Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad

by Mark W. Muesse

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.

Genres: Religion, History, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Buddhism, Ancient

19 pages, Audible Audio

Published January 1, 2010

About the author

Mark William Muesse is an American philosopher, theologian, and teacher. Muesse was born in Waco, Texas and attended University High School. He received a B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Baylor University and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s incredibly difficult to write an objective book like this while still being respectful to people of all faiths. I thought it was a great book. I really enjoyed learning about all the similarities and differences of the four spiritual leaders described in this book.

The author focused primarily on the historical record. That is, what is it that we know about these people? What happened to them in the course of their lives. What we know about their teachings. And what parts of their lives and teachings are unknown, or at least mysterious?

But the author also covered how they were viewed, and to what extent their legacies conform to what is known in historical records. I think most people interested in the topic would find this book interesting, particularly to see how these four leaders were both alike and different. There may be some areas where his historical analysis will challenge parts of your faith, but he was always respectful. His intent isn’t to do any kind of “debunking”.

Rather, it was to compare these spiritual leaders on how they viewed important questions. What is the nature of God? What happens when you die? How should you live your life?

I’ll just note one interesting similarity: all four leaders emphasized the importance of “quiet”. Some versions of prayer, meditation, and fasting were emphasized by each leader. The way the author talked about fasting was particularly interesting. It’s not about punishing yourself. It’s not typically meant to be a big hardship. It’s more about an opportunity to pause and reflect. The author talks about how he encourages his students to try a “media fast” – that is, go one day without reading or listening to any kind of electronic entertainment or news. I can imagine how this would be interesting. Maybe I’ll try it sometime.

[Beauregard Bottomley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muesse sees each religious world-view under consideration as an outsider looking in and doesn’t embrace the mystical superstitions inherent within the particular faith, but, nevertheless, defends the end results while not justifying the mystical while always providing a somewhat positive spin since he wants to emphasize the existential meaning one can find within each faith.

I liked his Buddha take so much I ended up reading the 1500-page foundational book on Buddhism The Middle Discourses. I am glad I did. I realize now that his synopsis was just as good as that very long book, but I had to find out for myself.

Muesse put Jesus and Christianity in a different perspective for me. He argued that it was possible to read the beatitudes in the form such as ‘Congratulations to the meek: for they shall inherit the earth’. He provides some pretty good reasons for why that could be a better way of thinking about them. Also, it would be related to Jesus turning over the moneychangers in the temple. To get the full gist of what he meant one would need to listen to this lecture series.

Overall a fun lecture series and clearly for those who know with certainty that their religion is the right one and there is only one correct way to think about their religion, these lectures are not for them. For all others who realize that the world is nuanced and background, context, relationships and history matter for determining meaning and that our ultimate determination for meaning comes from ourselves, I would definitely recommend these lectures

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured Muesse’s course on Hinduism, which offers a clear, organized, and systematic overview of a religion that manages to be both ancient and modern. Of the Great Courses on religion, it is hands down the best.

I was, consequently, quick to purchase his other books—this one about religious founders/sages as well as the Axial Age. That enthusiasm in part explains why I was so dismayed my Muesse’s blatant attack on, rather than explanation of, Jesus and the basic tenets of Christianity. He maintains that Jesus never promoted the idea that he was the Messiah; similarly, he claims that Jesus only referenced heaven metaphorically but did not really view it as a postmortal location. Thanks to obscure sources, including the apocryphal Book of Thomas, as well as a tendency to intentionally misunderstand various passages of the Bible, Muesse makes his case: Jesus became the accidental symbol of a religious movement (Christianity) that misappropriated and subverted His teachings and life; if anyone deserves worship, it’s John the Baptist, from whom Jesus developed his theology. So overpowered is Muesse by his need to take down the apparently oppressive religion of his Evangelical childhood that he abandons his role as observer and educator for nearly the whole of this section (almost 1/4 of the course/book).

Muesse’s mischaracterization of Jesus is troubling in its own right, but it further raises doubts about the accuracy of his other analyses and views. I would love to hear, for example, a Muslim’s assessment of the section that features Mohammed—to know if Muesse likewise takes an unorthodox tack towards Islam’s founder (or any other religious sage).

