View source for Religious perspectives on Jesus

{{Short description|Perspectives on Jesus among the world's religions}}
{{Jesus|expanded=all}}
The '''religious perspectives on Jesus''' vary among world religions.<ref name="BWell1">''The Blackwell Companion to Jesus'' edited by Delbert Burkett 2010 {{ISBN|1-4051-9362-X}} page 1 [https://books.google.com/books?id=5tjiiXkI_CUC&pg=PA526]</ref> [[Jesus]]' teachings and the retelling of his life story have significantly influenced the course of [[human history]], and have directly or indirectly affected the lives of billions of people, including non-Christians.<ref name=BWell1 /><ref>''The Cambridge companion to Jesus'' edited by Markus N. A. Bockmuehl 2001 {{ISBN|0-521-79678-4}} pages 156-157</ref><ref>''The historical Christ and the Jesus of faith'' by C. Stephen Evans 1996, Oxford University Press {{ISBN|0-19-826397-X}} page v</ref> He is considered by many to be one of the most influential persons to have ever lived, finding a significant place in numerous cultural contexts.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bauckham|first1=Richard|title=Jesus: A Very Short Introduction|date=2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=United States|isbn=978-0199575275|pages=1–2}}</ref>
 
In [[Jesus in Christianity|Christianity]], Jesus is the [[Messiah]] (Christ) foretold in the [[Old Testament]] and the [[Son of God]]. Christians believe that through his [[Crucifixion of Jesus|death]] and [[Resurrection of Jesus|resurrection]], humans can be reconciled to God and thereby are offered salvation and the promise of [[Eternal life (Christianity)|eternal life]].<ref name="Bibles' p.649">''Oxford Companion to the Bible'' p.649</ref> These beliefs emphasize that as the willing [[Lamb of God]], Jesus ''chose to'' suffer in [[Calvary]] as a sign of his full obedience to the will of his Father, as an "agent and servant of God".<ref name=anselm >''The Christology of Anselm of Canterbury'' by Dániel Deme 2004 {{ISBN|0-7546-3779-4}} pages 199-200</ref><ref name=Cullmann >''The Christology of the New Testament'' by Oscar Cullmann 1959 {{ISBN|0-664-24351-7}} page 79</ref> Christians view Jesus as a role model, whose God-focused life believers are encouraged to imitate.

In [[Islam]], Jesus (commonly transliterated as ''[[Islamic view of Jesus|Isa]]'') is the Messiah and one of God's highest-ranked and most-beloved [[prophets of Islam|prophets]]. Islam considers Jesus to be neither the incarnation nor the Son of God. He is referred to as the son of Mary in the Qu’ran.  Islamic texts emphasize a strict affirmation of monotheism (''[[tawhid]]'') and forbid the association of partners with God, which would be idolatry (''[[Shirk (Islam)|shirk]]'').

In the [[Druze]] faith, Jesus is considered one of God's important prophets and the [[Messiah]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Origins of the Druze People and Religion: With Extracts from Their Sacred Writings| first= Philip K.|last= Hitti|year= 1928| isbn= 9781465546623| page =37 |publisher=Library of Alexandria}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Druze in the Middle East: Their Faith, Leadership, Identity and Status| first= Nissim |last= Dana|year= 2008| isbn= 9781903900369| page =17 |publisher=Michigan University press}}</ref>

The [[Baháʼí Faith]] considers Jesus to be one of many [[Manifestation of God (Baháʼí Faith)|manifestations of God]], who are a series of personages who reflect the attributes of the divine into the human world. Baháʼís reject the idea that divinity was contained with a single human body.

Apart from his own [[Disciple (Christianity)|disciple]]s and followers, the [[Jews]] of Jesus' day generally rejected him as the Messiah, as do the great majority of Jews today. Mainstream [[Judaism|Jewish]] scholars argue that Jesus neither fulfilled the Messianic prophecies in the [[Tanakh]] nor embodied the personal qualifications of the Messiah. 

