Rating: 
Summary: 500 Years and 3000 miles Apart - Compatible Side by Side
Review: Located on this book's pages are some amazingly similar sayings that will leave you hungry to learn more about both Buddhism and Christianity. Edited by Marcus Borg, in the preface he states that "If the Buddha and Jesus were to meet, neither would try to convert the other-not because they would regard such an effort as hopeless, but because they would recognize each other." I believe after reading this book that you will feel the same way!Striking similarities start with the book's very first set of sayings... "Do to others as you would have them do to you", attributed to Jesus and "Consider others as yourself", attributed to Buddha. Throughout the book the parallels are amazing up to and including the very last set... "Then Jesus cried again with a load voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split", and "At the Blessed Lord's final passing there was a great earthquake, terrible and hair-raising, accompanied by thunder". The book begins with some discussion about why these two great religious figures may have such similar stories and sayings, but I would have liked to see the author expand on that more. The book is basically just side by side comparisons of similar quotes and concepts and it is up to the reader to form his own conclusions as to why they are so much alike. All in all this is a worthwhile and easy read... a definate recommend to anyone interested in religion or philosophy.
Rating:
Summary: 500 Years and 3000 miles Apart - Compatible Side by Side
Review: Located on this book's pages are some amazingly similar sayings that will leave you hungry to learn more about both Buddhism and Christianity. Edited by Marcus Borg, in the preface he states that "If the Buddha and Jesus were to meet, neither would try to convert the other-not because they would regard such an effort as hopeless, but because they would recognize each other." I believe after reading this book that you will feel the same way! Striking similarities start with the book's very first set of sayings... "Do to others as you would have them do to you", attributed to Jesus and "Consider others as yourself", attributed to Buddha. Throughout the book the parallels are amazing up to and including the very last set... "Then Jesus cried again with a load voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split", and "At the Blessed Lord's final passing there was a great earthquake, terrible and hair-raising, accompanied by thunder". The book begins with some discussion about why these two great religious figures may have such similar stories and sayings, but I would have liked to see the author expand on that more. The book is basically just side by side comparisons of similar quotes and concepts and it is up to the reader to form his own conclusions as to why they are so much alike. All in all this is a worthwhile and easy read... a definate recommend to anyone interested in religion or philosophy.
Rating: 
Summary: Riding the Fence
Review: Marcus Borg has given good scholarly effort and quality research to this book. The format is reader-friendly and has some good thought provoking statements from both Jesus and Buddah. All of this being said, spiritual seekers should use much caution in reading this book. I am a follower of Jesus Christ, He has transformed my life which is something no one, including myself, could do. In his introductory remarks Mr. Borg calls himself a "non-exclusive" Christian, which to me is contradictory to Jesus' remarks in John 14:6 where He says, "I am the way, the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except by me." It is for this reason that I give the book 2 stars and didn't finish it.
Rating:
Summary: Riding the Fence
Review: Marcus Borg has given good scholarly effort and quality research to this book. The format is reader-friendly and has some good thought provoking statements from both Jesus and Buddah. All of this being said, spiritual seekers should use much caution in reading this book. I am a follower of Jesus Christ, He has transformed my life which is something no one, including myself, could do. In his introductory remarks Mr. Borg calls himself a "non-exclusive" Christian, which to me is contradictory to Jesus' remarks in John 14:6 where He says, "I am the way, the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except by me." It is for this reason that I give the book 2 stars and didn't finish it.
Rating:
Summary: Not For Academics
Review: The first book in the "Parallel" series examines the words attributed to the founders of 2 of the world's major religions. THere are many similiarites between Jesus and Buddha that editor Marcus Borg notes in the Forward: Both had life tansforming experiences around the age of 30; both were teachers of love and compassion; and both spent time alone in the wilderness. "Jesus and Buddha" is not an overly scholarly study. A theme is presented with a brief one page intro (Compassion, Wisdom, Materialism, etc.). Then similiar quotes are presented on opposite pages - Jesus on one, Buddha on the next. The source is included, but thats it. No added commentary or explanation. I imagine those of an Orthodox bent will promptly drop the book in the trash. I found the spartan section intros and the short but informative Forward nicely balances the Zen-like approach to the quotes. For those who approach comparitive religion with rabid intellectualism, this book is not for you. For those who believe that God is experienced in the heart, and can approach this with an open heart and mind, this little gem may be well received.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful
Review: This book is a thing of beauty: a series of parallel sayings, one from Buddha and one from Jesus, presented side by side. It's wonderful to see the unexpected convergence of thought. Implicitly, the series of quotes make an important and powerful point: people who follow the teachings of Jesus or Buddha need not worry too much about whether they are on the right path. Both paths are the same path of goodness. The buyer should be aware that he or she is buying a book that uses white space liberally. For the most part, each page contains a single quote.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: This book is a thing of beauty: a series of parallel sayings, one from Buddha and one from Jesus, presented side by side. It's wonderful to see the unexpected convergence of thought. Implicitly, the series of quotes make an important and powerful point: people who follow the teachings of Jesus or Buddha need not worry too much about whether they are on the right path. Both paths are the same path of goodness. The buyer should be aware that he or she is buying a book that uses white space liberally. For the most part, each page contains a single quote.
Rating: 
Summary: Useful but not scholarly
Review: This book is useful as a reference for quickly finding parallel quotes between the two great teachers. I found some of the parallels to be a bit of a stretch though. The introductions are very "New Age" and not in line with orthodox Christian doctrine.
Rating:
Summary: lots of open space for interpretation
Review: This book was one to which I was looking for great amounts of information and comparative studies between the sayings of Jesus and the Buddha. What I received was a beatiful little book with one verse or set of verses from the Christian scripture on one page and a verse from a sutra on the opposite page......that's it!!! No scholarly discussion, no commentary, no historical information.....nothing else but the two "versions" of the same saying. This reads more like a Hazelton daily meditation book than an academic comparison between the sayings of [perhaps] two of the greatest, most influential, and well known prophets of recorded history (the other being Muhammad). This is a cute little book to keep in the bathroom or on your bed-side table. It is NOT an academic or scholarly comparison of the Parellal Sayings of Jesus and the Buddha. 1 star for cuteness, 1 star for context, no stars for scholarship.
Rating:
Summary: Similar But Different
Review: This is a collection of sayings comparing Christianity with Buddhism. This book is quite easy to read, but its brevity and lack of commentary leave the reader guessing at times. There is one Christian saying or concept on one page, the similar Buddhist saying on the other. For all the similarities between the two religions, there are as many differences, sometimes subtle in nature, also. I recommend a serious look as opposed to a quick glance while immersing oneself in these pages or the separating lines will become blurry quickly. I found the "miraculous" things of Buddha interesting and as a Christian had to refrain myself from a judgmental attitude because of the fact. Faith is a deep concept in spite of the focus of faith, but it took me years to understand that. With all that said, this book will give you a flavor of the two great religions to start you in a comparitive study, but to stop here in my opinion would be foolish. There just isn't enough meat here to go with the potatoes.
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