Neatly structured, tightly packed, and richly referenced, Kenneth Samples’ latest, God Among Sages, offers profiles of the lives and historical impact of rival leaders of the world’s major religions. The author provides just enough detail to make us informed about what each of these leaders set out to do, what they claimed about themselves, how they gained prominence, and what the overall effect of their lives turned out to be. Then he compares each of them—one-on-one—with Jesus of Nazareth. Taking a “fair and balanced” approach, Samples is never disparaging or denigrating in his analysis of these religious giants. Rather, by giving them each their due, Samples’ work shows us why, to their many respective followers, Krishna is so inspiring, the Buddha so significant, Confucius so profound, and Muhammed so dominant. But then…
Citing nearly countless sources that have done deep-dive studies on each of these prominent figures, he demonstrates how comingling them all with Jesus turns out to be a category error. That is, though they were all significant leaders who still influence millions, none of them can be rightfully placed alongside Jesus in terms of their ultimate impact on humankind. Acknowledging indisputable historical facts, contradictory truth claims, different self-stated missions, and radical differences in how their earthly lives played out and ended compared to Jesus, each of these human leaders turned out to be, well, human, and therefore flawed. And it is Jesus alone who demonstrably rises to the level of his own claim to be God incarnate—therefore flawless, victorious over death, and the exclusive path to salvation for all humanity.
Historically fastidious and duly charitable toward these rival teachers and leaders, Samples helpfully assesses them from many angles—their historicity, character, mission, role, and more—and then shows how they stack up to Jesus in the same categories. For example, Muhammed is a historical figure, but the account of his life in the Qur’an is mixed with legend and myth. He claimed to be merely a human prophet and example whose mission was to promote submission to Allah. His moral character was questionable as a polygamist and plunderer, then he died and remains dead. By contrast, the life and work of Jesus is rooted in testable history. He claimed to be God incarnate. His mission was to redeem sinful humanity. He lived a morally perfect earthly life then validated his claim to be Lord and Savior by dying and rising from the dead.
One of the fetching features of his book is how Samples offers summaries of his key analyses in table and chart form throughout for ease of reference and memory—like I will do here to make the key points of this review:
HOW GOD AMONG SAGES IS MOST HELPFUL
• Provides fair and balanced historical portraits of founders of Hinduism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Islam
• Neatly shows how major religious leaders’ lives and contributions compare to those of Jesus
• Makes a clear-eyed case for why the person and work of Jesus make him—literally—incomparable
Worth the price of the book by itself is his chapter on religious pluralism. This currently fashionable point of view that we can all find our own equally valid ways to God—politically correct though it may be—gets exposed by the pen of Samples to be deeply flawed and logically absurd.
God Among Sages is a precision instrument for the apologist’s tool kit. If you’re a Christian, this book’s capsule pictures of rival religious leaders will bolster your confidence in defending your faith against advocates for the alternatives described. If you’re not a Christian, reading this book will clarify for you the nature and origin of rival claims and promote your journey toward the truth.
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Kindle customer - Dublin, Ireland
Amazing book - a must read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 23, 2017Len D Schellenberg
It is a study book and not designed for easy light reading
Reviewed in Canada on September 16, 2017