Jesus & Buddha: The Parallel Sayings

by Marcus Borg

Excellent condition.

Hardcover

Published July 22, 1996

Reviews

[Kelsea McGraw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cool book I found on my boyfriend’s bookshelf that caught my attention by the title alone. I grew up Christian and found my faith again in early adulthood but during my 4-5 year questioning/agnostic period I was drawn to a lot of Buddhist teachings despite never getting to the point of deciding that’s the religion I wanted to follow.

I am very confident in my Christian faith now but hold a pretty anti-Christian belief that if someone chooses to follow a different religion, they find their truth/salvation in that practice (ex. I believe Buddhists reach nirvana rather than going to hell for not finding salvation in Jesus). I think it’s cool that the author is also a non-exclusionary Christian because many Christians look at me sideways when I share this belief with them.

This book highlighted the similarities in the births and deaths of Jesus and Buddha, the parallels in core principles, and provided hundreds of side-by-side passages from the Bible and Buddhist texts showing not only similar messages but a lot of the same imagery and situations used to communicate those core principles.

Really really cool to read this and understand more clearly why I was drawn to Buddhism for a time in my life

[Gisa Seeholzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus and Buddha: Parallel Sayings offers a beautifully simple and profound experience. By placing the words of two of history’s most influential spiritual teachers side by side, the book reveals striking resonances—echoes of compassion, humility, mindfulness, and nonviolence that transcend cultural and religious boundaries.

Each page invites quiet reflection. The sayings don’t preach; they open a space for meditation. The format is elegant, and the effect is grounding—perfect for those drawn to contemplative or interfaith exploration.

This is a book to read slowly, perhaps one page at a time. It reminds us that truth doesn’t belong to any one path, and that wisdom often speaks in a shared language of peace.

[muaad the poet · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for the effort of the writer. The comparisons are so much that I honestly believe Buddha must have been a prophet. He’s so understudied it’s unbelievable but the author should have also included prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as well. It’s almost criminal, since there’s a lot of similarities between the three.