Jesus Among Giants: Religious Biographies in Comparative Context

158 Pages·2019·1.632 MB·English

by  William Cully Allen

A
l
l
e
Jesus Among Giants: Religious Biographies in Comparative Context compares and con- n
trasts Jesus to Mahāvīra, Buddha, Krishna, Confucius, Laozi, Moses, and Muhammad
in terms of their missions and messages. These foundational religious figures are
introduced in their particular socio-political context—on their own terms, in their
own words, within the canons of their respective sacred scriptural traditions. Each
chapter features the biography of a foundational religious figure, their teachings, a
Jesus Among Giants
comparative analysis, and a suggestion about what Christians might learn from other
foundational religious characters.
Jesus Among Giants offers a new approach to comparative religion as a confron-
tational conference of conflicting claims in search of uncommon insights into truth.
This book observes striking similarities and discerns distinguishing differences but RELIGIOUS BIOGRAPHIES
does not harmonize or hierarchize competing visions into a single coherent version J
e
of truth. Rather, it exposes and respects differences for the sake of determining the s IN COMPARATIVE CONTEXT
u
unique identity of each religious figure featured.
s
There is no avoiding controversy and conflict among the foundational figures A
of the world’s religions. Religious identities are forged in the face of differences. To m
adequately appreciate any one spiritual giant requires understanding them all. To know o
n
who Jesus is means knowing who he isn’t. Readers are invited to face the facts and
g
fictions, myths and messages, and claims and counter-claims that clearly distinguish
G
Jesus among giants.
i
a
n
t
s
William Cully Allen served as Associate Professor of Asian Religions at Temple
University from 2001 to 2011. He has also held teaching appointments at Austin
College, Bucknell University, Muhlenberg College, and the University of the Arts.
He is the author of Sanskrit Debate (Peter Lang, 2015), Taoism (2007), and Tennis
Mindset (2018).
WILLIAM CULLY ALLEN
P
E
T
E
R
L
A
N
G
www.peterlang.com
Cover art: Carla Strozzieri
A
l
l
e
Jesus Among Giants: Religious Biographies in Comparative Context compares and con- n
trasts Jesus to Mahāvīra, Buddha, Krishna, Confucius, Laozi, Moses, and Muhammad
in terms of their missions and messages. These foundational religious figures are
introduced in their particular socio-political context—on their own terms, in their
own words, within the canons of their respective sacred scriptural traditions. Each
chapter features the biography of a foundational religious figure, their teachings, a
Jesus Among Giants
comparative analysis, and a suggestion about what Christians might learn from other
foundational religious characters.
Jesus Among Giants offers a new approach to comparative religion as a confron-
tational conference of conflicting claims in search of uncommon insights into truth.
This book observes striking similarities and discerns distinguishing differences but RELIGIOUS BIOGRAPHIES
does not harmonize or hierarchize competing visions into a single coherent version J
e
of truth. Rather, it exposes and respects differences for the sake of determining the s IN COMPARATIVE CONTEXT
u
unique identity of each religious figure featured.
s
There is no avoiding controversy and conflict among the foundational figures A
of the world’s religions. Religious identities are forged in the face of differences. To m
adequately appreciate any one spiritual giant requires understanding them all. To know o
n
who Jesus is means knowing who he isn’t. Readers are invited to face the facts and
g
fictions, myths and messages, and claims and counter-claims that clearly distinguish
G
Jesus among giants.
i
a
n
t
s
William Cully Allen served as Associate Professor of Asian Religions at Temple
University from 2001 to 2011. He has also held teaching appointments at Austin
College, Bucknell University, Muhlenberg College, and the University of the Arts.
He is the author of Sanskrit Debate (Peter Lang, 2015), Taoism (2007), and Tennis
Mindset (2018).
WILLIAM CULLY ALLEN
P
E
T
E
R
L
A
N
G
www.peterlang.com
Cover art: Carla Strozzieri
Jesus Among Giants
This book is part of the Peter Lang Humanities list.
Every volume is peer reviewed and meets
the highest quality standards for content and production.
PETER LANG
New York  Bern  Berlin
Brussels  Vienna  Oxford  Warsaw
William Cully Allen
Jesus Among Giants
Religious Biographies
in Comparative Context
PETER LANG
New York  Bern  Berlin
Brussels  Vienna  Oxford  Warsaw
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Allen, William Cully, author.
Title: Jesus among giants: religious biographies in comparative context /
William Cully Allen.
Description: New York: Peter Lang, 2019.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019022507 | ISBN 978-1-4331-6628-0 (hardback: alk. paper)
ISBN 978-1-4331-6629-7 (ebook pdf) | ISBN 978-1-4331-6630-3 (epub)
ISBN 978-1-4331-6631-0 (mobi)
Subjects: LCSH: Christianity and other religions. | Religions.
Religious Leaders—Biography.
Classification: LCC BR127 .A45 2019 | DDC 206/.3—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019022507
DOI 10.3726/b15255
Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the “Deutsche
Nationalbibliografie”; detailed bibliographic data are available
on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de/.
© 2019 Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., New York
29 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10006
www.peterlang.com
All rights reserved.
Reprint or reproduction, even partially, in all forms such as microfilm,
xerography, microfiche, microcard, and offset strictly prohibited.
contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
Chapter 1. Maha ¯v¯ı ra 1
Introduction 1
Socio-political Context 1
Texts as Context 3
Birth and Youth 3
Renunciation and Wanderings 4
Enlightenment and Ministry 6
Death and Legacy 7
Teachings 8
Between Maha ¯v¯ı ra and Jesus 13
What Christians Might Learn From Maha ¯v¯ı ra 14
Chapter 2. Buddha 17
Introduction 17
Socio-political Context 18
Texts as Context 18
Birth and Youth 19
vi jesus among giants
Renunciation and Wanderings 21
Enlightenment and Ministry 23
Death and Legacy 25
Teachings 26
Between Buddha and Jesus 30
What Christians Might Learn From Buddha 33
Chapter 3. Krsna 37

