Resources to understand today's five major belief systems. Here are books that introduce the people and ideas principally involved in five respective worldviews.

1. Pantheism

Here the danger is to subsume all Eastern religions under one concept. This is a serious mistake. Buddhism, for example, is nontheistic, while Hinduism can incorporate atheism, polytheism, theism, and much else.

"A Reasoned Look at Asian Religions" by David Johnson (Bethany, 1985). Johnson's insights and analysis go beyond a mere catalogue of beliefs. I consider this a must-read in a pastor's library.

"Christ in the Ancient Vedas by Joseph Padinjarekara" (Toronto: Welch Publishing, 1991). Some fine clues for finding common ground with Hindus.

"Apologetics in the New Age" by David K. Clark and Norman L. Geisler (Baker, 1990).

2. Islam

This is the most difficult worldview counter to Christianity because it is galvanized with a geopolitical theory and is absolutist in doctrine.

There is ample material that deals with the doctrinal ...