It will also aid in identifying the different ideas that these beliefs have introduced in our schools, culture, institutions and even business enterprises. As I said, it is not exhaustive, but it is definitely informative and contemporary. It would be the first step in understanding the great kaleidoscope that has been formed due to immigration and social interaction. Personally, this book made me want to know more about some of the details the author describes; I had to go to the internet and research more on some topics - this makes it a good book for me. With the overwhelmingly vast web sources, it definitely made it easier to refine searches.
Only a vast experience and deep understanding could make a book like this so simple in format, yet so meaningful.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany Publishers, in exchange for an honest review. In no way did this bias my opinion on the book or on the author.
When skimming the index, I was a bit surprised that some chapters refer to more than one religion, or that there were several chapters for one, like Christianity or Islam. Please bear with me in this respect. It may seem obvious that the largest religions nowadays get some sort of special treatment. However, Mr. Morgan also considers the different groups within a religion, which became to be unique whether by historical, doctrinal or even geographical reasons, like Evangelical or Protestant Christianity. In other cases, he describes the changes the same religion has had with time. In other words, I was amazed at how informative this little book is, despite a simple - but challenging format; it is a taxing quest to concise and accurate with this topic.
I personally learned a lot from this book, and what I liked the best is that I can find in it the right information not only to use it myself (apologetically), but also to develop a better understanding about some movements or cultural products, like movies or pop music. In this sense, this book is not exhaustive, but a sort of compass. For instance, Mr. Morgan describes the political and historical context within which the Catholic church came to be, but he does not mention the worship of Mary or the saints in this chapter; he makes a reference to it in another part of the book. I personally think that this fact would be more relevant in the chapter of the Catholic church. However, it does not make the information Mr. Morgan provides less explicit or meaningful.
I would definitely recommend this book as an introductory guide for someone who would like to become familiar with the main religious movements our time. It will also aid in identifying the different ideas that these beliefs have introduced in our schools, culture, institutions and even business enterprises. As I said, it is not exhaustive, but it is definitely informative and contemporary. It would be the first step in understanding the great kaleidoscope that has been formed due to immigration and social interaction. Personally, this book made me want to know more about some of the details the author describes; I had to go to the internet and research more on some topics - this makes it a good book for me. With the overwhelmingly vast web sources, it definitely made it easier to refine searches.
Only a vast experience and deep understanding could make a book like this so simple in format, yet so meaningful.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany Publishers, in exchange for an honest review. In no way did this bias my opinion on the book or on the author.
September 21, 2012
Do you ever catch yourself wondering what exactly other religions believe? Do you wonder if your one sentence understanding is actually accurate? Do you then go look at a bookshelf of books on world religions and notice that they are all 500 pages or more and chicken out? Well, likely this is the book you have been looking for. It’s given in 180 readable, easy pages and as the title implies, your time is taken into consideration.
He begins by defining “religion”. He keys on a systematic set of beliefs that speaks to ultimate questions about life’s meaning. He will with this logical definition be able to legitimately address secular humanism as a religion.
He addresses Christianity first in one short chapter accurately focusing on the fact that Christianity isn’t a religion but a relationship. Well, according to his definition, it is one, but I appreciate how he found a way to show that the Christian “religion” is fully unique in how it answers life’s questions and the dealing with sin. When looked out from this vantage point, it is amazing, at least to me, what puts all other beliefs in the same fold-a solution tied up in works.
Then he dives into Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and Evangelical Christianity. I might find it a weakness in his trying to present Christianity objectively to the point of not overtly stating its superiority, but I’m sure it was so designed to reach a broader audience. You do see, though, that covertly he is a believer.
He gives the most detail on Islam as it is on our minds these days. Six chapters cover the variety that is out there in the Muslim world. He makes the complexities digestible and is all most would want to read on it. He also explains the confusing differences with Hinduism, Buddhism and the Baha’i faith.
He also covers eastern religions that, though rarer, make their way to us in popular culture in movies and current bestselling books. New Age and transcendental meditation are even covered.
He tries to define the difference in a cult and a religion. Some groups called cults in our day are addressed as well.
This book is a solid addition to Bible study. It’s length is a winner and it is understandable without being heavy. It’s most cases it will answer your questions satisfactorily. I recommend it to Christian laymen, homeschooling families, and pastors who need a quick review or overview.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 .
He begins by defining “religion”. He keys on a systematic set of beliefs that speaks to ultimate questions about life’s meaning. He will with this logical definition be able to legitimately address secular humanism as a religion.
