After graduating from seminary, Ivan Beggs listened to hundreds of people's stories for forty years. He listened to neighbors, friends, co-workers, strangers in airports, in airplanes, on a ship, in coffee shops, bars, and in places long forgotten. He listened to people in the US, England, Germany, Romania, France, China, India, Vietnam, South Korea, and in South America.
People felt comfortable talking with him. They quietly whispered about a meaningful life. Many had concerns about pain, suffering, evil, love, sex, afterlife, forgiveness, experiencing God, and more.
So, he explored how Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, all of which are 77% of the world's population, answered their concerns.
Part I describes his stories which are like many other people's experiences. It tells of events in his life from birth, a children's home, the Army, and seminary that propelled him on the forty-year Quest.
In Part II, the five faiths talk about a meaningful life. After each of the fourteen topics there is an in-depth discussion.
Part III suggests how to create a meaning life with or without religion.
A discussion group will find the book to be interesting, lively, and thought provoking. Part II of the book is excellent for a comparative religion class.