Introduction 37
Socio-political Context 38
Texts as Context 41
Birth and Youth 42
Mission 45
Defeat of Despotism and Departure 45
Teachings 46
Between Krsna and Jesus 52

What Christians Might Learn From Krsna 52

Chapter 4. Confucius 55
Introduction 55
Socio-political Context 56
Texts as Context 58
Birth and Youth 59
Marriage and Early Career 60
Mission and Message 62
Death and Legacy 63
Teachings 64
Between Confucius and Jesus 67
What Christians Might Learn From Confucius 69
Chapter 5. Laozi 73
Introduction 73
Socio-political Context 73
Texts as Context 75
Birth and Career 75
Renunciation and Disappearance 77
Teachings 77
Between Laozi and Jesus 83
What Christians Might Learn From Laozi 84
contents vii
Chapter 6. Moses 89
Introduction 89
Socio-political Context 90
Texts as Context 91
Backstory, Birth, and Youth 92
Exile, Revelation, and Return 93
Exodus From Egypt 94
Wandering in the Wilderness 97
Death and Legacy 97
Teachings 98
Between Moses and Jesus 100
What Christians Might Learn From Moses 102
Chapter 7. Muhammad 105
Introduction 105
Socio-political Context 105
Texts as Context 106
Birth, Youth, and Marriage 107
Retreat and Revelation 108
Message and Mission 108
Death and Legacy 111
Teachings 112
Between Muhammad and Jesus 116
What Christians Might Learn From Muhammad 117
Chapter 8. Jesus 119
Introduction 119
Socio-political Context 119
Texts as Context 120
Backstory, Birth, and Youth 122
Baptism and Renunciation 124
Message, Mission, and Ministry 125
Death and Resurrection 129
Teachings 130
Between Jesus and the Giants 131
What Christians Might Learn From Jesus 133
Index 137