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Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad
- Narrated by: Mark W. Muesse
- Series: The Great Courses: Comparative & World Religion
- Length: 18 hrs and 56 mins
- Lecture
- Categories: History, Ancient History
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Summary
No understanding of human life, individual or collective, could be complete without factoring in the role and contribution of these history-shaping teachers. Now, this 36-lecture series takes you deep into the life stories and legacies of these four iconic figures, revealing the core teachings, and thoughts of each, and shedding light on the historical processes that underlie their phenomenal, enduring impact.
Speaking from multilevel personal experience with these teachings, Professor Muesse leads you in an inquiry with a dynamic double thrust.
First, you'll get the chance to reflect in depth on the most essential values of spirituality and the art of living, seen from four archetypal perspectives. Second, you'll delve into the historical contexts and individual lives of the four sages, and how the religious and philosophical traditions we associate with them came into being. The lectures serve as a unique window on the origins of these traditions, through their focus on the teachings, actions, and historical roles of the sages who inspired them. In uncovering the original wisdom and practices of each sage, you'll grapple with key questions. How did each man understand the nature of the universe? How did each envision the human self? What did they each see as the path to true self-realization? In words reflecting profound and compassionate insight, these lectures bring the teachings vividly alive as they speak to their essential purpose and as they shed light on the choices we all face, moment by moment, in living deliberately and savoring life to the fullest.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
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What listeners say about Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- C. Wilson
- 16-06-14
Fascinating
If you could sum up Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad in three words, what would they be?
I am really glad I bought this. I can not put it down so to speak. I am almost at the end but just thought I would highly recommend this book to anyone whose interests fall in these areas.
9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shahriar
- 01-08-16
simply wonderful
state of excellence like his other works. Academic world should be proud of having people like him around.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- APE
- 03-04-18
Easy to follow
Pretty interesting. I have rounded out some long held thought due to this course. its seem this sages were wise but the more there years move on the more so called followers pervert great intentions.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Arvin Seeva
- 06-09-16
A fantastic theological insight.
I found this as a very interesting material that balanced theological, historical and religious studies complemented with some critical analysis.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stephenodonnell
- 19-05-15
Compelling
Could not put this book down, the lectures are amazing and informative as well as balanced.
7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Benyamin
- 17-10-18
best book on the religious society
this was the best book on the subject, very unbiased professional approach, I would recommend it to anyone.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Edward Longford
- 27-04-18
Simplistic Overview
If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?
Better for Islam:
In the Shadow of the Sword The Battle for Global Empire and the End of the Ancient World
By: Tom Holland
In God's Path
The Arab Conquests and the Creation of an Islamic Empire
By: Robert G. Hoyland
Better for Christianity:
Anything by Richard Carrier or Bart D. Ehrman
What does Professor Mark W. Muesse Ph.D. Harvard University bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
I can see why he is a popular lecturer at universities, certainly better than some I had (!).
Any additional comments?
Simplistic overview, heavily reliant on religious sources (and now outdated view that there is a Q source for the Gospels). Ignores any possible negative in the teachings of any of these religious leaders (and there are more than a few to say the least).
8 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- danhaddock
- 19-03-18
Excellent and enlightening
I liked these lecture but felt that they could have done a better job of mentioning their sources for the information about each of the religious figures.
A lot of the information just seemed to be something overheard.
Great delivery and insightful look at the similarities and difference between all the 4 religious characters.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 18-03-22
In-depth analysis of 4 great historical teachers
I love this course. I listened to some lectures over and over again. Remarkable, non-judgemental presentation.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- cath haye
- 05-04-21
Excellent
Not sure what I expected. I found this course interesting and balanced. I learned a lot.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 20-11-18
Great Job...on 3 of Them...
...but if you’re looking for an objective historical account of Jesus, please look elsewhere. It’s not that Professor Muesse shouldn’t have opinions about the divinity of Jesus—we all have them, and to be sure, any historical figure claiming to be GOD probably should be subject to firmer scrutiny by a historian. My complaint is that he should have acknowledged the arguments on both sides of the debate and, like a good historian, stick to the FACTS rather than to opinions.
What really set me off was that he went out of his way to present his own speculations about Jesus as though they were fact (e.g., Jesus “probably” didn’t consider himself God...how can anyone KNOW that? I mean, I don’t presume to know what went on in Jesus’s mind). BUT he did not take the same approach with the other 3 sages.
At one point, Professor Muesse addresses some historians’ claims that Mohammed’s revelations were mere epileptic seizures. He goes on to assure believers that it’s still possible in such a scenario to believe that Mohammed’s seizures yielded revelations from a divine source...which is fine...
...but then he couldn’t make similar assurances about the 4 Gospels in the Christian Bible?? Even though there actually are historians with arguments along this line?
