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Rating: 
Summary: A good basic book of charts. . .
Review: . . .which, like the others in the series, will not please everyone, but provide a decent "starting point" for the interested student (primarily Protestant) in learning some of the most basic issues surrounding various theological topics.It is also useful as a quick reference tool for explaining various theological positions in a "bare bones" or "introductory" fashion. I own most of this seriee, and have found them helpful for what they are intended to be, but not without flaws.
Rating:
Summary: A good basic book of charts. . .
Review: . . .which, like the others in the series, will not please everyone, but provide a decent "starting point" for the interested student (primarily Protestant) in learning some of the most basic issues surrounding various theological topics. It is also useful as a quick reference tool for explaining various theological positions in a "bare bones" or "introductory" fashion. I own most of this seriee, and have found them helpful for what they are intended to be, but not without flaws.
Rating: 
Summary: Succinct and adequate
Review: For the student, pastor and "lay person" (man I hate that word!), this is a great tool. A chart is not meant to be exhaustive, but at a glance give summary information in comparison to other data. That's what I like about it. I've used it in preparation for MDiv papers as well as a explaination in a Sunday School class.
I recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: Great reference material
Review: I am looking at some of the other reviews, and 4 of the 5 people who have responded have criticisms of this book because they apparently felt that House did not accurately portray their pet doctrine or church. I'm guessing that in a chart book like this, the author will never be able to please every single reader. What I like about this is that the material is simple to understand, and in just a few pages, House adequately summarizes a doctrine and the views Christians have on it. For instance, if you wanted to better understand the issue of Calvinism vs. Arminianism, House gives views from both camps. He doesn't tell you what to believe. Certainly if you rest on one side, you might feel like he "missed" important points that could have been made. But this chart book was not meant to be an exhaustive resource that would relieve you of further research on your own. The author merely meant this to be a starting place, to better understand the various views. Maybe this will help a person better sort through an issue and to come to a conclusion about which view is the most biblical and therefore accurate. I have used these charts in explaining different doctrines (i.e. the Trinity). It's worthy of the investment.
Rating: 
Summary: Biased and flat out wrong in a number of places
Review: I bought this book because it looked like it would be helpful and could briefly illuminate theologies and doctrines. I only had to look at one or two of the theologies summarized here to see mistakes and biases. Look at liberation theology on page 11. Liberation theology would not use the word "man" to refer to humanity. Gustav Gutierrez, who is basically the pioneer of liberation theology separated it from Marxism very clearly in a number of places, yet House links the two. House claims the Holy Spirit is absent from liberation theology when in fact the HS has a vital and transformative role in liberation theology. Its pneumatology is probably more real and revelant than a lot of protestant and orthodox theologies. Once again in the "revelation" category House states that "Marxist analysis" is used. Marx himself hated religion so I am not even sure what a Marxist Biblical analysis looks like, but it sure isn't in liberation theology. House says that liberation theology advocates violence as an acceptable means to societal transformation. Not true, simply not true. Watch Romero to see the real liberation theology in action. About the only thing he has right is the very last sentence of the chart. "Political neutrality is not an option for the church." House has several mistakes in Reformed Theology as well. He states that for RT the Bible is without error in every aspects, but Calvin (whom he way oversimplifies further down) even says that the Gospel does not rise or fall with the accuracy of all the details. Also notice that he chooses somewhat arbitrary categories for each theology. Liberation theology has the only Holy Spirit category, Black theology has the only trinity category. He seems to use the categories as his personal tool for discrediting certain theologies and lifting up others. Later in the book House tries to explain away some numeric discrepancies in the Bible by stating that it "was probably difficult to make out numerals when copying from earlier worn-out manuscripts." But the original manuscripts did not have any numerals. In both Hebrew and Greek at the time the numers were written out (i.e. "one hundred" rathern than "100"). If you are a fundamentalist or strong conservative and are simply looking for a book that sounds smart, agrees with you, and makes other theologies look bad, then this is your book. If you actually want a good understanding of doctrines and theologies from a variety of viewpoints and traditions, keep looking.
