Divine Educators

Religious tolerance has emerged as a major issue in the early 21st century. Continued religious strife in different parts of the world, the rise of militancy and global terrorism have put the need for dialogue at the top of many government agendas. In a world where terrorism has led to misunderstandings about the true nature of religion, many people are either becoming entrenched in religious fundamentalism of one kind or another, or are turning away from religion altogether. Both are a tragedy, leaving millions worldwide without access to the spiritual heritage of humanity. But other signs point to a brighter future in the dawn of an ecumenical age, and in the growing acceptance of religious pluralism as a sign of social civility worldwide.
In writing Divine Educators, Farnaz and Bijan Ma'sumian have been not only spurred on by the current crisis in religious prejudice, but also encouraged by the increasing realization that despite diverse, sometimes conflicting, cultural expressions and human interpretations, all the great religious traditions of the world share a common foundation that fosters love, unity, and brotherhood. This book provides scriptural and historical evidence for commonalities in the lives, characters, and teachings of the central figures of seven world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Baha'i­ Faith, from the sources of each religious tradition, including the Bhagavad Gita, the Dhammapadha, the Gathas, the Hebrew Bible, the Gospels, the Qur án and the Writings of Baha'u'llah. It is bound to generate interest in the subject and further the cause of interfaith dialogue and understanding throughout the world.