Annotated Bibliography of Books on Worldview and Interfaith Evangelism Part 2: K- P

See Part One at: http://www.marketfaith.org/annotated-bibliography-of-books-on-worldview-and-interfaith-evangelism-part-one-a-i/

In this installment and the next we continue with an alphabetized (by author) annotated bibliography of some of the most significant books written in last couple of decades on the subjects of worldview, world religions, cults, and sects. It includes books by Evangelical Christian authors analyzing various religious movements. It also includes important works written by founders and key leaders of some of the movements.

My annotation comments explaining and evaluating each work are found after each bibliographical reference and are preceded by the following sign: >>>. Some works by the same author(s) may be annotated after his or her final work listed.

In my opinion these are key resources for anyone interested in these areas of study. It will be especially helpful for high school, college, or graduate students searching for resources to use in course term papers. I suggest you download the list and save it in the research files of your computer. I would, of course, recommend any and all of the resources available from MarketFaith Ministries written by Dr. Freddy Davis and/or myself. They are available at http://www.marketfaith.org/bookstore.

Many of the works in the bibliography are out of print but are provided because of their contributions to the subject of Interfaith Evangelism research and to make the student aware of those references. In most cases they may be available on amazon.com or other new and used website book dealers. Some are available free online in their entirety. In some cases I have noted online addresses where they may be found.

Please note that the inclusion of a resource in the bibliography should not be taken as an endorsement by MarketFaith Ministries. Those works by adherents and advocates of specific faith groups or movements are noted by an asterisk (*).

Part 1 of this bibliography can be found at: Annotated Bibliography of Books on Worldview and Interfaith Evangelism: Part One: A- I.

*Knight, George R. ed., Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine (annotated edition). Berrien Springs, Michigan: Andrews University Press, 2003. (Seventh-day Adventism)
>>> This book was originally published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) way back in 1957 to give a systematic explanation of official SDA doctrinal beliefs. It was designed to answer clearly 48 significant questions often asked by critics concerning SDA beliefs and to give a theological and biblical defense for them. It actually had the unintended consequence of fomenting strong debate and conflict among Adventists, especially concerning the authority of Ellen G. White in formulating SDA doctrine.

This later edition (2003) was published by Andrews University Press as part of its “Adventist Classic Library.” Andrews University is a prominent SDA university in Barrien Springs , Michigan. It has an introduction and is annotated by George R. Knight, a distinguished (now emeritus) professor of church history at that institution. It is a well-documented, easy to utilize resource for anyone doing research into the history and beliefs of the SDA.

*Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life. New York: The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (WBTS) of New York, 1995. (Jehovah’s Witnesses)
>>> One of the many doctrinal study books published by the WBTS for use by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jehovah’s Witnesses are prohibited from studying doctrinal or biblical expositions by any other source but the WBTS on danger of being dis-fellowshipped (excommunicated). These books are good resources for those researching and documenting the unbiblical beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

*Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth (1926-2004). On Death and Dying. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1969. (Occult)
>>> A classic book on the subject of death and the stages of dying by a prominent Swiss psychiatrist. This book traces the Five Stages of Grief experienced by terminally ill people. Her work led to reforms in the field of care for the dying and the establishment of hospice care.

In the late 1970s, Kubler-Ross became interested in occult practices like spiritism, seances, etc. Her reputation was severely damaged when she was drawn into a bizarre cult that supposedly included sex with spirits. The leader of this group, Jay Barham, was eventually exposed as a fraud. This incident in Kubler-Ross’ life epitomized the spiritual dangers of obsession with death if not guided by biblical principles.

*Leadbeater, C. W. (1854-1934). A Textbook of Theosophy. Adyar, Madras, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1954. (Theosophy)
>>> A basic primer to the religious movement of Theosophy, an esoteric gnostic cult, by one of its early leaders. Theosophy (literally “divine wisdom” in Greek) was founded in Europe in the 17th Century. It was popularized in the 19th Century by Helena Blavatsky (1831-1891) who started the Theosophical Society in New York in 1875. Theosophy was an important precursor to the modern New Age Movement in that many of its mystical, occult, and esoteric concepts were adapted by many later organizations and teachers.

