A popular introduction to Buddhism, showing how Christians can understand and effectively dialogue with Buddhists. Buddhism is a rapidly rising religion in the West, but few Westerners know Buddhism from the inside. Having grown up with Buddhism and Christianity, Steve Cioccolanti highlights the similarities and builds bridges of understanding between the two major religions. His account is studded with stories, parables, and illuminating observations. This book is remarkably easy to read, and Steve is an engaging and original guide. Discover Buddhism the way it’s actually lived, not the way it’s been presented in textbooks or by Hollywood. Now you can learn the 2 most popular religions in 1 book! “A groundbreaking book… Steve has an unusual insight into the Buddhist mind. I would use it for our Bible College students.” Dr. Wayne Cordeiro (Pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship, a 10,000+ member church in Hawaii.) "From Buddha to Jesus is a clear exposition of both Buddha’s search for truth and the foundations of Buddhist culture. It then gives an account of how the Good News of Jesus can fulfill Buddhist law, and deliver people from the drive of endless perfectionism. A totally thought-provoking work!" Rod Plummer (Senior Pastor of Jesus Lifehouse Tokyo) "Steve’s book 'From Buddha to Jesus' is the best tool that I have found to find a common platform with Buddhists. Although the book is primarily focused on Thai Buddhism, the principles in the book can be used with Buddhists in Japan and with Buddhists in other countries. I highly recommend it!" Rev. Daniel Kikawa (President of Aloha Ke Akua Ministries, Pastor of Hilo Missionary Church, Author and producer of the award-winning films of "God's Fingerprints in Japan 1 & 2") "One of the books that I really read from cover to cover. I bought 10 copies and distributed them to my friends. I was once a Buddhist and this book really opened up my eyes. It is a must-read for all Buddhists, Eastern religion followers or even Christians who are looking for a way to reach out to these groups of people. Steve Cioccolanti was able to put things in the right manner and has written in a balanced and non-offensive way. This book rocks!" Daniel Hendrata (TV Host, Chairman & Co-Founder of Anugrah Ministries) "I have been a missionary in Thailand for 40 years. I read your book and was very impressed. I wish I would have had it sooner." Dorothy H., Thailand "Your book is one of my treasured collection and I've been reading it again and again. I love it so much. It helps me to understand Buddha and Buddhism and draw bridges between the two faiths. Keep up the good work and God bless!." Mish N. “I am a Malaysian Chinese… I was a Buddhist. I came across your explanation about Buddhism and found that it was so true!” Sulee, Malaysia "Steve's gentle way of sharing his insight suits the [Asian] audience very well… He has also broken some invalid preconceived ideas that Buddhists are closed to the Gospel." Ching Wah, Singapore "My husband and I have been reading it and although I am a second-generation missionary in Thailand (my dad arrived in 1946!) your book has brought new insight and clarified many things and is helping me/us immensely in relating to the Buddhists. So, Thank YOU and Thank GOD!" Marianna & Erik, Thailand "This book gave me confidence that I had a strategy! Because we can start from a place of commonality, instead of a place of 'I'm right, you're wrong'. This teaching releases people!" Tim P., Thailand “Anyone who comes in contact with Eastern religions should read Steve’s book.” -Col Stringer, President of ICFM Australia “Truly enlightening and informative… A useful tool to reach not only Buddhists but many others confused by the plethora of religions.” -Tom Inglis, Founder of Psalmody "A well-written book with a clear and bold testimony." Canon James Wong (Anglican Churches Singapore)

For the first time in history, large numbers of people from the world’s major non-Christian religions are following Jesus as Lord. Surprisingly for many Western Christians, they are choosing to do so within the religious communities of their birth and outside of institutional Christianity. How does this work, and how should we respond to these movements? This long-awaited anthology brings together some of the best writings on the topic of insider movements. Diverse voices explore this phenomenon from the perspectives of Scripture, history, theology, missiology, and the experience and identity of insider believers. Those who are unfamiliar with the subject will find this book a crucial guide to a complex conversation. Students and instructors of mission will find it useful as a reader and reference volume. Field workers and agencies will discover in these chapters welcome starting points for dialogue and clearer communication. The first book to provide a comprehensive survey of the topic of insider movements, Understanding Insider Movements is an indispensable companion for those who want to glimpse the creative, unexpected, boundary-crossing ways God is at work among the peoples of the world in their diverse religious communities.

This collection of essays breaks new ground in its interdisciplinary study of the way Jews redefined their identity in the changing societies of modern eastern Europe. Sensitively treating the drama of east European Jewry from cultural and political vantage points, prominent scholars provide fresh insights into the complex issues facing the Jewish world. The multifaceted essays in this volume reflect the influence of the pioneering work of the historian Ezra Mendelsohn.