He addresses Christianity first in one short chapter accurately focusing on the fact that Christianity isn’t a religion but a relationship. Well, according to his definition, it is one, but I appreciate how he found a way to show that the Christian “religion” is fully unique in how it answers life’s questions and the dealing with sin. When looked out from this vantage point, it is amazing, at least to me, what puts all other beliefs in the same fold-a solution tied up in works.
Then he dives into Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and Evangelical Christianity. I might find it a weakness in his trying to present Christianity objectively to the point of not overtly stating its superiority, but I’m sure it was so designed to reach a broader audience. You do see, though, that covertly he is a believer.
He gives the most detail on Islam as it is on our minds these days. Six chapters cover the variety that is out there in the Muslim world. He makes the complexities digestible and is all most would want to read on it. He also explains the confusing differences with Hinduism, Buddhism and the Baha’i faith.
He also covers eastern religions that, though rarer, make their way to us in popular culture in movies and current bestselling books. New Age and transcendental meditation are even covered.
He tries to define the difference in a cult and a religion. Some groups called cults in our day are addressed as well.
This book is a solid addition to Bible study. It’s length is a winner and it is understandable without being heavy. It’s most cases it will answer your questions satisfactorily. I recommend it to Christian laymen, homeschooling families, and pastors who need a quick review or overview.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 .
September 15, 2012
In today's world, religions that might once have been considered regional are now crossing geographical, ethnic, and political borders. In the workplace, schools, and in the community at large, we encounter people of many different religions each day. Garry R. Morgan has written a book giving an overview of some of the more predominant religions in the world today.
According to Mr. Morgan, a religion is defined by three components: (1) has an organized system of beliefs; (2) mandates or at least commends certain behaviors and actions that are related to the belief system; (3) answers questions about the unknown. With this definition in mind, he has identified several religions and explains each one in a separate chapter. He begins with Christianity, defining it in one chapter, and then breaking it down into types he explains Roman Catholic Christianity, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Protestant Christianity, and Evangelical Christianity. He then moves on to Anismism and folk religions, Native American religions, and African religions. After that, he explains Judaism in two chapters, the first being the historical development of Judaism, and the second discusses Judaism today. He takes six chapters to explain Islam, which at first seemed like overkill until I read all six chapters and realized just how complex a religion it really is. With the impact this religion has on the world today, these chapters only make the book a must-read. He also goes on to explain New Age, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others. The book is clear and concise, with each chapter giving just enough background and detail for the average reader. This would be excellent for anyone wanting to understand the beliefs of others, or it could even be used as a study guide for a classroom setting. All in all, a very interesting book and I enjoyed reading it.
5 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
According to Mr. Morgan, a religion is defined by three components: (1) has an organized system of beliefs; (2) mandates or at least commends certain behaviors and actions that are related to the belief system; (3) answers questions about the unknown. With this definition in mind, he has identified several religions and explains each one in a separate chapter. He begins with Christianity, defining it in one chapter, and then breaking it down into types he explains Roman Catholic Christianity, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Protestant Christianity, and Evangelical Christianity. He then moves on to Anismism and folk religions, Native American religions, and African religions. After that, he explains Judaism in two chapters, the first being the historical development of Judaism, and the second discusses Judaism today. He takes six chapters to explain Islam, which at first seemed like overkill until I read all six chapters and realized just how complex a religion it really is. With the impact this religion has on the world today, these chapters only make the book a must-read. He also goes on to explain New Age, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others. The book is clear and concise, with each chapter giving just enough background and detail for the average reader. This would be excellent for anyone wanting to understand the beliefs of others, or it could even be used as a study guide for a classroom setting. All in all, a very interesting book and I enjoyed reading it.
5 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
February 23, 2017
Certainly not an in-depth read but it does provide a nice overview of each religion.
December 5, 2012
This is a basic guide to the major world religions - their history, development, and current beliefs and practices from Christian publisher Bethany House and author Garry R. Morgan. All of the major belief systems and many of those that are not as widely known are covered. Each chapter is 3-4 pages long and can be read quickly. Obviously, each religion is only covered briefly and basically, so this isn't an in-depth exploration of religion, but more of a basic overview, appropriate for the lay reader.
