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Rating: 
Summary: If you're going to write a book about Baptist theology...
Review: ...don't place it under the disguise of objectivity! The book misleads the reader into thinking that he/she will get a fair overview of various doctrines that are causing schism (strangely enough he doesn't address Sola Scriptura, quite possibly the #1 cause of schism, but I digress). Instead you'll get the Reformed Baptist position, some mud slinging and guilt-by-association for the other position, then a hasty rebuttal of the opposing position (this was especially the case on the section on baptism, which didn't even review one of the key texts for baptismal regeneration: Acts 22:16).If you're just getting into theology and agree with the Reformed Baptist perspective of scripture, than you might find this book very interesting and helpful (Lutzer has some cogent arguments in the Christological chapters). But please, don't let the caricatures that he sets up as Catholic theology color your view of Catholics, there are much better defenses of our view points than Lutzer will let on.
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Summary: AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL BOOK!
Review: The is one of the finest books I've read for it's scope and size in it's particular genre. I found the book incredibly fascinating in it's thorough coverage of important historical issues regarding church doctrine and theology. Erwin Lutzer is a great communicator who is able to make the history of church doctrine interesting and accessible. I find his style to be light and thought provoking, not heavy and dull. I am reading the book for a third time. What else can I say? Lutzer seems to lean towards a Calvinistic view of scripture concerning Predestination and Free Will, which I believe is largely biblical. Erwin is a clear headed, very bright minded communicator of biblical truth; in my opinion. You will not want to miss this read! I could not recommend a finer book, by a finer author.
Rating: 
Summary: Lutzer doesn't know what he's talking about
Review: The title of this book suggests that it is a careful analysis of the different doctrines dividing the various branches of Christianity. In fact, much of the book is a ham-handed critique of Catholic beliefs. The author is, to judge from this book, rather unqualified for this task. Nearly every time he presents the Catholic position, he either presents a caricature or an untruth. Whether this is out of malice, sloppiness, or ignorance I don't know. Anyone looking to understand the distinctions between different strands of Christianity would do much better to look elsewhere. If you're looking for something from a Catholic perspective, I'd recommend Peter Kreeft. For a general, classic perspective on Christian faith in general, read "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis.
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