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Editorial Reviews
Book Description
Have you ever wondered what Jesus would say to
Mohammed? Or Buddha? Or Oscar Wilde? Maybe
you have a friend who
practices another religion or
admires a more contemporary figure. Drop
in on a
conversation between Jesus and some well-known
individuals whose
search for the meaning of life took
them in many directions-and
influenced millions. Popular
scholar Ravi Zacharias sets a captivating
scene in this
first in the intriguing Conversations with Jesus books.
Through dialogue between Christ and Gautama Buddha
that reveals Jesus'
warm, impassioned concern for all
people, God's true nature is explored.
It's a well-priced,
hard cover volume readers will want to own, and also
share with others.
About the Author
Ravi Zacharias was born in India, immigrating to
Canada
at age twenty. After earning a Masters of Divinity at
Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School, he began a speaking
ministry that has taken
him worldwide (including the
campuses of Harvard, Princeton, and Oxford
University)
as a recognized authority on comparative religions, cults,
and philosophy. Zacharias' holds three doctorate degrees,
and his books
include the Gold Medallion winner Can Man
Live without God, Deliver Us
from Evil, Cries of the...
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2 of 4 people found
the following review helpful:
Good book, but more for Buddhists then Christians., July 23, 2002
As others have said this book BARELY scratches the
surface on the
contrast of the two. I don't have the most
informed opinion on the
subject, but from what little I've
studied I'd say it's accurate.
Especially since the author
holds a
master's degree.
I give this book 4 stars and not five only
because I don't
feel that
Buddha had enough of a hearing. The slant was, understandably,
Christian. Now I know everything Jesus
teaches and
everything that he claimed to be, but not
enough about
Buddha. It would've been nice to the Lotus
flower a
little more.
That's why I say that Buddhists should read this book more
then a
Christian. Regardless of how accurate the
interpretation of Buddhism is,
it is VERY clear about
the
differences between the two great religions. I
think
about the biggest aspect is that Buddha doesn't believe
in an
intelligent higher power interacting in the affairs
of man, but that
belief is central to Christianity. It also
illustrates that the Buddhist
must reach his ultimate goal
entirely on his own strength, whereas the
Christian meets
his ultimate goal (salvation) by God's Grace and God's
power. It's a guaranteed ticket that you didn't do for
yourself in
other words.
Also to clear up the end of the Book, when Pirya asks
Buddha and
Christ to go with and Buddha says "I can't"
it was more to
illustrate that Christ is not a God who taught
and then "went
away" but rather Christ is a God who is
still able to
be active in our lives, as seen by the revelation
of John, the
Doctrine that comes from other books in the
Bible, and
every single testimony of a REAL Christian. As
far as I know,
Buddhism can't make that claim.
Bottom line? If you're a Christian curious about Buddhism,
this book
is a starter at best, but I would look to this
author's other books. But
if you're a Buddhist, I HIGHLY recommend this book, especially if you've
delved into the comparison books. Even if his interpretation of Buddha's
teachings are totally off, his
interpretation of Christ's is dead
on. Fascinating either way though.
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