Rating: 
Summary: The Long Way...
Review: As I read this book I was reminded of an old Indian proverb Zacherias himself quoted in his interview in the Case for Faith. The are two ways to touch your noes, one way is to take your finger and just touch it, while the other is to reach all the way around your head and touch it from the other side. This proverb illustrates Zacherias's fondness for taking the long way around, and take the long way around he does. While the book is rather short, somewhere in the neighborhood of two hundred pages, it is often sporadic and undirected. This is not to say that the book is not intresting, in fact I think it is littered with insights so brilliant that they can only be found in this particular work. But brilliant though they may be they are like flashes in what at times appears to be a chaotic mess, or more appropriatley they are like a masterpiece of art surrounded in a distractingly ornamented frame of unnessecasary information. While these insights he adds may remind the reader of C.S. Lewis he lacks Lewis's unique style for making everything he talks about come to life. Instead veins of his prose come to life while the rest remains simply mediocre.
As far as work on comparative religion goes it falls short of expectations, but I wonder if it was Zacherias's goal to compare religions in the first place. I wonder if his goal was not instead to point out the uniqueness of Jesus. To illuminate Christ's character in way that makes you revere Him. The difference between the two may be subtle, but it is real, because you can in fact illuminate Jesus from other gods while keeping the comparisons between the gods to a minimum. I think at times Zacherias ability to point out the uniqueness of Christ is absolutely wonderful. Ulitimately the book is not about Islam, Buddishm, Hinduism, or even Christianity, it is about Jesus. The book is worth the read, and despite it's distracting "frame" is full of beauty that you will find in no other resource. Original. Spit out the bones and eat the meat.
Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful work
Review: Ravi Zacharias, a scholar well-versed in religions from every corner of the world, offers a brilliant, often breath-taking, argument for the particularity of the Christian message. With a genuine respect for other faiths and worldviews, Zacharias argues lucidly and succintly that, in the end, only Christianity meets the necessary critiera. Consequently, he says, the message of Christian, and more importantly the person of Christ, are truly the ONLY way--the only way to fulfillment, the only way to joy, the only way to meaning, the only way to eternal life.I understand that, in a pluralistic world, Zacharias' claims-which are essentially the claims of Christianity-will meet with a certain intuitive disapproval. This is, I believe, the natural response of a culture inordinately steeped in absolute tolerance and unthinking acceptance. To call oneself right and everyone else wrong is, to the modern mind, not only epistemologically arrogant but also, and perhaps more importantly, socially unacceptable. Still, Zacharias makes these claims, and he makes them with such lucidity and passion that they can hardly be ignored out of hand. Moreover, and most importantly for the Christian, is Zacharias' call to live a life worthy of the gospel, worthy of the calling of Christ. If the book's main argument is correct, the Christian must dedicate himself wholeheartedly to the theological and evangelistic endeavor outlined in the bible. This is not to say, however, that all other belief systems are to viewed with condescension and disdain; in fact, by Zacharias' own account, the opposite is true: Christians have much to learn from other religions. Nonetheless, in the final analysis, the Jesus of the Bible is Truth-that is, he is all the Bible says he is. With this new knowledge, the entire world is called to make a decision. In its essence, this book beckons a decision to accept or reject the Jesus as revealed in scripture. Implicit in the work is another message: this is the most important that one will ever--or could ever--make. Adam Glover
Rating: 
Summary: Christian gives it the thumbs down...
Review: If you're not a Christian, don't read it. If you are a Christian, strongly consider not reading it. I read it for a class and came away with nothing but a bad taste in my mouth.
