Perhaps even as a commited Christian you are looking for a way out of the confusion of so many religions and religious ideas. I wrote this email in August 2002 to a friend inquiring about resource books they could read to get started in comparing the major religions of the world to the Christian faith. My response was very quick and limited, but for what it may be worth to you, here it is.

I do not know of any non-scholarly book by an Evangelical Christian that effectively compares the "sacred books" of the various religions. (They are all fairly scholarly, even when written for the average "layperson.")

You could try some of the websites that specialize in comparing these religions, of course (eg: Josh McDowell's: http://www.evangelismtoolbox.org/display.php?resource=815) and there are a few other good websites similar to this which I've listed on our own website at: http://www.ivcf.org/ism/articles.php?category=45 (the category "World Religions" on our home page of http://www.ivcf.org/ism)

There is an old IV Press book which is fairly concise by J.N.D.Anderson: "Christianity and Comparative Religion" (1970 paperback) which I think has been reprinted currently under the title: "Christianity and World Religions" (contact IVP to order a copy of cat. #981 at: 800/843-9487). This is an excellent comparison of the TEACHINGS of the major religions, but not particularly or solely their sacred writings.

A good current book with a similar comparative approach: "The Compact Guide to World Religions" by Dean C. Halverson (Bethany House Pub., Minneapolis, MN 1996 paperback). Dean works with International Students Inc. (ISI) and the book can be ordered from ISI, PO Box C, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. It includes the "New Age" movement as well as the major religions.

IVP has also just come out with a small "Pocket Dictionary of New Religious Movements" by Irving Hexham that looks helpful in giving short "pithy" definitions or sketches of a large number of movements and individual cultists etc.

Another book that might be along the lines you are looking for: "So What's the Difference?" by Fritz Ridenour (Regal Books, Ventura, CA 1967 paperback, includes Mormonism and other American cults as well as the major religions...may be out of print though now. Try a seminary or Bible college library perhaps).

Finally, two larger (thicker) books that are still written for the non-scholarly including even photos and graphics etc. are: "NEIGHBORING FAITHS: A Christian Introduction to World Religions" by Winfried Corduan (IVP 1998 hardback), and "Eerdmans' Handbook to THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS"(Eerdmans Pub., Grand Rapids, MI 1982 hardback). Both are fairly thorough as introductions but focus more on doctrines, history and leaders than on sacred writings as such.

If I were you I'd look first at the websites, then at Anderson's IVP book, then at Halverson's ISI book, and finally the Neighboring Faiths IVP book because they are all current and written for the layperson. Hope some of this helps!