Writing
Morgan does an excellent job of covering each religion in a way that gives the reader a good understanding of the religion's basic tenets. He also succeeds in writing in such a way that those who are not religious experts will understand. I appreciated the way he kept his chapters brief, yet covered all the basics. I think his writing style will appeal to a wide audience. Those who are experts in world religions may find the information too basic, but I think the average reader will find them helpful and informative. The book would also make a great discussion tool for a small group or even a youth group. I think the writing has appeal for adults as well as teenagers.
Entertainment Value
I'm very interested in world religions and knowing what others believe and why, so this one fascinated me. The format made it easy to digest in small amounts - I could read a chapter or two every night without any problem. I think whether or not you'll be entertained by this book really depends on two things: your prior knowledge of world religions and your interest in world religions. If you're not interested in learning about other religions or any religions, you're not going to find this interesting. If you already know a great deal about world religions, you're probably also going to be bored, as most of the information contained is fairly basic. But if you're just looking for a refresher on the big ones or if you're looking for the first time into some of the more obscure ones, this one is perfect.
A big thanks to Bethany House for sending me this to review.
Writing
Morgan does an excellent job of covering each religion in a way that gives the reader a good understanding of the religion's basic tenets. He also succeeds in writing in such a way that those who are not religious experts will understand. I appreciated the way he kept his chapters brief, yet covered all the basics. I think his writing style will appeal to a wide audience. Those who are experts in world religions may find the information too basic, but I think the average reader will find them helpful and informative. The book would also make a great discussion tool for a small group or even a youth group. I think the writing has appeal for adults as well as teenagers.
Entertainment Value
I'm very interested in world religions and knowing what others believe and why, so this one fascinated me. The format made it easy to digest in small amounts - I could read a chapter or two every night without any problem. I think whether or not you'll be entertained by this book really depends on two things: your prior knowledge of world religions and your interest in world religions. If you're not interested in learning about other religions or any religions, you're not going to find this interesting. If you already know a great deal about world religions, you're probably also going to be bored, as most of the information contained is fairly basic. But if you're just looking for a refresher on the big ones or if you're looking for the first time into some of the more obscure ones, this one is perfect.
A big thanks to Bethany House for sending me this to review.
September 18, 2012
Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonism, Christianity and more are discussed in Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day by Garry R. Morgan. It certainly whets my appetite for a more thorough teaching on World Religions.
Someone once said all children should be required to take a World Religions class and be informed in an objective way what the different religions are all about. After reading this book, I agree. Garry Morgan does a good job at trying to keep bias out of his words. He defines religion as, “Religion is an organized system of beliefs that answers the ultimate questions and commends certain actions or behaviors based on the answers to those questions.”
It will take you longer than fifteen minutes a day to truly absorb everything, but the extra minutes he includes at the end of each chapter are interesting facts about the religion. He even includes Secular Humanism as a religion saying, “Academic textbooks do not include it among the religions studied. Books that Christians write on world religions normally do include a chapter on secularism or atheism (although these are not exactly the same thing)… Secular Humanists are vociferously opposed to being considered a religion, largely because most people assume religion involves belief in the supernatural. State universities won’t buy textbooks over the objections of Secular Humanists…Secular Humanism fits our working definition, has significant impact on today’s world, and serves functionally as a religion.”
I became slightly offended when he described fundamental Christians as being known for what they are against rather than what they believe. Unfortunately, that sentiment is shared by some in the Christian community, but not by me. For the record, I love people even if I don’t agree with them and standing up for something shouldn’t be a mark against you. But that’s a blog for another day. This book should be read slowly because he stuffs each page full of interesting facts and histories on each of the religions represented.
I gave this book four stars.
*Book given by publisher to review.
Someone once said all children should be required to take a World Religions class and be informed in an objective way what the different religions are all about. After reading this book, I agree. Garry Morgan does a good job at trying to keep bias out of his words. He defines religion as, “Religion is an organized system of beliefs that answers the ultimate questions and commends certain actions or behaviors based on the answers to those questions.”
It will take you longer than fifteen minutes a day to truly absorb everything, but the extra minutes he includes at the end of each chapter are interesting facts about the religion. He even includes Secular Humanism as a religion saying, “Academic textbooks do not include it among the religions studied. Books that Christians write on world religions normally do include a chapter on secularism or atheism (although these are not exactly the same thing)… Secular Humanists are vociferously opposed to being considered a religion, largely because most people assume religion involves belief in the supernatural. State universities won’t buy textbooks over the objections of Secular Humanists…Secular Humanism fits our working definition, has significant impact on today’s world, and serves functionally as a religion.”