Rating:
Summary: A profoundly thought-provoking book
Review: In this fascinating book, author and Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias argues for the uniqueness of Christianity, in a West where religious differences are downplayed. Throughout these seven chapters, Mr. Zacharias contrasts the Christian faith with other religions, and even defends it against the claims of atheistic critics. Along the way, the author treats the reader to the story of his own embracing of Christianity, plus many stories of his interaction with people of other faiths throughout the world. Overall I found this to be a profoundly thought-provoking book. The author's defense of Christianity is plainly aimed at the Christian reader, but it is so deep and challenging that it forced me to address many questions that I had never thought to ask before. I think that this is a great book, one that I highly recommend to all Christians, and those who wish to understand what makes Christianity unique among world religions.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite what I expected, but still quite good.
Review: I just finished this book, and I would have to say that for an intro level text to the Christian faith, Zacharias did an excellect job. I particularly appreciated his familiarization with both Christian authors (e.g., Kreeft, Lewis, Dostoevsky, and Chesterton) and secular authors (e.g., Sartre, Camus, Dawkins, and Hawking). By far, the stand-out chapter is number five, "Is God the Source of My Suffering?" I was truly surprised at how well he handled probably the hardest question for skeptics (and Christians)...the so-called "problem of evil." I was tempted to give this book 5 stars just for this chapter. Of course, if you're an undergrad or grad student in theology, you might want to check-out Richard Swinburne's Providence and the Problem of Evil for a fuller, scholarly treatment on theodicy. My only problem with the book (and why I deducted a star) is that he doesn't really get into other religions. Once in a while, he'll bring-up, for instance, Buddha or Sri Ramakrishna (a Hindu "saint") while giving a much-too simplified version of the religious tradition (though it is a fairly accurate simplification). I happen to be a Religious Studies major, so I'm more apt to be picky on such things. Altogether, this is certainly not an adequate treatment in comparative religious studies. If that's what you are looking for, I'd look elsewhere. His main focus is to show you the "uniqueness of Christianity" (a la C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity or G.K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy). In that respect, he does a good job; though, he's certainly not a Lewis or Chesterton. For those interested in this book, I'd recommend checking out Peter Kreeft (a philosophy professor at Boston College). He's written numerous books (over fifty) dealing with Christianity. He writes for both the layman and the scholar (not an easy task) and does an excellent job. His website http://peterkreeft.com/ has several articles worth reading and audio files of some of his speeches.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I was not let down by this incredible piece of writing. Not philosophical or even deeply theological, instead Zacharias gets to the point quickly: There is only One True God, and Jesus is not only equal to, but one and the same with this Deity. The compare/contrast to other religions' deified leaders was enlightening. Someone mentioned that Zacharias did not explain in depth other religions, and that was dissapointing to them. However, that was not the purpose of this book. It is not an exposition of religious views and how Christianity compares. For that I would suggest reading "So What's the Difference?" by Fritz Ridenauer. This was instead a book about Jesus, as God, and how He compares and usurps all other gods and heads of other false religious systems. Remarkable and highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: A great book to get started on Apologetics
Review: I first heard Ravi Zacharias at Moody Bible Institute's Founder's Week a few years back. I became more aquainted with his work through several of my local Asian friends who are also Christian. In short, I'm glad I found out about him.
In this book, he first covers his own story on how he came to Christ while a teenager in India. That part of the story alone is very moving itself. Getting saved and becoming a Christian in India is indeed a feat, mainly because India is the Pantheistic capital of the world. Again, his conversion is very dramatic and powerful. I'm praying that he will one day write his autobiography.
Throughout the rest of the book, he touches base on some of the other world's religions. Mind you, he doesn't delve into them heavily. What he does is that he gives a foundation for why Christianity is what it says it is and how this shatters some of the other beliefs that are floating around. His starting point is John 14:6 where Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes unto the Father except through me." Jesus is saying that he is the only way to God. Ravi not only agrees with this but also gives a decent beginning on how Christians can prove this, too.
