But Don't All Religions Lead to God?: Navigating the Multi-Faith Maze

by Michael Green

Book Overview

We've all heard the rationale: "It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you're sincere." Or "All religions are pretty much the same." But are they the same? Does it matter which one you follow?... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801064392
• ISBN13: 9780801064395
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: Baker Books
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 4.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

apologetics

This is a well thought out, easy to read, winsome book. Highly recommend it!

Read for a Class and learned so much.

This book helps you to understand where other relegions are coming from. Written by a Christian to help us understand and also see where other religions differ. You can draw your own conclusions. It makes the truths jump out and hit you in the face. Good for believers and unbelieves alike.

Excellent popular level apologetics

The book is intended to provide apologetical arguments that are accessible to the general reader. It is not surprising that the treatment of central issues is somewhat truncated at times. However, this is as planned. Green superbly accomplishes his goals: the writing of a popular level introduction to Christian apologetics, and, the whetting of the reader's appetite to investigate further.There is a danger inherent in writing short books for the general reader. The problem is that a few readers who consider and promote themselves as intellectual experts will give the book a short and general reading. In doing so, they tend to criticize positions that the author has not actually presented. Such critics commit the very same exegetical sin they attribute to Green: they present superficial, controversial and inaccurate claims rather than helpfully substantive ones. For example, one critic has made an elementary mistake in directing us to "Chapter 5: No other great teacher ever [sic] claimed to bring us to God." In fact, Green writes just the reverse: "No Other Great Teacher Even Claimed to Bring God to Us." His point is precisely that other religions tend to focus on a process of "salvation" in which humans strive [perhaps with a divine assist] to get to God. In contrast, the Green affirms the gospel message in which God took the initiative--reaching out to us while we were yet sinners. Green is also portrayed as making the claim that "...Christ was the only god-man teacher who promised salvation for his true followers." The issue is not that other religions may or may not claim to provide "salvation" of one sort or another. The question is whether or not the "salvation" offered by other religious figures is as credible or as amazingly suited to meeting the needs of the human condition. Are the claims of other religious leaders supported by historical documents written very soon after the events they describe? Are the manuscripts as well attested as the New Testament documents? Is the term "salvation" being used in a univocal sense by all religions? These are issues with which Green deals, and in a more complex manner than the rather superficial objection offered to the contrary.Green is acccused, as well, of making "ridiculous" and "ludicrously false" statements concerning the unique nature of the salvation offered through the crucified Christ. Other religious figures are sometimes presented as having been sacrificed in a very similar manner. Unfortunately, those making this objection have apparently failed--again--to consider Green's own premises and conclusions. Concerning the Buddha, for example, the earliest traditions do not present him as the one and only God incarnate, crucified in atonement for sin. While any later traditions may claim any number of things about the Buddha, the earliest ones clearly do not present him in this way. In dealing with Buddhism, Green raises the philosophical issue of a substantial self and persona

Impressive and Concise

I've read a few other works by Michael Green that have been very scholarly and cumbersome in nature. This one is easy-to-read yet intellectually respectable. His stated goal is to be down-to-earth and concise, and he achieves it.Green addresses such common themes as:"It doesn't matter what you believe as long are you are sincere.""Aren't all religions pretty much the same?""But surely all religions lead to God?""What makes Jesus so special, then?"After replying to these themes, Green makes a solid case for the uniqueness of the Christian faith in general, and Jesus in particular. This book is excellent reading for all believers, and for non-believers who are struggling in one or more of these areas. I recommend it highly.

Short, sensible discussion

Michael Green has written another helpful book that will be very useful to people asking questions about Christianity. It is so good, it is worth buying a few copies so that you can have one available to give away when you are talking about the gospel with friends. He clears up many popular misconceptions such as1. It doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you are sincere2. All religions are pretty much the same3. All religions lead to God4. Jesus is only one of many great religious leadersIn the last few chapters, he shows that Jesus is unique because He is the only one who* claimed to be able to show us what God is like * claimed to be able to deal radically with human wickedness * came back to life, showing that his promises were true* promised to live within us and help us to live satisfying lives which are pleasing to GodI am not happy with Green's enthusiastic endorsement of the Alpha course, but with this caveat, I heartily recommend this book as a terrific source for people thinking about religion and people who are seeking to introduce their friends to Christ.