Other world religions such as [[Buddhism]] have no particular view on Jesus, and have but a minor intersection with Christianity.

For non-religious perspectives on Jesus, see [[historical Jesus]].
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==Christianity==
{{main article|Jesus in Christianity}}
{{See also|Ministry of Jesus|Parables of Jesus|Miracles of Jesus|Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament}}
Christian views of Jesus are based on the teachings and beliefs as outlined in the [[Canonical gospels]], [[New Testament|New Testament letters]], the [[List of Christian creeds|Christian creeds]], as well as specific denominational teachings. These documents outline the key beliefs held by Christians about Jesus, including his divinity, humanity, and earthly life, and that he is the Christ and the Son of God.<ref>{{cite book|last=Schreiner|first=Thomas R.|title=New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ|year=2008|publisher=Baker Academic|isbn=978-0-8010-2680-5|pages=23–37|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=elw8xkVeTTUC&pg=PA23}}</ref>

Although Christian views of Jesus vary, it is possible to summarize the key beliefs shared among major denominations, as stated in their [[catechism|catechetical]] or [[Confessionalism (religion)|confessional]] texts.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jackson|first= Gregory L. |title= Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant: a doctrinal comparison|year= 1993 |isbn= 978-0-615-16635-3| pages= 11–17 |publisher=Christian News}}</ref> Generally speaking, adhering to the Christian faith requires a belief that Jesus is the [[Son of God]] and the ''[[Messiah]]'' or ''[[Christ]]''. Jesus refers to himself as the Son of God in the New Testament.<ref name=OneTeacher >''One teacher: Jesus' teaching role in Matthew's gospel'' by John Yueh-Han Yieh 2004 {{ISBN|3-11-018151-7}} pages 240-241</ref>

Christians consider Jesus to be the Messiah (Christ) and believe that through [[Resurrection of Jesus|his death and resurrection]], humans can be reconciled to God and thereby are offered salvation and the promise of [[Eternal life (Christianity)|eternal life]].<ref name="Bibles' p.649" /> These teachings emphasize that as the willing [[Lamb of God]], Jesus ''chose to'' suffer in [[Calvary]] as a sign of his full obedience to the will of his Father, as an "agent and servant of God".<ref name="anselm"/><ref name="Cullmann"/> The choice Jesus made thus counter-positions him as a new man of morality and obedience, in contrast to [[Adam and Eve|Adam]]'s disobedience.<ref name=Pannenberg >''Systematic Theology, Volume 2'' by Wolfhart Pannenberg 2004 0567084663 ISBN pages 297-303</ref>

The five major milestones in the gospel narrative of the life of Jesus are his [[Baptism of Jesus|Baptism]], [[Transfiguration of Jesus|Transfiguration]], Crucifixion, Resurrection and [[Ascension of Jesus|Ascension]].<ref name=digby >''Essays in New Testament interpretation'' by Charles Francis Digby Moule 1982 {{ISBN|0-521-23783-1}} page 63</ref><ref>''The Melody of Faith: Theology in an Orthodox Key'' by Vigen Guroian 2010 {{ISBN|0-8028-6496-1}} page 28</ref><ref name=JBreck12 /> These are usually bracketed by two other episodes: his [[Nativity of Jesus|Nativity]] at the beginning and the sending of the [[Paraclete]] at the end.<ref name=digby /><ref name=JBreck12 >''Scripture in tradition'' by John Breck 2001 {{ISBN|0-88141-226-0}} page 12</ref> The gospel accounts of the teachings of Jesus are often presented in terms of specific categories involving his "works and words", e.g. his [[Ministry of Jesus|ministry]], [[Parables of Jesus|parables]] and [[Miracles of Jesus|miracles]].<ref name=Zuck100 >''The Bible Knowledge Commentary'' by John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck 1983 {{ISBN|0-88207-812-7}} page 100</ref><ref name=WPent212 >''The words and works of Jesus Christ'' by J. Dwight Pentecost 2000 {{ISBN|978-0-310-30940-6}} page 212</ref>  The words of Jesus include several sermons, in addition to parables that appear throughout the narrative of the [[Synoptic Gospels]] (the gospel of John includes no parables).