I’m not saying he should be a believer in Christianity to comment on the historical Jesus. But I am saying that he glosses over the utter lack of consensus among historians regarding whether Jesus was God and presents his own views as ultimate fact.
If you want an anti-Jesus skeptic’s view of the man, then you might enjoy this. If you want a Christian view of the historical Jesus, try NT Wright, William Lane Craig, Richard Swinburne and Richard Bauckham. If you want an objective, non-biased account of Jesus, which is what I was hoping for, well ...I’m at a loss here.
All that being said, I really enjoyed the rest of the lectures, so it wasn’t a total waste of an Audible credit.
87 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Jay Parker
- 16-03-18
Wasn't what I had in mind.
I wanted to learn the teachings of these famous prophets; however, the course was more about their personal lives and how those lives shaped the teachings--each teacher's perspective--than the teachings themselves.
84 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Curdy
- 21-11-13
Brilliant introduction to those 4 great teachers
Any additional comments?
This book's content is really interesting and the author's narration is great. It's a perfect introduction to comparative religion. I enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it to my friends. It might be better to choose another title if you are already advanced in the study of those historical figures though.
35 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- cliff
- 14-08-13
Audible at its best
Where does Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
In the top five. The course was perfect for me. I subscribe to Audible mainly for the non-fiction. The new Great Courses section is now my favorite.I fell short of an AA degree after the Army because I had to return to work. With the Great Courses option, I can now get up to speed on what I am most interested in, and be in a much better place when I return to school. This course - Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad was an excellent way to begin Great Courses. It was Taught and Narrated so well. There were very few - if any - areas that I wanted to speed threw. In-fact I hit my 30 sec. back button hundreds of times. The subject matter was perfect. It was taught in such a way that I can return to this course over and over, without the dread. We are lucky and blessed to now live in a time that a common laborer can continue to labor at his or her job, yet be able to study these Great Courses at the same time,satisfying our minds while at the same time satisfying our work ethic.I will now keep my eye on any and all of Professor Mark W. Muesse's courses.
122 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Normandy
- 01-09-16
A good overview of 4 sages
Where does Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
This book covers a massive subject matter which is presented from a secular perspective. This audiobook does a capable job at presenting the main themes and historical background for each of Confucius, Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad from the author's academic perspective - I am certain that theologians from any of the 4 religions will find many areas / points to disagree with! The book is controversial in places (when compared to mainstream theological understandings, e.g. the deity of Christ and Muhammad's use of war). It does offer an excellent opportunity to expand one's understanding of the 4 "sages" (the author's term) and to understand commonalities and differences between them. I truly enjoyed the audiobook, listened to its entirety, and learned a lot of things I didn't know. I took it for what it is - an academic, historical and sectarian view of the 4 "sages"; so, do not purchase this book if you are looking for a theology course.
Who was your favorite character and why?
All 4 "sages" were pretty interesting to learn about.
What does Professor Mark W. Muesse bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
The spoken word reveals emotion and interest in a way a book can't portray.
Any additional comments?
The audiobook was well narrated.
18 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Christopher Wainman
- 15-03-15
Intelligent entertaining and unbiased
Intelligent entertaining and unbiased. Highly recommend it. Probably the best audio book I've listened to date.
11 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ray
- 27-09-14
Great overview
What made the experience of listening to Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad the most enjoyable?
Prof Muesse placed the ideas of the 4 in good context. He relayed a lot of historical information.
What other book might you compare Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad to and why?
A history book. Can not think of a good example right now.
Which character – as performed by Professor Mark W. Muesse – was your favorite?
I thought he description of the life and works of Confucius was the most in depth and interesting.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
To much info for that
Any additional comments?
One of my favorite "Great Courses" books.
14 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Denise Richardson
- 12-02-18
Was Expecting More
it was interesting, however I did sense the author's bias to Jesus which at the end he stated was based on early childhood recollections from Sunday school. He did not spent the time he spent with the other three describing Jesus's teachings and parables. I also felt with the Buddha he could of spent more time with the techniques used for meditation. I was expecting a more unbiased view which delved into the sages teachings and the effect the have in today's current world and was disappointed that did not occur
13 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Fxx Zxx
- 23-08-16
Good objective perspective
Though their followers/religions were a great deal of the discussion, this was a thorough look at the 4 men as individuals. Excellent lessons to take away and overall walking away knowing a lot more about the world and the people in it than I did before.
6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Laurel
- 11-03-20
Excellent overview of a complex subject
An exceptional course filled with a huge body of information and rich insight. Muesse’s presentation is direct, organized, to the point but with enough interesting detail to make the lectures engaging. His mastery of the subject matter is clear. I enjoyed the hours spent listening to the series and now have a grasp on these four sages and the belief systems/ religions that grew from their teachings. I highly recommend this course.
4 people found this helpful