I became slightly offended when he described fundamental Christians as being known for what they are against rather than what they believe. Unfortunately, that sentiment is shared by some in the Christian community, but not by me. For the record, I love people even if I don’t agree with them and standing up for something shouldn’t be a mark against you. But that’s a blog for another day. This book should be read slowly because he stuffs each page full of interesting facts and histories on each of the religions represented.
I gave this book four stars.
*Book given by publisher to review.
March 5, 2013
I loved the idea of this book. I find the topic of religion fascinating, so I was excited to get started.
There are 40 chapters and each chapter is about 2-3 pages long. As the title implies, each chapter is designed to be read in about 15 minutes. The first three chapters are an overview in religions, titled, What Is religion?, Why Learn About Other Religions?, and Christianity: What Sets It Apart?. After that each chapter goes into detail about specific religions. Some of the religions included are, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Native American Religions, Judaism: Today, Baha’i, Theravada Buddhism, Taoism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Transcendental Meditation.
When I first received the book I read the overview chapters and then, skipped to the chapter about my religion… of course. I quickly read through that chapter and found many inaccuracies. After discovering this about my own religion, it was hard for me to believe anything I was reading about the other religions. I wanted to enjoy this book. It was a great idea. The writing was very interesting. I just wish I new whether it was accurate or not. I think the author should have double checked the facts a little better. I cannot say if the other religions were accurate or not, I can only speak for mine, Chapter 36, titled Mormonism.
I give this book 1 star, because I didn’t feel like I could trust the author. The concept of the book was great and the writing was fun and interesting.
I received this book from Bethany House free of charge in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
There are 40 chapters and each chapter is about 2-3 pages long. As the title implies, each chapter is designed to be read in about 15 minutes. The first three chapters are an overview in religions, titled, What Is religion?, Why Learn About Other Religions?, and Christianity: What Sets It Apart?. After that each chapter goes into detail about specific religions. Some of the religions included are, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Native American Religions, Judaism: Today, Baha’i, Theravada Buddhism, Taoism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Transcendental Meditation.
When I first received the book I read the overview chapters and then, skipped to the chapter about my religion… of course. I quickly read through that chapter and found many inaccuracies. After discovering this about my own religion, it was hard for me to believe anything I was reading about the other religions. I wanted to enjoy this book. It was a great idea. The writing was very interesting. I just wish I new whether it was accurate or not. I think the author should have double checked the facts a little better. I cannot say if the other religions were accurate or not, I can only speak for mine, Chapter 36, titled Mormonism.
I give this book 1 star, because I didn’t feel like I could trust the author. The concept of the book was great and the writing was fun and interesting.
I received this book from Bethany House free of charge in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
July 3, 2013
Book Review: Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day
The book's title is quite ambitious. Trying to describe any religious movement or cult in about 15 minutes is an enormous challenge. Overall, I'd say Garry Morgan succeeds in giving an overview of each religion. Where more than 15 minutes were needed, he breaks up a religion in more than one chapter (e.g. Islam). I think he does that wisely. However, some chapters spend too much time on side issues (or pet peeves?). In the end, more than 15 minutes are really needed to address some cults.
For anyone that has absolutely no background knowledge (or time for research) on a specific cult, the book will be helpful. Anyone that has been involved in Apologetics for any amount of time will find the book too basic.
Each chapter reads like a fair introduction to a larger work on the movements addressed. It would be great for the author to develop each into a full-fledged book.
If you are not interested in investing too much time on learning what each religious cult teaches, this book will give you a sufficient overview. It is always recommended that you read more than one author's take, however, to overcome author's biases (and we all have them!). For a more thorough treatment on the subject, Walter Martin's updated Kingdom of the Cults is a must for every library.
Disclosure: The book was received for free from BethanyHouse. The program does not require a positive review, only an honest one.
The book's title is quite ambitious. Trying to describe any religious movement or cult in about 15 minutes is an enormous challenge. Overall, I'd say Garry Morgan succeeds in giving an overview of each religion. Where more than 15 minutes were needed, he breaks up a religion in more than one chapter (e.g. Islam). I think he does that wisely. However, some chapters spend too much time on side issues (or pet peeves?). In the end, more than 15 minutes are really needed to address some cults.
For anyone that has absolutely no background knowledge (or time for research) on a specific cult, the book will be helpful. Anyone that has been involved in Apologetics for any amount of time will find the book too basic.
Each chapter reads like a fair introduction to a larger work on the movements addressed. It would be great for the author to develop each into a full-fledged book.