Christians not only attach theological significance to the works of Jesus, but also to his name. Devotions to the [[Holy Name of Jesus]] go back to the [[Early Christianity|earliest days of Christianity]].<ref name=Sylvester >''Outlines of dogmatic theology, Volume 2 by Sylvester Hunter 2010 {{ISBN|1-146-98633-5}} page 443</ref><ref name=Houlden >''Jesus: the complete guide'' by Leslie Houlden 2006 {{ISBN|0-8264-8011-X}} page 426</ref> These devotions and feasts exist both in [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern]] and [[Western Church|Western Christianity]].<ref name="Houlden"/>

===Incarnation===
{{Further information|Incarnation (Christianity)}}
Most Christians believe that Jesus was both human and the Son of God. While there has been theological debate over the nature of Jesus, [[Trinity|trinitarian]] Christians generally believe that Jesus is God incarnate, [[God the Son]], and the [[Holy Spirit]], thus "[[Hypostatic union|true God and true man]]," i.e. fully divine and fully human. Jesus, having become fully human in all respects, suffered the pains and temptations of a mortal man, yet he did not sin. As fully God, he defeated death and rose to life again. According to the [[New Testament]], [[God the Father]] raised him from the dead.<ref>{{bibleref2|Acts|2:24|NIV}}, {{bibleref2|Romans|10:9|NIV}}, {{bibleref2|1Cor|15:15|NIV}}, {{bibleref2|Acts|2:31-32}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Acts|3:15}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Acts|3:26}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Acts|4:10}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Acts|5:30}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Acts|10:40-41}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Acts|13:30}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Acts|13:34}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Acts|13:37}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Acts|17:30-31}}, {{bibleref2|1Cor|6:14}}, {{bibleref2|2Cor|4:14}}, {{bibleref2|Gal|1:1}}, {{bibleref2|Eph|1:20}}, {{bibleref2|Col|2:12}}, {{bibleref2|1Thess|1:10}}, {{bibleref2|Heb|13:20}}, {{bibleref2|1Pet|1:3}}, {{bibleref2-nb|1Pet|1:21}}</ref> He [[Ascension of Jesus|ascended to heaven]], to be [[Session of Christ|seated]] at the "[[right hand of God]],"<ref>{{bibleref2|Mark|16:19}}, {{bibleref2|Luke|22:69}}, {{bibleref2|Acts|2:33}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Acts|5:31}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Acts|7:55-56}}, {{bibleref2|Romans|8:34}}, {{bibleref2|Eph|1:20}}, {{bibleref2|Col|3:1}}, {{bibleref2|Hebrews|1:3}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Hebrews|1:13}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Hebrews|10:12}}, {{bibleref2-nb|Hebrews|12:2}}, {{bibleref2|1Peter|3:22}}</ref> and he will [[Second Coming|return again]] for the [[Last Judgment]] and the establishment of the [[Kingdom of God]].<ref>cf. {{Bibleref2|John|14:1-3}}, {{Bibleref2|Acts|1:10-11}}, {{Bibleref2|Luke|21:27}}, {{Bibleref2|Revelation|1:7}}</ref>

==Islam==
{{main article|Jesus in Islam}}
{{See also|Jesus in Ahmadiyya Islam}}
In Islam, Jesus (''Isa'') is considered to be a [[Apostle (Islam)|messenger]] of God (''[[Allah]]'') and the Messiah (''[[Messiah#Islam|al-Masih]]'') who was sent to guide the [[Israelites|Descendants of Israel]] (''Bani Isra'il'') with a new scripture, the Gospel (''[[Injil]]'').<ref name="CEI">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D7tu12gt4JYC&pg=PA270 | title=Concise Encyclopedia of Islam | publisher=Rowman & Littlefield | last=Glassé | first=Cyril | year=2008 | pages=270–271 | isbn=978-0-7425-6296-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Oxford Dictionary of Islam|year=2003|first=John L. |last=Esposito |page= 158|publisher=Oxford University Press| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E324pQEEQQcC&pg=PA159 |isbn=978-0-19-975726-8}}</ref>

