Jesus Beyond Christianity The Classic Texts

by Barker, Gregory A.; Gregg, Stephen E.

• ISBN13: 9780199553440
• ISBN10: 0199553440
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-04-05
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

For the first time classic readings on Jesus from outside of Christianity have been brought together in one volume.Jesus Beyond Christianity: The Classic Textsfeatures significant passages on Jesus from Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. The fifty-six selections span two millennia of thought, including translated extracts from the Talmud and the Qur'an, and writings by Mahatma Gandhi and the 14th Dalai Lama. The volume features fresh translations of important texts, 'Key-Issues' introductions, questions for discussion and guides for further reading. Importantly, each set of readings ends with an entirely fresh reflection from a leading scholar in the field. Every care has been taken to present these often controversial passages in a manner consistent with the aims of their authors; accompanying notes directly address challenging issues. This unique collection of readings promises to become an essential resource in the study of the world's religions, providing rich guidance for anyone seeking to understand the central convergences and debates between religious traditions.

Author Biography

Gregory A. Barker is Head of School, Theology and Religious Studies, Trinity University College, Carmarthen, Wales. Stephen E. Gregg is Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies, Trinity University College, Carmarthen, Wales.

Table of Contents

General Introduction	p. 1
Jesus in Judaism: The Classic Texts
Jewish Perceptions of Jesus: Key Issues	p. 9
Dangerous Times for Jews	p. 15
Nachmanides' Debate
The Rejected Disciple	p. 18
The Talmud
A Teacher of Jewish Law	p. 21
The Talmud
The Bible Testifies against the Deity of Jesus	p. 23
The Nizzachon Vetus
The Church-Not Jesus-is the Heretic	p. 25
Isaac of Troki, Faith Strengthened
Jesus: Jewish Evangelist to the Gentiles	p. 28
The Letter of Rabbi Jacob Emden
Reasons for Jewish Silence on Jesus	p. 31
Moses Mendelssohn, Letter to Johann Caspar Lavater
Jesus: An Unoriginal Pharisee	p. 38
Abraham Geiger, Judaism and its History
Jesus: Forerunner of the Reform Jew	p. 43
Kaufmann Kohler, Jesus of Nazareth
The Value of the Gospels for a Jew	p. 46
Claude Montefiore, The Synoptic Gospels
Jesus: A Prophet	p. 51
Claude Montefiore, The Synoptic Gospels
Jesus: Destroyer of Culture and Nation	p. 52
Joseph Klausner, Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus on Jewish Soil	p. 60
Leo Baeck, The Gospel as a Document of History
No Sentimental Love	p. 63
David Flusser, Jesus
Closing Reflection	p. 69
Dan Cohn-Sherbok
Questions for Discussion	p. 75
Guide for Further Reading	p. 77
Jesus in Islam: The Classic Texts
Muslim Perceptions of Jesus: Key Issues	p. 83
The Miraculous Conception of Jesus	p. 87
The Qur'an
The Mission of Jesus	p. 90
The Qur'an
At the End of Jesus' Mission	p. 93
The Qur'an
Responses to Jesus	p. 94
The Qur'an
A Final Word from the Qur'an	p. 97
The Qur'an
Jesus in the Hadith	p. 97
The Sayings of Muhammad
The Ascetic Jesus	p. 99
The Muslim Jesus
Jesus and the Powers of God	p. 103
Al-Tabari, The History of al-Tabari
Jesus in the Graveyard	p. 105
Al-Tha'labi, The Tales of the Prophets
A Rationalist Examines Christian Claims about Jesus	p. 107
Al-Razi, The Great Commentary
Jesus: A Mirror of God	p. 110
Al-Ghazali, The Ninety-Nine Beautiful Names of God
Jesus and the Fool	p. 112
Jalaluddin Rumi, The Mathnawi
On Praising a Human Being	p. 115
Al-Busiri, Qasidah Burdah
Realizing God	p. 115
Ibn al-Arabi, The Bezels of Wisdom
Who Died on the Cross?	p. 119
Ibn Kathir, Tafsir 'al-Qur'an 'al-azim
Jesus in India	p. 123
Ghulam Ahmad, Jesus in India
Jesus and Non-violence	p. 127
Ghulam Ahmad Parwez, Islam: A Challenge to Religion
Jesus between Us and You	p. 130
A Common Word
Closing Reflection	p. 137
Amjad Hussain
Questions for Discussion	p. 143
Guide for Further Reading	p. 145
Jesus in Hinduism: The Classic Texts
Hindu Perceptions of Jesus: Key Issues	p. 153
Jesus was a Unitarian	p. 159
Ram Mohun Roy, Answer of a Hindoo
A Divine Teacher-Not Atoner
Ram Mohun Roy, The Precepts of Jesus
Jesus: The Ideal Son	p. 165
Keshub Chunder Sen, Lectures in India
Repudiate the Little Christ	p. 166
Keshub Chunder Sen, Lectures in India
Jesus: Simple, Honest, and Ignorant	p. 168
Dayananda Saraswati, Satyarth Prakash
Mystical Experiences of the Universal Jesus	p. 172
Ramakrishna, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
Jesus is like Ramakrishna	p. 174
Ramakrishna, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
Jesus vs. His Christian Followers	p. 177
Vivekananda, The Preface to the Imitation of Christ and Christianity in India
Jesus Was Oriental	p. 181
Vivekananda, Christ, The Messenger
Jesus is the Property of the World	p. 185
M. K. Gandhi, What Jesus Means to Me
Christ Has Yet to be Born	p. 188
M. K. Gandhi, The Jesus I Love and My Reactions to Christianity
Jesus' Message Continues to be Ignored	p. 191
Aurobindo Ghose, Essays Divine and Human
An Avatar of Sorrow	p. 193
Aurobindo Ghose, Essays on the Gita and Savitri: A Legend & A Symbol	p. 193
Jesus: An Eastern Seer	p. 196
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, East and West in Religion and Eastern Religions and Western Thought
Closing Reflection	p. 201
Gavin Flood
Questions for Discussion	p. 207
Guide for Further Reading	p. 209
Jesus in Buddhism: The Classic Texts
Buddhist Perceptions of Jesus: Key Issues	p. 217
Jesus: Son of a Dubious Deity	p. 223
Fabian Fucan, Deus Destroyed
The Founder of a Passive Religion	p. 226
Ouyi Zhixu
Jesus: A Teacher of Morality	p. 232
Thuken Chökyi Nyima, The Crystal Mirror
A Demon in Disguise	p. 233
The Carpenter-Heretic
Birth Omens Compared	p. 238
Migettuwatte Gunananda, A Full Account of the Buddhist Controversy Held at Pantura
A Man between Egoism and Universalism	p. 240
Anagarika Dharmapala, An Appreciation of Christianity
Jesus: Absolute and Relative	p. 245
Tanabe Hajime, The Demonstratio of Christianity
Obliterating God Consciousness	p. 248
Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki, An Introduction to Zen Buddhism
A Man of Contradictions	p. 250
Sheng Yen, Further Discussion of the Similarities and Differences between Buddhism and Christianity
The Good Heart of Jesus	p. 257
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, The Good Heart
Closing Reflection	p. 263
Donald S. Lopez Jr.
Questions for Discussion	p. 273
Guide for Further Reading	p. 275
Acknowledgements	p. 282
Index	p. 291
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