Muesse might argue that I only take issue with him poking holes in Christianity because it is my faith. However, that is not my only frustration with his teachings. I use the Great Courses to learn more about various religions—to give me an overview of the ideas and practices that shape our world. I expect that is the goal of most people studying the great world religions comparatively. Yet all a non-Christian will learn of Jesus from this course is that He transmitted someone else’s doctrine and faced execution for defying the political and religious leaders of his day. This explanation falls gravely short of its purpose: if I want to learn the basics of Jesus’ Christology, I’m not looking to hear a list of all the ways Christians maliciously fabricated His story. Muesse’s axe grinding does a disservice to Judaism and Christianity, 1/3 of the world’s population (Judaeo-Christians), and his many students/readers.

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was seeking a greater understanding of the world and the major religions, and this book (lecture) definitely supplied that. It varies from more typical comparative religion courses in that it focuses primarily on the four major teachers themselves (their histories, their teachings, and their world view). I do have to say, however, that coming from a Christian tradition, I found that there were certain things about the author's treatment of Jesus (and Christianity) that are understood more clearly (and differently) in my own Christain upbringing. (But it is not a mainstream Christian tradition.) It makes me wonder about the treatment of Confucius, Buddha, and Muhammed. Are there things in the lecture that might be interpreted differently by scholars in these other religious traditions? Still, given the ambitious scope of this lecture, it does a pretty good job.

This is a scholarly work, so it approaches religious traditions surrounding the four teachers with some degree of skepticism. Even though the book (lecture) promotes respect for the different religious traditions and the moral way of life taught by the four teachers, some people may find this off-putting.

This course seeks not only to compare/contrast these teachers but it doesn't something a little more. It seeks to answer the question, "What is a good life and what are the practices that can help a person achieve a good life." Probably the most important question raised in this lecture has to do with the nature of God or "ultimate reality". Is one single religion or teacher able to clearly define the nature of ultimate reality in terms that can be clearly understood by our limited human viewpoint? Could not these teachers all be describing the same "ultimate reality" in terms that are more accessible and relevant to their specific time and cultures? As someone who comes from a prophetic tradition, I believe it can. The author, although he raises the question, does not make any specific positive or negative assertion in response. He endeavors to present the facts in a way that will allow the reader (listener) to make their own conclusions.

[Addie Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s an excellent read for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of these spiritual leaders, their impact on the world, and essentially cross reference their similarities and differences.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overall survey of the major 4 religions and the impact that their significant figures had on each religion. Muesse goes into great detail about each religion. Islam was the one religion that I knew the least about, so it was good to get an introduction to it. As a Christian, I particularly liked how Muesse went into the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Essenes and other gospels that were not included in the Bible.

This course would serve as a solid foundation from which to seek greater knowledge into any of these religious traditions.

[Sabastian Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really interesting. It looks at four of history’s great sages: Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Each one gets several chapters that explain their lives, beliefs, family situations, and the political issues of their time, and how all of that shaped the philosophies and religions they became known for.

With Confucius, I liked his idea of reverence for the past and for ancestors. It was said that Confucious was oriented to the past, Buddha to the present and Jesus and Muhammad to the future. It makes a lot of sense, especially in the axial age context where sages were helping people who remembered remnants of a bygone era. Confucious really highlighted the importance of tradition and it makes me feel good to know that the world’s emerging superpower, China, runs on Confucious OS. I also liked his idea that leaders should embody virtue and set an example for their people to follow, instead of relying on a strict rule-based system.

Buddha’s philosophy was the one I liked the most. The part that stuck with me was his belief that wisdom comes first, and that morality grows out of wisdom. That felt really deep and practical.

With Muhammad, the thing I found most interesting was his idea that people are forgetful and need constant reminders of what really matters. That shows up in practices like praying five times a day and fasting during Ramadan. There’s a funny story about how the angel Gabriel first told him people should pray twenty times a day, but after Muhammad consulted Moses he went back to renegotiate the number, and eventually it was lowered to five. I also thought it was fascinating that Muhammad spent his first four years living with Bedouins, which was a common practice to toughen children for the desert climate.