The [[Quran]] mentions Jesus by name 25 times—more often than [[Muhammad]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Aboul-Enein|first=Youssef H.|title=Militant Islamist Ideology: Understanding the Global Threat|year=2010|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=978-1-61251-015-6|page=20|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tX3suVDTJz0C&pg=PA20}}</ref>—and emphasises that Jesus was a mortal human who, like all other prophets, had been divinely chosen to spread God's message.<ref name="comparative">{{cite book|title=Comparative Religious Ethics: A Narrative Approach|first1=Darrell J.|last1=Fasching|first2=Dell|last2=deChant|year=2001|pages=[https://archive.org/details/comparativerelig0000fasc/page/241 241, 274–275]|isbn=978-0-631-20125-0|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|url=https://archive.org/details/comparativerelig0000fasc/page/241}}</ref> Unlike Christian writings, the Quran does not describe Jesus as the [[son of God]], but as one of four major human [[Rasūl|messengers]] (out of many [[Prophets of Islam|prophets]]) sent by God throughout history to guide mankind.<ref>{{cite book|title=Mystical Dimensions of Islam|url=https://archive.org/details/mysticaldimensio00schi|url-access=registration|publisher=Chapel Hill:University of North Carolina Press|author=Annemarie Schimmel|date=1975|page=[https://archive.org/details/mysticaldimensio00schi/page/202 202]}}</ref> Jesus is said to have lived a life of piety and generosity, and abstained from eating flesh of swine.

Muslims also believe that Jesus received a Gospel from God, called the ''Injil''. However, Muslims hold that Jesus' original message was [[tahrif|lost or altered]] and that the Christian New Testament does not accurately represent God's original message to mankind.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|editor-last=Bockmuehl |editor-first= Markus N. A. |title=Quests for the historical Jesus |first=James C. |last=Paget |year=2001|encyclopedia= Cambridge companion to Jesus|publisher= Cambridge University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vSehrtQpcYcC&pg=PA183 |isbn=978-0-521-79678-1|page=183}}</ref>

Despite major differences, the Quran and New Testament overlap in other aspects of Jesus' life; both Muslims and Christians believe that Jesus was miraculously born without a human biological father by the will of God, and that his mother, Mary (''[[Mary in Islam|Maryam]]'' in Arabic), is among the most saintly, pious, chaste and virtuous women ever.<ref>Esposito, John. ''What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam''. New York: University Press, 2002. P31.</ref> The Quran also specifies that Jesus was able to perform [[miracle]]s&mdash;though only by the will of God&mdash;including being able to raise the dead, restore sight to the blind and cure lepers.<ref>{{cite book|last=Morgan|first=Diane|title=Essential Islam: A Comprehensive Guide to Belief and Practice|year=2010|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-36025-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/essentialislamco0000morg/page/45 45]–46|url=https://archive.org/details/essentialislamco0000morg|url-access=registration}}</ref> One miracle attributed to Jesus in the Quran, but not in the New Testament, is his being able to speak at only a few days old, to defend his mother from accusations of [[adultery]].<ref>{{qref|19|27-33|b=y}}</ref> It also says that Jesus was a 'word' from God, since he was predicted to come in the [[Old Testament]].

