Encountering Jesus and Buddha : Their Lives and Teachings

by Luz, Ulrich

• ISBN13: 9780800635633
• ISBN10: 0800635639
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-11-01
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Pub

Summary

Themes include the relative importance of Jesus and the Buddha within Christianity and Buddhism and their different perspectives on the self, the self's future, love, and ethics. They explore Jesus' and the Buddha's different notions of passion and suffering, meditation, prayer, and commitment to the world, history, and community.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Pronunciation of Indian Terms	xi
Introduction	xiii
I. The Founders
1. One and Many Buddhas, Axel Michaels	3	(16)
The Sources	4	(3)
Buddha Sakyamuni and His World	7	(2)
The Legends of the Buddha	9	(3)
Historicity and Legend	12	(2)
Does Christianity Need the Historical Jesus?	14	(5)
Response: Christianity Needs the Man Jesus! Ulrich Luz	15	(4)
2. Jesus: His Life and His World, Ulrich Luz	19	(16)
Unique Features of the Development of the New Testament Canon	19	(2)
Sources	21	(3)
Present State of Research	24	(1)
Jesus in His Political and Social Context	25	(1)
Special Aspects of the Life of Jesus	26	(3)
Jesus as an Individual	29	(6)
Response: The Word of God and the Silence of the Buddha, Axel Michaels	30	(5)
II. The Reign of God and Nirvana
3. Jesus' Preaching of the Reign of God, Ulrich Luz	35	(14)
The Future of the Reign of God	37	(1)
The Future Reign of God Is Already Beginning	38	(2)
Jesus' Activity as the Beginning of the Reign of God	40	(1)
Immediate Anticipation of the End	40	(1)
Jesus as Preacher of Judgment	41	(2)
The Reign of God and Nirvana	43	(2)
Self-Critical Questioning of Christian Faith	45	(4)
Response: The "Buddhist" Nearness of the Reign of God on Earth, Axel Michaels	46	(3)
4. Self, Nonself, and Nirvana, Axel Michaels	49	(16)
Self and Nonself	49	(3)
The Practical Application of the Teaching about the Nonself	52	(2)
Self and Rebirth	54	(1)
Nonself and Nirvana	54	(2)
Salvation without Heaven?	56	(9)
Response: Christianity and the Self, Ulrich Luz	59	(6)
5. Jesus' Ethics, Ulrich Luz	65	(14)
The Radicality of Jesus' Ethics	66	(2)
Jesus' Sovereign Authority	68	(2)
The Centrality of the Love Command	70	(2)
Jesus' Command to Love and Buddhist Compassion	72	(1)
Questions for Christian Faith	73	(6)
Response: Love of God and Love of Enemies, Axel Michaels	74	(5)
6. Ethics in Early Buddhism, Axel Michaels	79	(14)
Early Buddhist Ethics and Spiritual Praxis	80	(2)
Ethics and Everyday Life	82	(1)
Buddhist Love	83	(3)
Buddhist Ethics Regarding Animals and Nature	86	(2)
Love and Kindness	88	(5)
Response: Love and Grace, Ulrich Luz	88	(5)
IV. Passion and Suffering
7. Suffering in Early Buddhism, Axel Michaels	93	(16)
The Suffering of the Buddha	93	(2)
The Concept of Suffering in the Four Noble Truths	95	(5)
The Suffering of Beginning and Ending 96 Suffering and Transitoriness	100	(2)
Is Buddhism Pessimistic?	102	(7)
Response: Why the Cross? Ulrich Luz	103	(6)
8. Jesus' Passion and the Christian Idea of Suffering, Ulrich Luz	109
Biblical Views of Suffering	110	(1)
Jesus' Passion	111	(4)
Early Christianity's Understanding of Jesus' Death	115	(2)
Suffering in Christianity and Buddhism: Critical and Self-Critical Questions	117	(8)
Response: Jesus' Karma, Axel Michaels	119	(6)
V. Christology
9. Jesus and Christology, Ulrich Luz	125	(16)
New Testament Christological Monotheism	126	(1)
Jesus' Self-Concept	127	(4)
The Easter Events and the Uniqueness of Jesus	131	(2)
The Uniqueness of Jesus and Buddhism	133	(1)
Rays of Hope in the New Testament	134	(7)
Response: Buddhology and Atheism, Axel Michaels	135	(6)
VI. Meditation
10. The Buddha and Meditation, Axel Michaels	141	(18)
The Buddha's Path to Enlightenment	141	(3)
The Steps of Salvation	144	(3)
The "System" of Meditation	147	(2)
Meditation and Prayer	149	(10)
Response: Buddhist Meditation Is Not Prayer, Ulrich Luz	151	(8)
VII. Community and Church
11. Monks and Laity in Early Buddhism, Axel Michaels	159	(14)
The Founding of the Order	159	(2)
Monastic Life	161	(3)
Monasticism and the Lay State	164	(4)
Buddhist and Christian Asceticism	168	(5)
Response: Jesus, Asceticism, and Relationship to the World, Ulrich Luz	169	(4)
12. Jesus and the Church, Ulrich Luz	173	(16)
Did Jesus Found the Church?	173	(1)
Jesus and Israel	174	(1)
The Group of the Twelve	175	(2)
Disciples, Male and Female	177	(2)
Itinerant Radicals after Easter	179	(1)
Origins of the Settled Church	180	(2)
Why the Church?	182	(1)
Buddhism and the Christian Dilemma of Church	183	(6)
Response: From Founder to Religion, Axel Michaels	185	(4)
Epilogue: Can Buddhism Heal Christianity?	189	(4)
Buddhism Cannot Heal Christianity!
Ulrich Luz	189	(2)
Buddha or Jesus? Buddha and Jesus!
Axel Michaels	191	(2)
Notes	193	(20)
Sources and Bibliography	213	(8)
Index	221