Johns Gospel has been studied and evaluated and interpreted constantly by theologians throughout the ages. Can anything more possibly be said? Jerome Neyrey says it can, indeed, by interpreting it in two fresh ways by means of ancient rhetoric and by viewing it in its cultural context. / In order to find patterns and concepts that have a bearing on how to read John Neyrey examines the rhetoric of praise and blame described in the ancient encomium, the Greek commonplace on noble death, rules for rhetorical conclusions, and Jewish background materials. He then uses materials from cultural anthropology, such as the effects of limited good and envy, secrecy, and brokerage. Even innocent topics such as time and space have much to say about interpreting the figure of Jesus. / In viewing John through these two lenses, The Gospel of John in Cultural and Rhetorical Perspective brings the book into clear focus as a truly maverick gospel

Are Muslim insider Christ followers real believers? Are they Muslims or Christians? Does that matter? The topic of insider movements is controversial within the church. The debate rages on, opinions differ widely, and convictions often are defended aggressively. The set of voices sorely missing from this hot debate has been that of the insiders themselves. This book finally breaks that silence. Henk Prenger researched the views of 26 Muslim insider Christ followers who are leaders in their movements. You will be surprised by their insights. Prenger presents their views on 21 theology-proper topics such as God, man, the gospel, sin, Satan, the cross, heaven and hell, the Bible, and our mandate. He plotted these views in a theological/missional framework with four paradigms: Fundamental, Ecumenical, Integral, and Global. This M-Framework is a powerful catalyst for honest conversations about theological paradigms that inform how we approach insider movements and the kingdom of God on earth.

In The Gospel of Mark Fathers Donahue and Harrington use an approach that can be expressed by two terms currently used in literary criticism: intratextuality and intertextuality. This intratextual and intertextual reading of Mark's Gospel helps us to appreciate the literary character, its setting in life, and its distinctive approaches to the Old Testament, Jesus, and early Christian theology. "Intratextuality" means we read Mark as Mark and by Mark. Such a reading expresses interest in the final form of the Gospel (not its source or literary history) and in its words and images, literary devices, literary forms, structures, characterization, and plot. Reading Mark by Mark gives particular attention to the distinctive vocabulary and themes that run throughout the Gospel and serve to hold it together as a unified literary production. "Intertextuality" comprises the relation between texts and a textual tradition, and also referring to contextual materials not usually classified as texts (e.g., archaeological data). "Intertextuality" is used to note the links of the text of Mark's Gospel to other texts (especially the Old Testament) and to the life of the Markan community and of the Christian community today.

Insiders and Outsiders addresses various aspects of Jewish and Gentile interaction since the development of the German-Jewish literary and cultural identity in the early nineteenth century. Containing the work of prominent scholars, critics, and journalists involved with German-Jewish studies from around the world, this ambitious anthology of literary and cultural criticism suggests a reevaluation of important cultural and literary issues, including the problem of cultural diversity with regard to German-speaking countries and the question as to what constitutes German cultural identity in multicultural central Europe. This volume highlights the centrality of the Jewish presence in the heart of German and Austrian culture as well as the important role German culture played in Jewish society. While most previously published studies emphasize either the grandeur of German-Jewish achievement or the tragedy of these two cultures in contact, Insiders and Outsiders examines both the failures and the successes of this tense and troubling relationship. It suggests that rather than being the product of a nurturing multicultural environment, the achievements of German-Jewish intellectuals and poets grew out of friction, unrest, and discomfort.

Can Christian community be racially exclusive and still call itself faithful? In the United States, the story of Christianity has been intertwined with the story of race since the beginning. All too often, Christian leaders have fostered cultures that wound minority members instead of creating cultures that heal division. With this history of exclusion, all Christians must ask whether our churches practice the racial hospitality envisioned in the Scriptures. In this necessary conversation, minority pastors voice fatigue, signaling that church cultures are not as welcoming as they often claim to be. Outsiders on the Inside explores the history of race in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), comparing the denomination's core theological convictions with the experiences of Black PCA pastors. This is a story of racial fatigue and resilience, of learning to thrive in the midst of challenging environments. This study reveals areas for growth and opens up possibilities for Christians of all races and confessions to come together, creating a diverse, hospitable, and healing community.

Like yeast, parables are explosive stories of Jesus that invade our lives and transform us into citizens of the kingdom of God. But they are also cryptic, and thats where this book is useful. More than an explanation or interpretation of each parable, this definitive work is primarily an exercise in hermeneutics. In it, readers are taken through a process of discovering which sayings of Jesus are parables, problematic questions related to counting and categorizing them, and Jesus rationale for speaking in parables. The work then analyzes four distinct ways that parables are structured and three levels at which they do their work in us. The final chapter presents parable-related hermeneutical guidelines, and the book ends with seven extensive Appendices and two Indexes. It is a must read for every biblical scholar!

Seventeenth-century philosophy scholars come together in this volume to address the Insiders--Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, and Hobbes--and Outsiders--Pierre Gassendi, Kenelm Digby, Theophilus Gale, Ralph Cudworth and Nicholas Malebranche--of the philosocial canon, and the ways in which reputations are created and confirmed. In their own day, these ten figures were all considered to be thinkers of substantial repute, and it took some time for the Insiders to come to be regarded as major and original philosophers. Today these Insiders all feature in the syllabi of most history of philosophy courses taught in western universities, and the papers in this collection, contrasting the stories of their receptions with those of the Outsiders, give an insight into the history of philosophy which is generally overlooked.