Wiley-Blackwell Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad: A Comparative Study

This cool, clear-sighted comparative study has no theological axe to grind. It offers a trusty thematic guide to the figureheads of three of the largest religions in the world.The comparative approach is descriptive and even-handed, highlighting both similarities and differences across a range of major areas.The thematic chapters cover: early life, followers, the core message, political attitudes, relations with women, and death.The engaging writing and descriptive approach make this an ideal text for students, instructors and general readers. Review "Gwynne's judicious use of comparative method sheds light on each of the chosen subjects, who have rarely been treated together in this way, drawing on the three religions' own sources to give vivid accounts of their origins and contemporary relevance. It is the perfect antidote to the antagonistic atmosphere created by the 'New Atheism', but it also offers much food for thought as these three traditions dominate the world scene." —John D'Arcy May, Trinity College Dublin and Australian Catholic University, Melbourne From the Inside Flap This engaging and fascinating study compares the life and teaching of the Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad, the founders of three of the largest religions in the world. It explores how their lives, attitudes, and teachings, now followed by half of the world’s people, relate to one another. Despite the vast literature on each figure, there are surprisingly few comparative studies, making this insightful book ideal for those studying comparative religion. The author’s descriptive and context-rich account illuminates key themes – political and historical, as well as religious – that established the impact and long-lasting effect of each figure. Fascinating similarities and differences are explored between the Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad, enriching our understanding and dispelling myths about both the individual figures and the nature of religion. From the Back Cover This engaging and fascinating study compares the life and teaching of the Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad, the founders of three of the largest religions in the world. It explores how their lives, attitudes, and teachings, now followed by half of the world’s people, relate to one another. Despite the vast literature on each figure, there are surprisingly few comparative studies, making this insightful book ideal for those studying comparative religion. The author’s descriptive and context-rich account illuminates key themes – political and historical, as well as religious – that established the impact and long-lasting effect of each figure. Fascinating similarities and differences are explored between the Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad, enriching our understanding and dispelling myths about both the individual figures and the nature of religion. About the Author Paul Gwynne is Lecturer in Comparative Religion in the General Education Program at the University of New South Wales, Australia, where he is also affiliated to the Law School. He has taught theology and religious studies in Jogjakarta, Indonesia, and Melbourne, Australia. Dr Gwynne is the author of World Religions in Practice: A Comparative Introduction (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009), and Special Divine Action (1996).