I must warn you-if you're one of those left-wing Christains who believe that Jesus isn't the only way to Heaven, watch out! You will have some trouble with this book. I guarantee it! But to the rest of you who want a nice book on how to defend your Christian faith against other religions, this book will give you a good start. I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: Wandering Truth
Review: Jesus among other Gods - the absolute claims of the Christian message. The thesis of the book is to show the claims of Jesus are unique. To show Jesus claimed to be God and is God. The stated intention of the author is to compare Christianity to three major World views: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Statement of the claims is clear and argued thoroughly. Comparison is often brief; Often less then a page is given to comparing the other World views. The author does not deal with misconceptions these view points have about Christ nor those in Christendom. The book deals more with atheism then with the other three world views.
The author describes Buddhism as a nontheistic faith if not atheistic. Dr. Zacharias describes Hinduism as a religion with a multifaceted belief system which vehemently attacks the exclusivity of any religion. Jesus claimed that we can personally know God and the absolute nature of His truth. This agnostics would deny. Islam denies man's ability to "personally" know God. The agnostic denies man's ability to know God at all. the author begs his reader make a determination what world view has a monopoly of the truth.
The first question put to Jesus is where He lived? Jesus answered Nathaniel by saying come and see. The response to Nathaniel is a claim to a nonearthly home but of Heaven. It is a piece of the puzzle in Jesus claiming deity. The author calls this positioned by transcendence:
If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (John 3:12 RSV)
Jesus point of Reality is Heaven. The Disciples and all mankind's point of reality is earth.
Jesus had no starting point, no beginning. His human birth explains this, the word became flesh. Conception without Consummation, born of a woman, but no seed of man. Jesus was not of this World but was born in it. Being of Heaven Jesus did not sin.
Second question: The Jews then said to him, "What sign have you to show us for doing this?" (John 2:18 RSV)
Answer Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (John 2:19 RSV)
But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this;and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.
(John 2:21-22 RSV)
The response is to those who do not want to know Jesus as the Messiah or as God. In this chapter is an argument against religious relativeness. it is not a matter what works for you, but what is the truth. The author titled this chapter the Anatomy of Faith Quest for Reason. Scripture does not demand blind Faith, but a well reasoned faith based on the truth. Faith is a confidence in the person Jesus and His power. Even when the power does not serve the believers end. Faith is based on who Jesus claimed to be and the Truth of His statements.
Question Three: Unless you drink my blood eat My body you will have no part of me? Jesus is the Bread of Life. No one can have eternal life without repenting and accepting Jesus as proprietion for one's sins. Proprietion came through Jesus dying on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. In this all believers are partakers of the body and blood of Jesus. The Lord's Supper is a reminder to the believer of this fact. I should think of my God being tortured, humiliated by sinners, treated as a sinner, and dying on the Cross. The bread and "wine" are not the actual substance of Christ, but I must acknowledge my need of them to be saved. I am damned without Him dying on the Cross. I am the source of my God suffering. The author spends to much time on saying the bread and wine are not the actual physical body and blood of Christ.
Question Four: Is God the source of my suffering? The author does not discuss much about man's implication in suffering. Pain came into the world because of Adam's sin. I deserve to suffer because I sin. It is through God's grace I do not suffer more. The author does point to the whole chapter John nine and the man blinded since birth. Which is good. He does compare other world views about suffering. The author argues many theorize that Man's subjectivity determines evil. In this course there is no objective definition of evil. The Christian believes God communicates to us what is evil through scripture. Evil is contrary to God's goodness. Dr. Zacharias argues the Christian view is the most thorough its arguments why man suffers.
Question Five: Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" (John 18:33 RSV)
Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice." (John 18:35b-37 RSV)
The Kingdom is establish through death and resurrection. God calls believers to proclaim the truth through ordinary speech.
Question Six: Where is the Gardener The author discusses that the world was created by design and not by chance. That God is the ultimate Gardener. The designer of all creation. The earth and all the Universe do not exist through chance. God is sovergn.
Rating:
Summary: Complicated at Times
Review: This was a gift from my father (a devote Christian) for Christmas '03. I recieved it ironically and consequently after I told him "his religion has proven nothing to me"... I think he took it pretty hard.