If you are not interested in investing too much time on learning what each religious cult teaches, this book will give you a sufficient overview. It is always recommended that you read more than one author's take, however, to overcome author's biases (and we all have them!). For a more thorough treatment on the subject, Walter Martin's updated Kingdom of the Cults is a must for every library.
Disclosure: The book was received for free from BethanyHouse. The program does not require a positive review, only an honest one.
September 13, 2012
Ever since I asked Jesus back into my heart, I have wanted to read everything I can on religion. At the time, since I was a Christian, I wanted to learn more about Christianity. But, as time has gone on, I wanted to learn about other religions as well. Not because I'm dissatisfied with my own beliefs, but because I'm curious about what other religions believe and how they came to be. When I saw this book, I just knew I had to read it. After I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Instead of 15 minutes a day, I put in a couple of hours over 2 days because it was so interesting. I love how each religion covered is in short sections because I think that making them longer than what they are would be a bit overwhelming. Now that I've gotten a little information on each one, I would love to go further and get into more detail, so over time, I will be doing the research required to get a more in-depth look. I really recommend this book to anyone who is curious about other religions. It's concise and easy to understand which is great for all of us who don't have time to read a huge book on the subject.
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. Otherwise, I was not compensated. My opinions are my own and may differ from yours.
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. Otherwise, I was not compensated. My opinions are my own and may differ from yours.
November 12, 2012
If you are looking for a brief, fairly academic synopsis of various world religions, then this book is for you. "Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day" does just that- gives you a fairly easily readible chapter on religions such as Christianity, Roman Catholic Christianity, Eastern Orthodox, Native American religions, Africal traditional, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Islam (several chapters on different aspects), Christian Science and Scientology, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. I believe my main problem is that I expected something different. I was hoping for a book from a Christian viewpoint discussing religions' differences to Christianity and how we can relate to them from an evangelistic standpoint. In fact, it is exactly what the title says. The basics of many world religions. It wasn't at all what I wanted and i honestly found myself struggling to keep my attention on the reading. If you are looking for an explanation of "key beliefs, histories and practices" (as the back cover states), then this is it, as the chapters are definitely manageable. The book is well-written and researched.
I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher Bethany House for my honest review.
I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher Bethany House for my honest review.
August 30, 2012
A concise history and explanation of major, minor, and sub-branches of religions.
Mr. Garry R. Morgan presents and tells the difference between 40 different religions in concise chapters.
Mr. Morgan did a terrific job of taking information that is totally overwhelming and cutting it down into chapters that take around 15 mintues to read. And presenting the beliefs and history of each religion and standing and comparing them with one another. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to take all that information and cut it down in short chapters.
While I thought that the writing concisely was done well, I wasn't particularly totally engaged by the book either. I found my mind wandering a bit, though I admit I was a bit stressed when I read the book.
Overall, this wasn't my favorite book on the topic, but it was helpful. I liked how there were religions in there that I never really thought about or knew about before. And I did learn some great stuff. So I would recommend this book to people who are looking for a concise overview of a variety of religions.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks.
Mr. Garry R. Morgan presents and tells the difference between 40 different religions in concise chapters.
Mr. Morgan did a terrific job of taking information that is totally overwhelming and cutting it down into chapters that take around 15 mintues to read. And presenting the beliefs and history of each religion and standing and comparing them with one another. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to take all that information and cut it down in short chapters.
While I thought that the writing concisely was done well, I wasn't particularly totally engaged by the book either. I found my mind wandering a bit, though I admit I was a bit stressed when I read the book.
Overall, this wasn't my favorite book on the topic, but it was helpful. I liked how there were religions in there that I never really thought about or knew about before. And I did learn some great stuff. So I would recommend this book to people who are looking for a concise overview of a variety of religions.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks.
February 12, 2013
Is it possible to learn about all the world's major religions (and then some) in 15 minutes a day? Author Garry R. Morgan thinks so, and makes the attempt in his book Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day.
When so much world news focuses on civil wars and political upheaval - and a lot of that actually based on religious beliefs and traditions - we can be better informed global citizens by having at least a working knowledge of the prevalent religions of the world.
Morgan covers over two dozen religions in a concise, yet thorough format. He discusses how each group began, what its core beliefs are, and how it functions in the 21st century. Judaism, Islam and Christianity are granted more than one chapter each since they comprise the largest belief systems.
