What do you think?
Rate this book
World Religions All-in-One For Dummies
Learn about the beliefs, history, and culture of the world's most popular religions
World Religions All-In-One For Dummies offers an easy starting point for anyone curious to investigate religious and cultural differences. In terms anyone can understand, this book explains the foundations of major world religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Mormonism, Catholicism, and Taoism. You can choose the religions you'd like to focus on or read about them all. You'll learn about beliefs and practices specific to each, develop an understanding of how religion affects people's lives, and become a more informed global citizen. Awareness of different religions and how they function in society helps people develop tolerance and respect for others. World religion is also a fascinating topic, and you'll enjoy expanding your mind with this fun Dummies guide.
Get an overview of the history, beliefs, and practices of the world's major religions Understand the similarities and differences between different sects of each religion Expand your horizons and go beyond the common misconceptions and myths about religion Gain a better understanding of peers, neighbors, coworkers, and friends of different faiths This comprehensive guide is the perfect companion for those beginning their exploration into faith, or for those just needing a quick reference tool.
World Religions All-In-One For Dummies offers an easy starting point for anyone curious to investigate religious and cultural differences. In terms anyone can understand, this book explains the foundations of major world religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Mormonism, Catholicism, and Taoism. You can choose the religions you'd like to focus on or read about them all. You'll learn about beliefs and practices specific to each, develop an understanding of how religion affects people's lives, and become a more informed global citizen. Awareness of different religions and how they function in society helps people develop tolerance and respect for others. World religion is also a fascinating topic, and you'll enjoy expanding your mind with this fun Dummies guide.
Get an overview of the history, beliefs, and practices of the world's major religions Understand the similarities and differences between different sects of each religion Expand your horizons and go beyond the common misconceptions and myths about religion Gain a better understanding of peers, neighbors, coworkers, and friends of different faiths This comprehensive guide is the perfect companion for those beginning their exploration into faith, or for those just needing a quick reference tool.
768 pages, Paperback
Published January 22, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 16, 2026
3.5, Rated 4 because it satisfied my curiosity. It was well organized and easy to follow.
I read as much as I could about (difficult to read) SPINOZA’s beliefs, but do not intend to read the Bible in HEBREW as he insists is the first step. I was told that after Christ died on the cross and some wanted to follow his teachings that new Christians did insist they become Jews and learn Hebrew before they could practice as Christians. It makes sense because most in the area were Jews at that time and place--where the prophets taught to multitudes, at first in hiding.
I just want an overview on differences in religions. My primary effort is trying to understand why people do the things they do. Some of us ponder the imponderables. Humans don't have all the answers, but most are always searching for a higher being that does know why everything happens and why people do the things they do. Is it just fear of dying? Fear of the the unknown in general?
Did man invent gods? Is this instinct? And WHY?
~
Not all religions believe God is all-seeing and all-knowing (omniscient). While this is a central tenet in Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), it is not universal. Other traditions, such as certain schools of Buddhism or polytheistic faiths, focus on different divine attributes or do not hold a creator-god concept. All do follow standards of strict ethics and morals and for betterment of self and mankind.
Follows is an extremely brief, unscholarly, look at seven-hundred-plus pages of all the book explains about various reltigions:
—Not all CHRISTIANS believe in the Trinity: The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost. The denominations are varied based on church laws and traditions. This can be complicated and certainly requires years of study in depth.
—HINDUISM is widely regarded as the world's oldest, still-practiced religion, with roots tracing back over 4,000 years to the Indus Valley. Known as Sanatana Dharma (eternal tradition), it has no single founder, originating instead as a synthesis of various Indian traditions, beliefs, and vedic rituals. — Roots: While mythological accounts suggest an older origin, archaeological and historical research points to the development of Vedic rituals and scriptures between 2300 and 1500 BC. — The religion is characterized by the Vedas, belief in reincarnation, karma, and a pantheon of gods that often represent a single, divine reality.
Other ancient traditions still practiced include Judaism, which began around 2000 BCE–1500 BCE, and -ZOROASTRIAISM Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions, founded in ancient Persia (approx. 6th century BCE or earlier) by the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra). It centers on the worship of one supreme god, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), emphasizing a dualistic struggle between good and evil, and follows the ethical maxim: "Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds".
--CHRISTIAN religions try to follow the “laws” of Moses’s Ten Commandments and most believe in “The father, the son and Holy Ghost” — They believe the Virgin Mary bore Jesus to be God’s son to carry his message on earth. Of course there are many intpretations of the Book Of God.
—ISLAMISTS believe there is “No God but One God” under penalty of death. They do not agree with Christians in “The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost” because God has no mother and father. And Jesus was only a prophet. Muhammad (c. 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, military and political leader, as well as the founder of Islam.
—MORMONS is the 7th and final chapter visited. They believe in the before-life when we are spirits, then born on earth, then earn the way to heaven or hell. The “inner sanctum” as it is often thought of, is not the secret it is rumored to be, but sacred and not discussed; few are qualified to enter. They are very interest in finding their ancestors and helping others not of the church to trace theirs also.
I highly recommend anyone who is truly interested be ready to buy this large paperback to read and know more. Check school libraries also.
I read as much as I could about (difficult to read) SPINOZA’s beliefs, but do not intend to read the Bible in HEBREW as he insists is the first step. I was told that after Christ died on the cross and some wanted to follow his teachings that new Christians did insist they become Jews and learn Hebrew before they could practice as Christians. It makes sense because most in the area were Jews at that time and place--where the prophets taught to multitudes, at first in hiding.