Anyhow I read the book, and was kind of dissapointed. At times it's hard to read and other times it seems as if it meanders so far from the point. There is actually very little compare/contrast of other religions, it's predominately "Jesus is best because...". The ideas R. Zacharias presents seem fairly logical from a theological perspective, he is definately a convincing author, yet once again the lack of comparison (which is assumed by the title) just doesn't cut the bill.
Overall it's not a bad book, just don't be fooled by the title.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing, yet worth reading
Review: I had expected this book to be a Christian apologetic. But I soon noticed that it was not. Zacharias is obviously not trying to convert anyone; rather, he is trying to remind Christians of what to expect from Christ, and what following Christ can offer above the promises of other religions. His goal is not to disprove other beliefs, but rather the ability to believe in them and in Christian ones at the same time. So this was the first element of disappointment. Not that it was Zacharias's fault. But when I continued to read, out of curiousity, I found other problems. First is the disorganized and rambling feel to it. In an attempt to sound fresh and conversational, Zacharias often obscures his point. I found myself getting lost in his attempts to rephrase his main points. For example, in chapter 5, he introduces "six elements" to the Christian response to the concept of evil. Later he refers to them as "steps," implying some sort of process that he doesn't outline extensively. This is a subtle and possibly minute example, but little things like this add up, making the book more taxing to read than it needs to be. But besides this, I found most of his arguments involving any position other than a Christian one to be unconvincing. Essentially, this was because the counter-arguments he produces are incomplete and unsatisfying. First of all, he rarely quotes from anything besides the Gospel of John. There is nothing wrong with the gospel of John, it's just that one would expect more in a book that is supposed to be a comparison of different doctrines. Second, he rarely explained his quotes. It was not made clear to me, as a reader, that the quotes pertaining to other various other religions or belief systems truly represented their fundamental doctrines. They seemed stilted and incomplete. It would seem that for these arguments to be logically sound, he would need to clearly express the beliefs of other systems, before even claiming that they are different from Christianity. There is also the point that he only describes a handful of positions, not all possible beliefs, in all of their forms, as would be necessary in proving the uniqueness of Christianity. He also often seemed to be putting words in the other authors' mouth, saying things like "This paragraph sums up so-and-so's opinion on this issue." Third, he seemed unable to truly grasp the quotes as coming from another point of view. An example is when he quotes Deepak Chopra in chapter 4. Now, I have not read anything by Deepak Chopra, nor does it matter. The point is that he takes a quote from The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, and proceeds to argue from it that Chopra believes that life is meaningless, whereas I saw no evidence from the quote itself that would lead to that conclusion. Chopra says that the matter in us is the same as the matter everywhere, and that the difference between a man and a tree is the energy vibration inherent in it. Zacharias seems to glean from this that therefore life is meaningless, if it is just a vibration or wave. The same phrase is reiterated, but somehow a value judgment is added to it in analysis that was not in the original. Chopra might very well believe this, but there is no reason to conclude that from JAOG alone. My point is that Zacharias, in this book, seems to use his own assumptions to examine the ideas of others, without questioning their validity. Therefore there is little room for the actual beliefs of others; they are presented in this book as mere declensions of the author's own. But, once again, to explain other religions was not the point of the book, and I think it was a mistake both by the marketers and the author to define the book as comparative in nature. It is an affirmation, not an argument, and I think it is deceptive insofar as many people will assume that they will find reasons to choose Christianity over other religions. In fact, though he quotes from the New Testament, for most of the book you could fill in the word Christianity with any other personal, intimate, abstract and mystical type of religion and it would amount to the same thing. On the other hand, if you are already Christian, the book does indeed give you many reasons to continue with your faith, and lessons on how to strengthen and enrich it. Whether it's worth struggling through the other aspects of the book to reach this core, is up to the reader.
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