Buddhism

The disproportionate influence of Buddhist thought and philosophy found in cultural circles such as education, entertainment and the media coupled with the dramatic recent surge of asian immigrants, many of whom are Buddhist, has brought Buddhism to the forefront of Western culture. And more and more of those who have become disenfranchised from Christian spirituality are embracing Buddhism as a replacement way of organizing their life. In this clear and balanced introduction, Keith Yandell and Harold Netland set out to educate Christians about Buddhism, laying out the central metaphysical claims of this significant world religion, including a concluding chapter which offers an honest comparison with Christianity. The authors acknowledge some overlap of belief while also noting the clear and significant differences between the two religions. As both religions affirm, these distinctions have enormous consequences for the spiritual well-being of adherents. This book guides any reader who wants to understand the central tenets and claims of Buddhism more deeply and how learn how it compares to Christian faith.

Author Biography

Harold Netland is associate professor of philosophy of religion and intercultural studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has spent much of his professional life in Japan. His other books include Dissonant Voices: Religious Pluralism and the Question of Truth (Eerdmans, 1991).

Keith Yandell is Julius R. Weinberg Professor at the University of Wisconsin—Madison, teaching philosophy of religion and history of modern philosophy. He is the author of The Epistemology of Religious Experience (Cambridge, 1994), Philosophy of Religion (Routledge, 1999) and The Soul (Ashgate, forthcoming).