Jesus was the one I was most familiar with, so not much surprised me. What did surprise me, though, was how radical he really was in context. A lot of his ideas seem like a direct response to Roman occupation. I ended up seeing him almost like a Bernie Sanders type figure, someone pushing back against power with a strong vision for justice and compassion.

[Darjeeling · Rating 1 out of 5]

For some reason he keeps claiming that 'Islam' translates as 'submission' rather than 'peace'. Racist bigot.

[Juan CA · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great walk through the life, teachings and believes of 4 of the most influential persons in history. Mark is one of the best teachers out there, this and his other books really taught me a lot.

[Feng Ouyang · Rating 3 out of 5]

This great course series lecture has a fascinating topic: comparing the funders of the four major world religions. It examines the life and teaching of each of them and offers a comparison among the four sages. However, the lectures lack depth and critical spirit. Therefore, the lessons provide a proper introduction to the subject without satisfying inspirations.
The course has two parts. In the first part, each person is analyzed in four aspects: metaphysics (the relationship between human, nature, and supernature), anthropology (human nature), ethics (how individuals and societies should behave), and spiritual (rituals for worshiping and spiritual nurturing). The author treats Confucius, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad not as divine beings but as humans. The author also makes a point to separate the teachers of the founders from the religious doctrine and to focus on the original text. Records from the religious canons are treated with suspicion, but they are the only sources of information in many cases.
The second part is the comparison among the four sages. The author focuses on the commonalities, such as advocating for human kindness and social equality, spiritual practices such as meditation and praying, and a pursuit of ultimate happiness. The detailed approaches are different among them, but the goals are very similar. Therefore, the teachings from the four sages reveal different aspects of the same truth.
The course’s analyses have limited depth because the author excludes the interpretations from later followers from his analyses to separate religion from the founders as persons. This aligns with the author’s notion of separating the founders and the religions they established. After all, the sages have no control over, and thus should be responsible for, what happens after their deaths. However, the four sages are important precisely because of their impact on their followers and the societies at large. The later interpretations are indispensable in understanding their impact. And what matters to us today is the religion, not the original texts from the sages, which few people will ever read. For example, the course says Confucius’ ideal of humanity (“Ren”) is behavioral guidance for individuals and governments. This characterization may be correct at Confucius’ time. However, later in China, Confucius’ Ren becomes a measure of the legitimacy of government. In governmental power struggles, opponents were often condemned as “not Ren.” And the idea of “Ren” evolves into many rigid, suffocating, and strangling rules. Our understanding of Confucius would not be complete without studying these effects. Likewise, Christianity evolves into a dominating culture, including theology, political systems, and international alliances and adversaries. How are these social constructs connected with Jesus’ teaching? One cannot get around this question when studying Jesus. With the limited scope, the course does not present a complete picture.
Another limitation of the course is “positiveness.” All of the sages’ teachings are cast in a positive light, and they sound politically correct even today. Such an angle makes contrasting the teachings difficult. For example, the teachings of Confucius were justified by the “rule of heaven” and the “ancient ways.” The audience can judge by themselves whether the teachings sound reasonable, and Confucius himself is not the absolute authority. In comparison, Jesus portraited himself as the son and representative of God, who holds absolute authority. These differences are swept under the rug if we must stick with the positive perspectives.
Overall, this course provides a helpful introduction to the four sages. Studying them as individuals is refreshing, especially when considering the social conditions at the time. On the other hand, such an approach and the tendency to stay positive also limit the course’s scope. Another unaddressed question is how the sages are connected with the human archetype. Why did the four sages appear at about the same development stage as their corresponding civilizations? Why are there no other people of comparable impact earlier or later? More explorations in these directions may provide deeper insights into the sages and into humanity.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent read discussing the differences between what is historically known about these individuals and the belief systems/philosophies that have grown up around them. Recommend.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the Great Courses series, this is an audiobook recording of 36 lectures given by Mark Muesse, Professor of Religious Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee that summarizes the lives, teachings and historical contexts of the four sages in the title. Before listening, I knew a little about each already, but it was interesting to hear them discussed together, as I’ve never engaged in comparative religious studies before. Many agnostics and atheists believe all religions to be the same; while they do share some characteristics in that they deal with the question of human existence, this programme shows clearly that these four philosophies are very different to each other in both their ideas and implementation.

