6 weeks, however, there are optional PowerPoint slides that may be used by the facilitator to extend the study or to present more groups than the DVD covers.

The video portion lasts about 30 minutes and discussion time can last from 15-30 minutes, depending on the time allotted.  This study was designed for 60-minute sessions.

The Participant Guide is a key part of the study.  It has the discussion questions, definitions, key Scriptures, and tips for talking with people of other faiths.  Most commonly-asked questions are answered in the Participant Guide.

Paul Carden, general editor, is a longtime specialist in the field of cults and new religions around the world. He is the executive director of the Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR) in San Juan Capistrano, California, and general editor of Christianity, Cults & Religions. He is former co-host of the “Bible Answer Man” radio program. He speaks and writes extensively on the topic of “Confronting Cults on World Mission Fields”. Paul has devoted nearly 30 years of his life to cult-related research and outreach in Latin America, Africa, eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union. In 1980, Paul joined the Christian Research Institute (CRI) under its founder, Walter Martin. For six of his fifteen years at CRI Paul served as a missionary in São Paulo, Brazil, and for six years he co- hosted the live, nationwide “Bible Answer Man” radio broadcast alongside Ron Rhodes, Robert M. Bowman, Jr., Kenneth Samples, and other noted apologists. During his time at CRI he was also the ministry's director of international outreach and a senior editor of the Christian Research Journal (1989-1995).

The six-session topics are:

1. Definitions, Discernment, and Defending the Faith - Covers the six key elements that     highlight the differences between Christianity and other religions and cults - Revelation, God, Jesus Christ, Salvation, the Church, and the Future (false predictions). Gives an overview of what other groups believe.
2. Essential Christian Doctrine - Covers the key beliefs of Christianity and where the cults differ.
3. Jehovah’s Witnesses (Watchtower Society) - History, founder, practices, beliefs, and do's and don'ts
4. Mormonism (Latter-day Saints) - History, founder, practices, beliefs, and do's and don'ts
5. Eastern Spirituality, Hinduism, Buddhism, and New Age. - History, founder, practices, beliefs, and do's and don'ts
6. Islam - History, founder, practices, beliefs, and do's and don'ts

• Each session has a 30-minute video
• The Leader Guide includes a step-by-step plan of how much time to spend on each section, session outline, helpful tips and background, discussion questions and life application, key verse study, and recommended resources.
• Leader Guide and Participant Guides contain glossary of terms, session outlines, comparison charts, key Scriptures, worksheets, and tips for talking with people from other faiths.
• The Participant Guide is a key part of the study.  It has the discussion questions, definitions, key Scriptures, and tips for talking with people of other faiths.  Most of the commonly-asked questions are answered in the Participant Guide.

This study was designed to be an objective factual overview.  This six-session study simply explains the history, background, and beliefs of the most common world religions and cultic groups: Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses and other groups.

This study helps participants:

• Learn about the most common world religions and cults and how they compare to Christianity
• Know what they believe and why
• Learn how to share the Gospel with those of other faiths

“General editor Paul Carden has once again produced a very helpful pamphlet in this expanded and revised edition. People often wonder or ask how various cults and religions originated and what they believe. This provides a concise and accurate summary of their founders, their key beliefs, and how these differ from biblical Christianity, as well as other pertinent information. The material is easy to read and to understand. I recommend this valuable resource to Christian bookstores, pastors, and to Christians of every age. My teenage grandson reviewed the material and stated, “It's very important for all believers to understand how biblical Christianity differs from cults and world religions. It really opened my eyes to these other beliefs.”   —Dr. Edmond C. Gruss Author, Professor Emeritus at The Master's College Santa Clarita, CA

“In over three decades of cult studies, I’ve never encountered a guide on the cults and false religions as concise as this one. In a day of information-overload, this helpful guide clearly distinguishes the truth of Christianity from the counterfeits. I recommend it highly.”  —Ron Rhodes President, Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries

Click here to watch the complete first session of this DVD based study on your computer or to download samples of the leader and participant guides!