In Search of the Christian Buddha: How an Asian Sage Became a Medieval Saint (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780393089158)

The story of Saint Josaphat, a prince who gave up his wealth and kingdom to follow Jesus, was one of the most popular Christian tales of the Middle Ages, translated into a dozen languages, and cited by Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice. Yet Josaphat is only remembered today because of the similarities of his life to that of the Buddha.

In Search of the Christian Buddha is set against the backdrop of the trade along the Silk Road, the Christian settlement of Palestine, the spread of Islam, and the Crusades. It traces the path of the Buddha's tale from India and shows how it evolved, adopting details from each culture during its sojourn. These early instances of globalization allowed not only goods but also knowledge to flow between different cultures and around much of the world.

Eminent scholars Donald S. Lopez Jr. and Peggy McCracken reveal how religions born thousands of miles apart shared ideas throughout the centuries. They uncover surprising convergences and divergences between these faiths on subjects including the meaning of death, the problem of desire, and their view of women. Demonstrating the incredible power of this tale, they ask not how stories circulate among religions but how religions circulate among stories.

Author: Donald S. Lopez, Peggy McCracken
ISBN-10: 0393089150
ISBN-13: 9780393089158
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Language: English
Published: 04/07/2014
Pages: 272
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.50h x 6.05w x 0.97d

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 02/10/2014
Kirkus Reviews 02/15/2014
Booklist 04/15/2014 pg. 3
Shelf Awareness 04/22/2014
Library Journal 07/01/2014 pg. 94
Choice 10/01/2014 pg. 276
Books & Culture 03/01/2015 pg. 28