Most Muslims believe that he was neither killed nor crucified, but that God made it appear so to his enemies. With the noteworthy exception of [[Ahmadi]] Muslims who believe that Jesus was indeed put on the cross, survived the crucifixion and was not lifted bodily to the heaven, the majority of Muslims believe that Jesus ascended bodily to heaven and is alive. Some Muslim scholars maintain that Jesus was indeed put up on the cross, but did not die on it; rather, he revived and then ascended bodily to heaven. Others say that it was actually [[Judas Iscariot]] who was mistakenly crucified by the Romans. Regardless, Muslims believe that Jesus is alive in [[heaven]] and will return to the world in the flesh to defeat the [[Antichrist]], once the world has become filled with sin, deception and injustice, and then live out the rest of his natural life.<ref name="CEI"/>

Islam rejects the [[Trinity|Trinitarian Christian]] view that Jesus was [[Incarnation (Christianity)|God incarnate]] or the son of God, that he was ever crucified or resurrected or that he ever [[Atonement in Christianity|atoned]] for the sins of mankind. The Quran says that Jesus himself, when asked by God if he said that people shall regard him and Mary as gods, will deny this.{{qref|5|116|b=y|s=y}}

==Judaism==
{{Main article|Judaism's view of Jesus}}
[[Judaism]] rejects the idea of Jesus being God, or a person of a Trinity, or a mediator to God. Judaism also holds that Jesus is not the [[Jewish Messianism|Messiah]], arguing that he had not fulfilled the [[Messianic prophecies]] in the [[Tanakh]] nor embodied the personal qualifications of the Messiah. According to Jewish tradition, there were no more prophets after [[Malachi]], who lived centuries before Jesus and delivered his prophesies about 420 BC.<ref>[[Shraga Simmons|Simmons, Shraga]], "[http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/jewishsociety/Why_Jews_Dont_Believe_In_Jesus.asp Why Jews Do not Believe in Jesus]", Retrieved April 15, 2007; "[http://ohr.edu/ask_db/ask_main.php/2637/Q1/ Why Jews Do not Believe in Jesus]", [[Ohr Somayach, Jerusalem|Ohr Samayach]]&nbsp;— ''Ask the Rabbi'', Retrieved April 15, 2007; "[http://www.askmoses.com/qa_detail.html?h=120&o=350 Why do not Jews believe that Jesus was the Messiah?]", [[AskMoses.com]], Retrieved April 15, 2007</ref>

According to [[Conservative Judaism]], Jews who believe Jesus is the Messiah have "crossed the line out of the Jewish community".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uscj.org/Messianic_Jews_Not_J5480.html|title=Messianic Jews Are Not Jews|access-date=January 15, 2008|last=Waxman|first=Jonathan|year=2006|publisher=[[United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism]]|quote=Judaism has held that the Mashiach will come and usher in a new era; not that he will proclaim his arrival, die and wait centuries to finish his task. To continue to assert that Jesus was the Mashiach goes against the belief that the Mashiach will transform the world when he does come, not merely hint at a future transformation at some undefined time to come... Judaism rejects the claim that a new covenant was created with Jesus and asserts instead that the chain of Tradition reaching back to Moshe continues to make valid claims on our lives, and serve as more than mere window dressing. |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080109024012/http://uscj.org/Messianic_Jews_Not_J5480.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = January 9, 2008}}</ref> [[Reform Judaism]], the modern progressive movement, states "For us in the Jewish community anyone who claims that Jesus is their savior is no longer a Jew and is an [[apostate]]".<ref>Contemporary American Reform Responsa, #68, "[http://www.faqs.org/faqs/judaism/FAQ/10-Reform/section-15.html Question 18.3.4: Reform's Position On...What is unacceptable practice?]", faqs.org. Retrieved April 15, 2007.</ref>

===Jesus in Jewish writings===
{{See also|Jesus in the Talmud}}
The [[Babylonian Talmud]] includes stories of ''[[Yeshu]]'' {{lang|he|יֵשׁוּ}}; the vast majority of contemporary historians disregard these as sources about the [[historical Jesus]].<ref name="TM1998">Theissen, Gerd and Annette Merz. The historical Jesus: a comprehensive guide. Fortress Press. 1998. translated from German (1996 edition)</ref> Contemporary Talmud scholars hold similar views, as well as considering the stories to be commentary about the relationship between Judaism and Christians or other sectarians.<ref>Daniel Boyarin, ''Dying for God: Martyrdom and the Making of Christianity and Judaism'' Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1999</ref><ref>Jeffrey Rubenstein ''Rabbinic Stories'' (The Classics of Western Spirituality) New York: The Paulist Press, 2002</ref>