Licona, Michael R. Paul Meets Muhammad – A Christian- Muslim Debate on the Resurrection. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2006.
>>> An effective and adroit volume for introducing the important differences between Christianity and Islam by a prominent Christian historian (and my former colleague). He has Paul and Muhammad engage in an imaginary debate concerning the historical and philosophical validity of their respective faiths. He clearly demonstrates how Christianity, though much older than Islam, has far greater objective evidence for its truth claims than does the religion started by Muhammad. It could be offered to a devoted Muslim as a challenge to read and discuss.

*Ludlow, Daniel H, ed. Encyclopedia of Mormonism. New York: Macmillan, 1992. (LDS)
>>> An extensive four volume alphabetized reference work written by Mormon scholars on the history, biographies, and beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Good tool for researching Mormon subjects. Though it is published by a secular company, caution is advised in that the articles are written with a decidedly pro-LDS bias and with little objective analyses of Mormon history and theology.

Lundquist, Lynn. The Tetragrammaton and the Christian Greek Scriptures. 2nd ed. Portland, OR: Word Resource, Inc., 1998. Available free online at http://tetragrammaton.org/tetra.pdf.
>>> An excellent in-depth study by an independent researcher of the use and misuse of the Old Testament Hebrew name of God in the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ New Testament (The New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures – NWTCGS). That Hebrew Divine name is often referred as the “Tetragrammaton” because of its four consonant spelling: YHWH.

Lundquist demonstrates how the NWTCGS translators substituted the name “Jehovah” (their preferred English transliteration of YHWH) 237 times in the New Testament where the all the standard Greek texts require the word “Lord” or “Master” (Greek: Kyrios). However, Lundquist shows that whenever that word (Kyrios) is used in reference to Jesus it is translated as “Lord” in the NWTCGS. Lundquist thus demonstrates that the NWTCGS translators made this totally unwarranted and textually fraudulent distinction in order to obscure the identification of Jesus with the God of the Old Testament.

MacGregor, Lorri. What You Need to Know About Jehovah’s Witnesses. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1992.
>>> Lorri MacGregor is a well-known Canadian former Jehovah’s Witness researcher and writer on that and other cults. This is a good introduction to the subject for any Christian engaging Jehovah’s Witnesses or for someone considering joining that cult.

*MacLaine, Shirley. Dancing in the Light. New York: Bantam Books, 1985. (New Age)

*—. It’s All in the Playing. New York: Bantam Books, 1987. (New Age)

*—. Out on a Limb. New York: Bantam Books, 1984. (New Age)
>>> Shirley MacLaine is the award winning actress who has starred on television, stage, and in dozens of movies since the 1950s. In the 1980s she became deeply involved in the New Age Movement and is one of its most prominent advocates. These best-selling books were testimonials to her personal mystical experiences. They are good resources for anyone researching New Age subjects, but should be read with a discerning Christian eye.

*Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1918 – 2008). Bhagavad Gita. Baltimore: Penguin, 1973. (Hinduism)
>>> An English version of the Bhagavad Gita Hindu text as done by the late Indian founder of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement. Maharishi was well-known in the 1960s and 70s for recruiting a number of celebrities into the TM fad including the Beatles and The Beach Boys. Though TM has faded in its popularity, his influence has continued in that he made the Far Eastern Thought worldview popular in the west.

*Mankind’s Search for God. New York: The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1990. (Jehovah’s Witnesses)
>>> Another of the study books published by the Watchtower Bible Tract Society (WBTS) for members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. This book gives their slanted interpretations and critiques of the history and beliefs of other world religions including what it regards as corrupt and paganized Christian churches.

Martin, Paul. Cult-Proofing Your Kids. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1993.
>>> An excellent resource written by one of the foremost Christian experts in the field of cult psychology. Martin (1946 – 2009) founded the renowned Wellspring Center in Ohio for helping recovering ex-cultists. This book is a handy overview of how cults and fringe religious groups recruit members and how parents can equip their children to resist them.

