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Review
Title: A World of Faith (Second Edition)
Authors: Peggy Fletcher Stack and Kathleen Peterson
Publisher: By Common Consent Press (BCC)
Genre: Non-fiction
Year Published: 2023
Number of Pages: 65
Binding: Hardback
ISBN-13: 978-1-948218-76-4
Price: $24.95
Reviewed by Amanda Ray for the Association for Mormon Letters
I was not familiar with Peggy Fletcher Stack’s first edition of A World of Faith, so I got probably a bigger thrill when I heard about this book. I work in a public library and I see the wide array of children’s books that get circulated, and it’s always fun to come across a book with brilliantly gorgeous illustrations (here done by the ever-amazing Kathleen Peterson), and simplified, child-friendly text that explains what can be a complicated topic. It takes a special talent to be able to condense something like a religion – whether well-known to an English-speaking audience or not – and present it in a way that is respectful, interesting, and leaves a greater impression on the reader. This book succeeds in that regard.
My East Coast public school education only went so far to show me how different religions developed and/or flourished in the United States, so getting even just a better understanding of how the American continent has been blessed with a variety of faiths and reasons for people to come to America was inspiring. The preface explains that the first edition from the late 90s was aimed at a Christian American audience, and this update brings new entries of religions that are likely not as familiar to that specific audience and aren’t necessarily Christian-based. My own knowledge about some of these faiths is extremely limited: I’m aware of the Baha’i because of their temple in Wilmette, Illinois (near where I’ve lived before) and learning Rainn Wilson of The Office fame is a practitioner. What I know of Eastern Orthodox is mainly imagery from films about Greek weddings or gangsters. And I knew nothing of the Hopi aside from recognizing the name. What a help for grown-ups like me, who may have some awareness of these faiths but not know specifics! Children’s writers are skilled in being able to concisely describe complex topics, to give a good foundation for children to learn and grow from having the basic facts understood. And grown-ups can clearly glean a clearer picture for themselves of how those in their community and elsewhere guide their faith traditions.
It’s fascinating to learn how relatively recent, or conversely how very ancient, these religions are. It gives a greater depth of perspective not only of time but of endurance of those beliefs and the believers, as well as how faith evolves. What’s lovely is you also see how so many of these religious traditions across the globe are based upon very similar principles, and either the interpretation or the emphasis creates the differences. I especially loved the note that though the illustrations were purposefully made to be historic interpretations of the faiths since most of the modern believers appear so similar today. We all exist in communities together, and we can find common ground with a little bit of effort.
I found each description so respectful as well. Some of these faiths are more commonly ridiculed in the public eye, yet each is treated with dignity and reverence. The Pentecostal entry stood out to me the most in this regard, knowing that it’s a faith tradition that gets maligned often in media for different reasons, and while I think it’s familiar to me, I learned some greater context for it from this volume.
Even if you JUST want the illustrations, or JUST want the descriptions, or are only interested in supporting Stack’s writing career, you’ll be satisfied with the whole package of A World of Faith. It’s a worthy addition to most home libraries, and will no doubt lead to some great follow-up questions and kind awareness for our friends of other faiths.