My Friend's Beliefs

Rating:
Summary: Great for exploring popular American faiths for young people
Review: This book provides a rich, marvelous understanding of diverse American cultures and spirituality, but is not truly a World Religions intro as such. In other words, rather than define and demonstrate the way diverse groups worship throughout the world, this book serves as a thoughtful, respectful survey of accessible religions that your own neighbors may be worshipping, in case one might be searching oneself. And, no surprise, most of the religions covered are Christian ones.

By the way, Amazon has the title wrong. It's "My FRIENDS' Beliefs" -- plural, more than one friend -- and that's crucial to the openminded tone this book sets. What separates this book from many other intro-to-world-religions-for-kids types is the depth that this book seeks and reaches. It introduces you to 12 American teens and their ways of worship, including the history of each religion and its most famous leaders. Each chapter provides a wealth of interesting and relevant information on beliefs, holidays, ceremonies... and the personal reasons for his or her faith, which makes the book meaningful.

As mentioned, there is a heavy emphasis on Christianity and, specifically, the religions covered are: Judiasm, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Episcopalians, Luterhans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, and brief info on other smaller groups (all Christian as well). No Sikhism, Jainism, Shintoism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism or other less well-known (in the US) faith system. For inclusion of those as a brief introduction, I recommend a slim book for young people called "Religions Explained" by Anita Ganeri, ISBN 080504874X.