Martin, Walter and Ravi Zacharias. The Kingdom of the Cults (revised and expanded). Bloomington, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2003.
>>> The standard reference book on cults by the late founder of the Christian Research Institute, Walter Martin (1928 – 1989). This book was first published in 1965 and has been revised and updated on several occasions since. This latest updated version was edited by Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias and includes a few new articles written by prominent experts in the field. It is a must-have volume for anyone interested in the study of cults and sects. One of its most valuable assets is Appendix B containing Martin’s extensive historical and biblical evaluation of Seventh-day Adventism (SDA). He concluded that, though the SDA has a number of serious theological errors, it should not be classified as a cult.

Martin, Walter, Jill Rische, and Kurt Van Gorden. The Kingdom of the Occult. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008.
>>> An excellent resource covering the different elements and organizations of the occult including Wicca, Satanism, Pagan Religions, Demon Possession and Exorcism, Spiritual Warfare, etc. Written by the late Walter Martin’s daughter, Jill Rische, and highly regarded researcher Kurt Van Gorden, it is in the same style as Martin’s Kingdom of the Cults. It is an excellent resource for Christians to understand the history, beliefs, and spiritual dangers of the occult.

Mather, George, Larry Nichols, and Alvin J. Schmidt. Encyclopedic Dictionary of Cults, Sects, and World Religions, revised and updated edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 2006.
>>> A handy research resource tool for those interested in cults and world religions. The writers provide alphabetized and exhaustive articles on persons, organizations, movements, and doctrines of modern cults and world religions written from an evangelical Christian perspective.

*McConkie, Bruce (1915-1985). Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1977. (LDS)
>>> A dictionary style volume written by Bruce McConkie, an esteemed late member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). In the 1970s and 80s, this work was regarded by Mormons as one of the most authoritative expositions of the history, doctrines, and scriptures of the LDS. In the last couple of decades, however, that church has distanced itself somewhat from the dogmatic and derisive positions of the writer concerning other non-LDS churches and faiths. This is an excellent resource for documenting how Mormonism in recent years has attempted publically to obscure many of its controversial beliefs.

McConnell, D. R. A Different Gospel-Biblical and Historical Insights into the Word of Faith Movement, updated edition. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2011.
>>> A fascinating analysis of the origins of the beliefs of the modern Word-Faith Movement teachers, including Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Fredrick K. C. Price, Marilyn Hickey, and many others. McConnell asserts that the true founder of that movement was a Pentecostal preacher named E. W. Kenyon (1867 – 1948). McConnell asserts that Kenyon was influenced by the 19th century metaphysical movement, the same movement that spawned Christian Science, Religious Science, and Unity.

McConnell maintains Kenyon learned metaphysical ideas when he attended the Emerson School of Oratory (now Emerson College) in Boston. McConnell says Kenyon incorporated metaphysical presuppositions into Pentecostal teachings. Later his concepts were embraced and disseminated by more recent Word-Faith advocates, especially Kenneth Hagin. McConnell documents how Hagin plagiarized Kenyon in some of his books. McConnell’s theory is quite convincing but is not without its scholarly critics.

McKeever, Bill and Eric Johnson. Answering Mormons’ Questions, revised edition. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2012.

_____ Questions to Ask Your Mormon Friend. Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 1994.
>>> Bill McKeever is the founder and director of Mormonism Research Ministry in Salt Lake City, Utah. Eric Johnson is his staff associate. For more than 30 years they have studied the history and beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These two books are helpful tools for Christians wanting to share Jesus with Mormons and how to answer their critical questions.

*Millet, Robert L. A Different Jesus? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005. (LDS)
>>> Robert Millet is a professor of religion at Brigham Young University. In this book (inexplicably published by an evangelical Christian publishing house) he attempts to minimize the significant difference between historic Christian Christology and that of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He wants the reader to accept the LDS claim that it is a Christian denomination with only a few minor theological variances concerning the person and work of Jesus. He does not succeed, but only reinforces the contentions of discerning Christians that the differences are irreconcilable.

Melton, J. Gordon. Melton’s Encyclopedia of American Religions, Eighth Edition. Detroit: Gale Cengage Learning, 2009.
>>> The most exhaustive encyclopedic resource for cataloging the hundreds of religious organizations and movements in America. Melton includes large and small groups with brief explanations of their histories, doctrines, and statistics. It is good as an objective reference tool but not for analysis from a Christian perspective.

