The Spirit of Buddhism
by Dave Burnett
Published by Monarch Books(to come)
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Reviewed by Nicole M. Boals
Subtitled: A Christian Perspective on Buddhist Thought
The Spirit of Buddhism is a well-researched and very detailed introduction to Buddhism. It includes a focus on how the religion can be studied and discussed by Christians. Each chapter begins with a list of the main points of the chapter, followed by a detailed discussion of the topic, and finishes up with a list of helpful books and Web sites that can help you further your study. Each chapter also highlights one “topic for interfaith discussion” that can help Christians and Buddhists to discuss the concepts touched on.
The book begins with a historical look of the foundation of Buddhism, followed by an overview of the basic tenants and structure of the religion. The following chapters discuss the expansion of the religion into other countries including Tibet, China, and the west.
This is a great read for anyone who is interested in the Buddhist religion. It gives a fantastic historical introduction that will build a foundation for the further reading. The in-depth look at the spread of the religion across the world and the overview of practices and beliefs of Buddhists are written in plain and easy to read language. The pages giving further books and Web sites are extensive and informative and are the most valuable part of the book.
I was surprised by the lack of detailed comparison or discussion of Buddhism compared with Christianity. With the exception of the “topics for interfaith discussion” blurbs, there was not much that dealt with Christianity. Based on the title, I expected more comparison or discussion. The information presented is still very educational and will assist people of any religion in understanding Buddhism.
The Spirit of Buddhism is a great way to introduce yourself to the Buddhist religion. It is informative and well written and is an overall enjoyable read.
Armchair Interviews says: If you are looking to educate yourself on Buddhism, this book is well worth the read.
Author’s Web site: http://www.DaveBurnett.org