In this unusual example of interreligious dialogue, twelve scholars -- six of them Christian six of them Buddhist -- speak freely and frankly about their personal relationship to the great religious leader of the other tradition. As one contributor puts it: "I love them both. I see them differently." While celebrating the "family likeness" between Jesus and the Buddha, the contributors frankly acknowledge the differences as well for it is at the points of difference that potentially there is the most opportunity for growth.

Buddhists Talk about Jesus, Christians Talk about Buddha, Rita M. Gross and Terry C. Muck (editors), Continuum, Paperback, 153 pp, $32.95

Rita M. Gross (1943�2015) was Professor Emerita of Comparative Studies in Religion at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. An important figure in the study of women in religion in general, she was also a Vajrayana Buddhist practitioner and teacher, appointed a lopon by Mindrolling Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche. She is the author, coauthor, or editor of eleven books including her classic Buddhism after Patriarchy: A Feminist History, Analysis, and Reconstruction of Buddhism.
Terry C. Muck (PhD, Northwestern University) has been a religious studies scholar for more than thirty-five years. Prior to his retirement, he served as executive director of the Louisville Institute after teaching for many years at Austin Presbyterian Seminary and Asbury Theological Seminary. Muck has authored or edited numerous books, including Christianity Encountering World Religions, Handbook of Religion, and Ministry and Theology in Global Perspective: Contemporary Challenges for the Church. He is cofounder and president of the Society for Buddhist Christian Studies and has been the lead writer for three Christian interfaith statements.