I just want an overview on differences in religions. My primary effort is trying to understand why people do the things they do. Some of us ponder the imponderables. Humans don't have all the answers, but most are always searching for a higher being that does know why everything happens and why people do the things they do. Is it just fear of dying? Fear of the the unknown in general?
Did man invent gods? Is this instinct? And WHY?
~
Not all religions believe God is all-seeing and all-knowing (omniscient). While this is a central tenet in Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), it is not universal. Other traditions, such as certain schools of Buddhism or polytheistic faiths, focus on different divine attributes or do not hold a creator-god concept. All do follow standards of strict ethics and morals and for betterment of self and mankind.
Follows is an extremely brief, unscholarly, look at seven-hundred-plus pages of all the book explains about various reltigions:
—Not all CHRISTIANS believe in the Trinity: The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost. The denominations are varied based on church laws and traditions. This can be complicated and certainly requires years of study in depth.
—HINDUISM is widely regarded as the world's oldest, still-practiced religion, with roots tracing back over 4,000 years to the Indus Valley. Known as Sanatana Dharma (eternal tradition), it has no single founder, originating instead as a synthesis of various Indian traditions, beliefs, and vedic rituals. — Roots: While mythological accounts suggest an older origin, archaeological and historical research points to the development of Vedic rituals and scriptures between 2300 and 1500 BC. — The religion is characterized by the Vedas, belief in reincarnation, karma, and a pantheon of gods that often represent a single, divine reality.
Other ancient traditions still practiced include Judaism, which began around 2000 BCE–1500 BCE, and -ZOROASTRIAISM Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions, founded in ancient Persia (approx. 6th century BCE or earlier) by the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra). It centers on the worship of one supreme god, Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord), emphasizing a dualistic struggle between good and evil, and follows the ethical maxim: "Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds".
--CHRISTIAN religions try to follow the “laws” of Moses’s Ten Commandments and most believe in “The father, the son and Holy Ghost” — They believe the Virgin Mary bore Jesus to be God’s son to carry his message on earth. Of course there are many intpretations of the Book Of God.
—ISLAMISTS believe there is “No God but One God” under penalty of death. They do not agree with Christians in “The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost” because God has no mother and father. And Jesus was only a prophet. Muhammad (c. 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, military and political leader, as well as the founder of Islam.
—MORMONS is the 7th and final chapter visited. They believe in the before-life when we are spirits, then born on earth, then earn the way to heaven or hell. The “inner sanctum” as it is often thought of, is not the secret it is rumored to be, but sacred and not discussed; few are qualified to enter. They are very interest in finding their ancestors and helping others not of the church to trace theirs also.
I highly recommend anyone who is truly interested be ready to buy this large paperback to read and know more. Check school libraries also.
Read
November 15, 2025I’m a Christian. I make no apologies for or bones about it.
That being said I realize that there are other religions in the world-despite the fact that I don’t believe in any of them save for Judaism.
I have respect for people of all faiths. Each individual has to make up their own mind about what they believe and accept the consequences. That’s called personal responsibility.
I am curious as to what other religions are all about. What is their history? What are their traditions, practices and the like?
Do they all believe in God? What god or gods? What is required to be a member of a particular religion? That’s just a few of the questions I have.
In World Religions All-In-One For Dummies, written by the experts at Wiley Brand, the seven main religions in the world are examined. Consider the book as seven books in one!
The histories, practices, traditions, practices and much more is explained of Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Mormonism are explained in simple terms.
Discover how some of aspects of each religion are similar, their differences, do’s and don’ts, the afterlife, how long each religion has been around and other aspects.
Whatever your religious persuasion it doesn’t hurt to know and try to understand what people of different religions believe in and practice.
I developed a better understanding, comprehension and knowledge of each religion.
Too often people of a particular religion, whatever it is, don’t take the time to gain knowledge about other religions.
While I have my own personal belief the book has opened my eyes to what others perceive as truth so that I can better empathize and appreciate their point of view.
Knowledge is a good thing and this book provides a great resource for learning.
Luke 1:37 - For with God nothing shall be impossible.
That being said I realize that there are other religions in the world-despite the fact that I don’t believe in any of them save for Judaism.
I have respect for people of all faiths. Each individual has to make up their own mind about what they believe and accept the consequences. That’s called personal responsibility.
I am curious as to what other religions are all about. What is their history? What are their traditions, practices and the like?
Do they all believe in God? What god or gods? What is required to be a member of a particular religion? That’s just a few of the questions I have.
In World Religions All-In-One For Dummies, written by the experts at Wiley Brand, the seven main religions in the world are examined. Consider the book as seven books in one!
The histories, practices, traditions, practices and much more is explained of Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Mormonism are explained in simple terms.
Discover how some of aspects of each religion are similar, their differences, do’s and don’ts, the afterlife, how long each religion has been around and other aspects.
Whatever your religious persuasion it doesn’t hurt to know and try to understand what people of different religions believe in and practice.
I developed a better understanding, comprehension and knowledge of each religion.
Too often people of a particular religion, whatever it is, don’t take the time to gain knowledge about other religions.
While I have my own personal belief the book has opened my eyes to what others perceive as truth so that I can better empathize and appreciate their point of view.
Knowledge is a good thing and this book provides a great resource for learning.
Luke 1:37 - For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews