For the first time classic readings on Jesus from outside of Christianity have been brought together in one volume. Jesus Beyond Christianity: The Classic Texts features 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.

General Introduction I: Jesus in Judaism: The Classic Texts Jewish Perceptions of Jesus: Key Issues 1. Dangerous Times for Jews, Nachmanides' Debate 2. The Rejected Disciple, The Talmud 3. A Teacher of Jewish Law, The Talmud 4. The Bible Testifies Against the Deity of Jesus, The Nizzachon Vetus 5. The Church - Not Jesus - is the Heretic, Isaac of Troki, Faith Strengthened 6. Jesus: Jewish Evangelist to the Gentiles, Letter of Rabbi Jacob Emden 7. Reasons for Jewish Silence on Jesus, Moses Mendelssohn, Letter to Johann Caspar Lavater 8. Jesus: An Unoriginal Pharisee, Abraham Geiger, Judaism and its History 9. Jesus: Forerunner of the Reform Jew, Kauffman Kohler, Jesus of Nazareth 10. The Value of the Gospels for a Jew, Claude Montefiore, The Synoptic Gospels 11. Jesus: A Prophet, Claude Montefiore, The Synoptic Gospels 12. Jesus: Destroyer of Culture and Nation, Joseph Klausner, Jesus of Nazareth 13. Jesus on Jewish Soil, Leo Baeck, "The Gospel as a Document of History" 14. No Sentimental Love, David Flusser, Jesus Closing Reflection, Dan Cohn-Sherbok Questions for Discussion Guide for Further Reading II. Jesus in Islam: The Classic Texts Muslim Perceptions of Jesus: Key Issues 1. The Miraculous Birth of Jesus, The Qur'an 2. The Mission of Jesus, The Qur'an 3. The End of Jesus' Life?, The Qur'an 4. Right and Wrong Responses to Jesus, The Qur'an 5. A Final Word from the Qur'an, The Qur'an 6. Jesus in the Hadith, Sahih Bukhari 7. The Ascetic Jesus, The Muslim Jesus 8. Jesus and the Powers of God, Al-Tabari, The History of al-Tabari 9. Jesus in the Graveyard, Al-Tha'labi, The Tales of the Prophets 10. A Rationalist Examines Christian Claims about Jesus, Al-Razi, al-Tafsir al-Kabir 11. Jesus: A Mirror of God, Al-Ghazali, The Ninety-Nine Beautiful Names of God 12. Jesus and the Fool, Jalal al-Din Rumi, The Mathnawi 13. On Praising a Human Being, Al-Busairi, Qasidah Burdah 14. Realising God, Ibn al-Arabi, The Bezels of Wisdom 15. Who Died on the Cross?, Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur'an al-azim 16. Jesus in India, Ghulam Ahmad, Jesus in India 17. Jesus and Non-violence, Ghulam Ahmad Parwez, Islam: A Challenge to Religion 18. Jesus Between Us and You, A Common Word Between Us Closing Reflection, Amjad Hussain Questions for Discussion Guide for Further Reading III. Jesus in Hinduism: The Classic Texts Hindu Perceptions of Jesus: Key Issues 1. Jesus was a Unitarian, Rammohan Roy, Answer of a Hindoo 2. A Divine Teacher, Not Atoner, Rammohan Roy, The Precepts of Jesus 3. Jesus, The Ideal Son, Keshub Chunder Sen, Lectures in India 4. Repudiate the Little Christ, Keshub Chunder Sen, Lectures in India 5. Jesus: Simple, Honest & Ignorant, Dayananda Saraswati, Satyarth Prakash 6. Mystical Experiences of the Universal Jesus, Ramakrishna, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna 7. Jesus is like Ramakrishna, Ramakrishna, The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna 8. Jesus vs. His Christian Followers, Vivekananda, The Preface to the Imitation of Christ and Christianity in India 9. Jesus Was Oriental, Vivekananda, Christ, The Messenger 10. Jesus is the Property of the World, M.K. Gandhi, The Message of Jesus Christ 11. Christ Has Yet to be Born, M.K. Gandhi, The Message of Jesus Christ 12. Jesus' Message Continues to be Ignored, Aurobindo Ghose, Essays Divine and Human 13. An Avatar of Sorrow, Aurobindo Ghose, Essays on the Gita and Savitri: A Legend & A Symbol 14. An Eastern Seer, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Eastern Religions and Western Thought and East and West in Religion Closing Reflection, Gavin Flood Questions for Discussion Guide for Further Reading IV. Jesus in Buddhism: The Classic Texts Buddhist Perceptions of Jesus: Key Issues 1. Jesus: Son of a Dubious Deity, Fabian Fucan, Deus Destroyed 2. The Founder of a Passive Religion, Ouyi Zhixu 3. Jesus: A Teacher of Morality, Thuken Chokyi Nyima, The Crystal Mirror 4. A Demon in Disguise, The Carpenter-Heretic 5. Birth Omens Compared, Migettuwatte Gunananda, A Full Account of the Buddhist Controversy Held at Pantura 6. A Man Between Egoism and Universalism, Anagarika Dharmapala, "An Appreciation of Christianity" 7. Jesus: Absolute and Relative, Tanabe Hajime, The Demonstratio of Christianity 8. Obliterating God Consciousness, Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki, An Introduction To Zen Buddhism 9. A Man Tortured by Contradictions, Sheng Yen, "Further Discussion of the Similarities and Differences between Buddhism and Christianity" 10. The Good Heart of Jesus, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, The Good Heart Closing Reflection - Donald S. Lopez, Jr. Closing Reflection, Donald S. Lopez, Jr. Questions for Discussion Guide for Further Reading Acknowledgements Index