Texan Muesse has a good speaking voice, without a distracting southern drawl, and his style is energetic and engaging. He is mostly objective, presenting each one of his subjects as an historical figure, but some of his discourse does edge towards the personal, and he admits as much. He also neglects to mention, even in passing, the less palatable aspects of any of these belief systems, choosing to stay either neutral or positive in his approach. Since this is what puts many people off religion, it seems disingenuous to leave the bad bits out.

Desipte its flaws, it was fun to listen to and I learned something new about every one of the four world teachers, why their own particular brands of wisdom have endured over the centuries, and what they have to offer, even in the modern secular world.

[Mark Huisjes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guy is in my top five lectures I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. This course covers the lives of the four great religious teachers of antiquity and their most important teachings. The associated guidebook also helped in keeping track of things. You can't do this all in one sitting!

His series on Axial Age religions (Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Confucianism and Daoism) is also excellent.

[Jefferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series of books/lectures are a great way to gain knowledge on a subject. This was a great breakdown of four teachers that changed the world. Each inspire us to be better.

I really enjoyed Mark Muesse and his approach in these lectures. You get an overview of each great man and then he does a comparison if each.

[Kim Sung · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series of 30 min lectures on the lives and teachings of the four great sages. Perfect for anyone wanting to get an introductory overview of Confucianism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Professor Muesse is very knowledgeable about these topics and his narration is excellent.

[Jason Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark does a great job approaching this challenging subject to break down the topics into manageable segments. He stays true to his commitment at the outset of focusing on the human from a historical perspective then transitioning to the teachings, then the metaphysics, and their lasting impact. He delivers an even-handed perspective on all four with only a hint of personal bias attached. Very informative and thought provoking!

Take Away: Regardless of tradition, there are always things we can learn about how to live up to the ideals that promote greater inclusivity and acceptance if we are open to listening to perspectives other than our own.

[Mathijs Aasman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of the 4 great thinkers from the perspective of comparative religion and historiography. I found a very universalist message ascribed to all thinkers, though Confucius would be something of an exception here, not being a 'spiritual' leader per se. I don't know enough to determine whether or not this reflects a reality, or is merely the projection of the author's current worldview onto these men. I think there are strong universalist messages within the faiths, but I don't think the implications of this are as the promoters of this view suggest.

[Colin Hoad · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent overview of these four great thinkers. Professor Muesse is a great teacher and I learnt a huge amount, particularly about the Buddha and Muhammad (the two I was least familiar with going in). Even his appraisal of Confucius, perhaps the thinker I know best, was a great introduction and presented his life and ideas in a very engaging way. Highly recommended.

[Nick Heim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty ok crash course on the major founders of the world faiths. It focuses more on the founders themselves rather than the religion.
This was pretty great at some points. It would be 5 stars but in the end he pulled some new age cop out bullshit where "they were all saying basically the same thing."

[Emilia En L'air · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lectures have great insights and the author tried his best to separate his own bias on each and every subject.

A great start up course for Comparative Religions although it focuses mainly on the sages.

[Larry McCloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, a good comparison of the historical facts (what admittedly few there are in some cases) of each individual's life as well as their particular teachings. Definitely inspired me to do more extensive research.

[Francis Bezooyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lecture series was not only informative and interesting, but inspiring too. I would definitely recommend it as an introduction to these important religious figures.

[Ralph Trickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the way it talked a lot about historic data and put things in perspective for that time.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting survey of the big 4.

[Emily Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best Great Courses Series I've finished thus far. While some lectures held my attention more than others, I would highly recommend the whole.

[Beth Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an excellent overview

[Tevin Chaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting comparison of four sages.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of 4 tremendous figures in world history and thought.

[Markus Pietilä · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5/5?

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suspect the 19 pages refers to the number of CD's. It would be a lot more than 19 pages if transcribed :)