Understanding World Religions is not only a quick, informative read, it is also a helpful reference tool. Morgan provides a balanced, factual guide on religions for those of us who don't have the time for extensive research but want to be informed about the beliefs of our global neighbors. I give this book two thumbs up.
When so much world news focuses on civil wars and political upheaval - and a lot of that actually based on religious beliefs and traditions - we can be better informed global citizens by having at least a working knowledge of the prevalent religions of the world.
Morgan covers over two dozen religions in a concise, yet thorough format. He discusses how each group began, what its core beliefs are, and how it functions in the 21st century. Judaism, Islam and Christianity are granted more than one chapter each since they comprise the largest belief systems.
Understanding World Religions is not only a quick, informative read, it is also a helpful reference tool. Morgan provides a balanced, factual guide on religions for those of us who don't have the time for extensive research but want to be informed about the beliefs of our global neighbors. I give this book two thumbs up.
October 15, 2012
I loved this book and will be keeping it on my bookshelf for later use. It was easy to follow, well written and a must read for all students interested in world religions.
There are forty chapters that include information on the religion listed in the title of the chapter. The chapters are actually only a few pages long which help make this book a great devotional. Some of the religions written about are Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. There are even chapters on Mormons, New Age and Judaism.
The author gives a background for how each religion was first introduced. I liked the historical aspect of each section. I also liked how the book goes into detail about the differences within each religion. Reading how the religions have transformed over the years was especially enlightening. I gave this book 5/5 stars. I thought it was easy to understand, filled with great information and a must read for any Christian interested in the religions of the world.
I would like to thank the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.
There are forty chapters that include information on the religion listed in the title of the chapter. The chapters are actually only a few pages long which help make this book a great devotional. Some of the religions written about are Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. There are even chapters on Mormons, New Age and Judaism.
The author gives a background for how each religion was first introduced. I liked the historical aspect of each section. I also liked how the book goes into detail about the differences within each religion. Reading how the religions have transformed over the years was especially enlightening. I gave this book 5/5 stars. I thought it was easy to understand, filled with great information and a must read for any Christian interested in the religions of the world.
I would like to thank the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.
February 10, 2015
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick overview for a better understanding of world religion. Every religion is looked at simply through the facts, and I found each thing I read to be very truthful to each religion. However, if you're looking for a more in depth study, I would suggest looking elsewhere. This is an introductory read, so it does only scratch the surface of each religion.
November 19, 2013
A good quick overview of the major (and minor) world religions. There are chapters on cults and newly developed religions and the difference between a cult and a religion. It is not in depth and I don't think you can really "understand" world religions by reading this book, but it can be a starting point to further research and study, if that is your cup of tea.
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January 15, 2014Very very insightful
I was looking for some basic information about the world's religions, and this book by far was perfect. it explained each different religion in a very easy to understand way, and it's brief history.
I was looking for some basic information about the world's religions, and this book by far was perfect. it explained each different religion in a very easy to understand way, and it's brief history.
February 1, 2015
Nice Overview
I enjoyed the quick style of this book where it just gave a brief overview of each of the different religions. Probably would be best as reference rather than as a read. Hopefully he did his research and everything he said is true .
I enjoyed the quick style of this book where it just gave a brief overview of each of the different religions. Probably would be best as reference rather than as a read. Hopefully he did his research and everything he said is true .
June 12, 2015
I've always wondered what different religions believe. Each of the religions he chose to write about are condensed down to about 3 pgs, but it did give me an overall view of what the major tenets of those faiths are.
November 14, 2015
Great book!
This is a great quick read to help give you a basic understanding of many of the popular world religions. I felt the author did a great job of faithfully representing each religion in an unbiased manner.
This is a great quick read to help give you a basic understanding of many of the popular world religions. I felt the author did a great job of faithfully representing each religion in an unbiased manner.
May 9, 2013
Read my review here.
June 27, 2014
Very informative and a quick read.
The author outlines the beliefs of many religions without being judgemental, including their history and influence. I highly recommend it.
The author outlines the beliefs of many religions without being judgemental, including their history and influence. I highly recommend it.
August 24, 2014
I wanted to know more about other religions, but not get all deep and contemplative about it...so this was perfect. Cut to the core beliefs and gave a good overview.
October 10, 2016
Good but Very General
The information was good and accurate for a VERY general introduction, but only the basics can be considered in "15 minutes a day."
The information was good and accurate for a VERY general introduction, but only the basics can be considered in "15 minutes a day."
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