Rating: 
Summary: Helpful and handy
Review: I use this book alot to help get the big picture and basic cases for various theological views. The author does a good job of presenting the views of various systems. Most of the charts have the well known related scriptures and short arguments for and against the view. I think it could be a little better if it had a detailed subject index in the back, but the table of contents is sufficient. It helps if the reader is familiar with the structure and topics of a systematic theology (prolegomena through eschatology). However, this is not the book for an depth study of any particular doctrine. It just helps you get the overall structure quickly. This is a good reference for the intermediate or early theology student. It's probably too terse for a true newcomer to theological studies but could be helpful soon after a little systematic study. This is not a criticism just something to be aware of before you purchase. It's a book of charts not detailed explanations. For more meat get the Moody Handbook of Theology, by Pentecost, it's an excellent theology summary/introduction. It originated and explains some of the best charts in this chart book. One other thing - this chart book does not describe various church denominational teachings/differences at all. For that see Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Mead.
Rating:
Summary: Helpful and handy
Review: I use this book alot to help get the big picture and basic cases for various theological views. The author does a good job of presenting the views of various systems. Most of the charts have the well known related scriptures and short arguments for and against the view. I think it could be a little better if it had a detailed subject index in the back, but the table of contents is sufficient. It helps if the reader is familiar with the structure and topics of a systematic theology (prolegomena through eschatology). However, this is not the book for an depth study of any particular doctrine. It just helps you get the overall structure quickly. This is a good reference for the intermediate or early theology student. It's probably too terse for a true newcomer to theological studies but could be helpful soon after a little systematic study. This is not a criticism just something to be aware of before you purchase. It's a book of charts not detailed explanations. For more meat get the Moody Handbook of Theology, by Pentecost, it's an excellent theology summary/introduction. It originated and explains some of the best charts in this chart book. One other thing - this chart book does not describe various church denominational teachings/differences at all. For that see Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Mead.
Rating:
Summary: A help for understanding competing theological views.
Review: This is an extremely useful book for anyone who has questions about Christian theological issues. The book is layed out using tables, charts, and diagrams -- that is, outlines. It is not written in normal paragraph format. For example, if you have a question about the Trinity, you will be treated with a brief history of the doctrine showing what doctrines were debated at the Council of Nicea; an ancient diagram of the Trinity that nicely shows the orthodox view of the doctrine, a chart of a Biblical Presentation of the Trinity, and a two-page chart showing five major views of the Trinity including the source of each, adherents, criticisms, and more. I find this book incredibly useful and use it all the time.
Rating:
Summary: Another 10 pounds in a five pound bag!
Review: WOW! What a great book! Really great stuff. Here are some of my comments about the portrayal of "orthodox" Catholic thought. 1) page#3, Chart#1: Good, second statement in the Block about Revelation is not necessary in the presentation of "orthodox" catholic doctrine. We simply call these people what they are, DISSENTERS. See Vatican II document on Divine Revelation. Last sentence at bottom of page about Mary can be misleading to those unfamiliar with authentic Marian Dogma. See definition of "mediatrix" in catholic pocket dictionary. 2) page#11, chart#1: Good presentation of Liberation Theology, Statement about RC theologians in Latin America,(last sentence top block)should be stricken. a) only a very few tried this b) Pope John Paul II Squashed this heresy in the early 80's (See A&E's biography of JPII) 3) page#124(?)&125(?), chart#80: O.K. but not quite correct, WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT CHRIST IS RE-SACRIFICED AT EACH MASS! See definition of "Mass" in Pocket Dictionary and the Catechism. Participants column incorrect. Laity may recieve the Eucharistic Lord under both "species": Body and Precious Blood. (I do every Sunday.) There was a period when the Laity were restricted but that had to do with a discipline imposed for health and abuse reasons rather than a Doctrinal mandate. However, we teach that HE is truely and completely present in both "species". See 1983 "Code of Cannon Law". I was pleased to see in the Bibliography on page 144 that he does make use of Ludwig Ott's "FUNDAMENTALS OF CATHOLIC DOGMA". I did finally order this book thanks to your influence. It is a great masterpiece and I am making great use of it. I am a little surprised that Mr. H. Wayne House made the inaccurate statements that I've cited above in view of what Ludwig Ott's book says. BUT! , THIS IS A GREAT BOOK AND I WILL STUDY IT ALONG WITH MY OTHER REFERENCES. YOU HAVE DONE ME A GREAT SERVICE. I WISH I COULD FIND A CATHOLIC SOURCE AS CONCISE AND EASY TO READ AS THIS ONE! THIS IS I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED A SNAPSHOT VIEW OF ALL THE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THEOLOGY AND NOW I HAVE ONE! GREAT! , I really appreciate how he presents the arguments for and against the different position that are out there. And, I really liked Chart #63 on page#103 and what the "Vatican II Emphasis column had to say.
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