Montenegro, Marcia. SpellBound: The Paranormal Seduction of Today’s Kids. Colorado Springs: Cook Communications Ministries, 2006.
>>> Marcia Montenegro was at one time a member of the Georgia state licensing board of professional astrologers. She is now director of Christian Answers for the New Age (CANA), a Christian research ministry in the subject of the occult. This book is an excellent introductory survey and analysis of various New Age and occult movements by one who was once an insider.

*Moody, Raymond. Life After Life. New York: Bantam Books, 1976. (Occult)
>>> A ground-breaking collection of case studies by a medical doctor of the phenomena of Near Death Experiences (NDE). Moody independently interviewed dozens of people who shared their recollections of what happened to them after they were considered clinically dead but before they were resuscitated back to life. Their descriptions had amazingly common elements (bright light down a tunnel, a being of light, etc.). Perhaps his most surprising discovery was just how many people he found who had experienced NDEs.

*—. Reflections on Life After Life. New York: Bantam Books, 1978. (Occult)
>>> Moody’s sequel to Life After Life. In his initial book Raymond Moody gave little or no evaluations of the NDEs he reported. In this and his later works, he began speculating as to the spiritual insights NDEs may provide. Unfortunately, like Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, he eventually began experimenting with the occult, even teaching people how to communicate with the dead. Again we see the spiritual danger of an obsession with death that is not scrutinized by clear Biblical teaching.

Neusner, Jacob, ed., World Religions in America 4th ed. Westminster: John Knox Press, 2004.
>>> A somewhat neutral and uncritical survey of various world religions and their followers in the United States. Good as reference for objective historical and doctrinal research, but not as a Christian analysis.

Newport, John P. Life’s Ultimate Questions – A Contemporary Philosophy of Religion. Dallas: Word Publishing, 1989.
>>> An excellent survey of many important issues regarding philosophy, worldviews, world religions, and cults by John P. Newport. The late Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary poses a myriad of hypothetical questions for which he gives sound Christian biblical and philosophical answers.

—. The New Age Movement and the Biblical Worldview: Conflict and Dialogue. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997.
>>> Another fine work by Newport. This time he addresses the historical, worldview and philosophical underpinnings of the New Age Movement.

Ostling, Richard N. and Joan K. Ostling. Mormon America – The Power and the Promise, revised and updated. San Francisco: HarperOne, 2007.
>>> Investigative writers Richard and Joan Ostling have done a first-rate job of digging into the history, beliefs, and financial empire of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This book is an objective and unbiased analysis which, nonetheless, engendered some negative reactions from LDS reviewers. It is a must resource for anyone doing research into Mormonism.

Passantino, Bob and Gretchen Passantino. Satanism. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995. (A part of the Zondervan Guide to Cults and New Religions, Alan W. Gomes, Gen Ed.)
>>> Bob and Gretchen Passantino are the directors of Answers in Action ministry who were former writers for Cornerstone magazine. They have done a lot of excellent work researching cults and the occult, particularly Satanism. They also are renowned for debunking conspiracy theories and the fraudulent claims of some ex-Satanists. In this short book they objectively review the history and beliefs of modern Satanism and analyze them through a clear Christian worldview lens.

*The Pearl of Great Price. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1990. Available online at http://scriptures.lds.org/ (LDS)
>>>The fourth and least understood of the official scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It purports to contain a number of divinely inspired books written or collected by Joseph Smith. One of the key books, the Book of Abraham, has been discredited by historians. It is usually published in the same volume as the Doctrine and Covenants.

Pressley, Karen Schless. Escaping Scientology: An Insider’s True Story. Woodstock, GA: Freedom House Publishers, 2008.
>>> For sixteen years Karen Pressley endured the emotional and spiritual abuse of the Church of Scientology as one of its executive staff members. In the early 1990s, she finally escaped leaving behind her career and husband. This book is her story of living under the bondage of L. Ron Hubbard’s bizarre religion and how she found her way to personal freedom and a new life. (This book apparently has not yet been released due to legal threats made by Scientology.)

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