"Almost 200 contributors - a team of scholars from the United States, Europe and the British Commonwealth who are all experts in their subjects - have written over 300 major articles which the book contains. In addition, 166 'boxes' provide succinct summaries of information on a whole variety of issues, supplemented by a 'Who's Who' of key figures, along with illustrations, diagrams, maps, time chart, and a comprehensive index. The Guide assumes that its readers are completely unfamiliar with Christianity and is focused primarily on them: no word or idea goes unexplained. But at the same time it is based on a wealth of scholarship, so that it can serve as an authoritative reference work. And for those who do not just want information but an answer to the fundamental questions of evil, suffering, death and the meaning of life, it offers possible answers based on the resources of the Christian tradition."--BOOK JACKET.