The purpose of this work is to encourage its readers to make a sincere effort to understand their personal faith. Such an effort is aided by a basic understanding of the historical origins and development of religious thought and expression. Sincere effort has been made to keep the language of this work non-technical. When theological or philosophical terms are used, they are explained as simply as possible. I hope that this work will be helpful to readers who are not familiar with the historical development of the religion in which they have placed personal faith. An elementary discussion of several historic religious faiths is included to help individuals compare their personal faith with the faiths and practices of others. Since the origins of religious thought, faith and practice reach back to prehistoric and prescientific times, we must consider the influences of limited knowledge and superstition. And we will, of course, have to try to understand as many varieties of religious belief and practice as possible. This writing is intended for Christian laypersons; therefore, it seems appropriate to affirm that I am a devout Christian and a practicing churchman whose deep conviction is that, in Jesus of Nazareth, the truest revelation of the nature of God, the character of God, and the meaning of religion has reached its highest expression.