Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road? Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World

by McLaren, Brian D.

• ISBN13: 9781455513963
• ISBN10: 1455513962
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-09-11
• Publisher: Jericho Books

Summary

When four religious leaders walk across the road, it's not the beginning of a joke. It's the start of the most important conversation in today's world. How should followers of Christ treat members of other religions? It's a question that has taken on increasing urgency in the years since 9/11, but the usual responses just don't work. If Christians adopt an exclusionary "us vs. them" mindset, they help foster mutual distrust and enmity; if, on the other hand, they express an attitude of welcoming acceptance, they risk watering down their own faith. In his engaging new book, Brian McLaren proposes a third alternative to these unsatisfactory options, one built on "benevolence and solidarity rather than rivalry and hostility." Rooting his discussion in an insightful, entertaining parable about Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed all spending time with one another-actually, engaging one another-McLaren shows readers how to reclaim a strong, humane faith that best represents Christ to the world.

Author Biography

Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. After teaching college English, Brian was a church planter, pastor, and networker in the Baltimore-Washington DC area for over 20 years. He is a popular conference speaker and a frequent guest lecturer for denominational and ecumenical leadership gatherings in the U.S. and internationally, and is Theologian-in-Residence at Life in the Trinity Ministry.

Brian's writing spans over a dozen books, including his acclaimed A New Kind of Christian trilogy, A Generous Orthodoxy, and his most recent titles, Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in 12 Simple Words (2011) and the eBook prequel to this title, The Girl with the Dove Tattoo (June 2012). A frequent guest on television, radio, and news media programs, Brian is also an active and popular blogger, a musician, and an avid outdoor enthusiast. Learn more at his website, www.brianmclaren.net. Brian is married to Grace, and they have four adult children.