The ''[[Mishneh Torah]]'', a 12th century authoritative work of [[halakha|Jewish law]], states in ''Hilkhot Melakhim'' 11:10–11 that Jesus mislead most of the world to worship other gods but that his ultimate purpose is to "prepare the entire world to serve God together".
{{blockquote|Even Jesus the Nazarene who thought he would be the [[Jewish Messiah|Messiah]] and was killed by the court, was already prophesied by [[Daniel (biblical figure)|Daniel]]. So that it was said, "And the outlaws of your nation shall rise up to set forth a (prophetic) vision, and they will stumble."<ref>{{bibleverse|Dan.|11:14}}</ref> There is a greater obstacle than this: All the [[prophet]]s spoke that the Messiah would redeem Israel, and save them, and gather their banished ones, and strengthen their commandments. This caused Israel to perish by the sword, and to scatter their remnant, and to humiliate them, and to change the Torah, and to mislead most of the world into worshiping gods other than God.<br><br>
However, the thoughts of the Creator of the world - there is no power in man to attain them, because our ways are not His ways, nor our thoughts His thoughts. And all these words of Jesus the Nazarene, and of the [[Ishmael]]ite who stood after Him - their purpose is but to pave the way for the Messiah, the King, and to prepare the entire world to serve the Lord together; As it is said, "For then I will turn to the nations (giving them) a pure language, to call all of them in the name of the Lord, and together serve Him of one accord".<ref>{{bibleverse|Zeph.|3:9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Book 14, Hilchot Malachim, 11:10-11 |language=he |url=https://mechon-mamre.org/i/e511.htm |website=mechon-mamre.org |publisher=M.Mamre |access-date=2 March 2025 |date=9 April 2023}}</ref>}}

==Baháʼí Faith==
The [[Baháʼí Faith]] consider Jesus to be a [[Manifestation of God (Baháʼí Faith)|manifestation of God]], who are a series of personages who reflect the attributes of the divine into the human world for the progress and advancement of human morals and civilization.<ref name="manifestation">{{cite journal | first = Juan | last = Cole | title = The Concept of Manifestation in the Baháʼí Writings| year = 1982 | journal = [[Baháʼí studies#Journals|Études Baháʼí Studies]] | volume = monograph 9 | pages = 1–38 | url = http://bahai-library.com/cole_concept_manifestation |via=Bahá'í Library Online}}</ref> In Baháʼí belief, the Manifestations have always been sent by God, and always will, as part of the single [[progressive revelation (Baháʼí)|progressive religion]] from God bringing more teachings through time to help humanity progress.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last= Smith |first= Peter |encyclopedia= A concise encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith |title= Progressive revelation |year= 2000 |publisher= Oneworld Publications |location= Oxford |isbn= 1-85168-184-1 |pages= [https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope0000smit/page/276 276–277] |url= https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope0000smit/page/276 }}</ref> The Manifestations of God are taught to be "one and the same", and in their relationship to one another have both the station of unity and the station of distinction.<ref name="manifestation" /> In this way each Manifestation of God manifested the Word of God and taught the same religion, with modifications for the particular audience's needs and culture. [[Bahá'u'lláh]] wrote that since each Manifestation of God has the same divine attributes, they can be seen as the spiritual "return" of all the previous Manifestations of God.<ref name="manifestation" /> In this way, Baháʼís believe that Bahá'u'lláh is, in both respects, the return of Jesus.

==Druze==
[[File:Maqam Al-masih.jpg|thumb|The Druze [[Maqam (shrine)|maqam]] of Al-masih (Jesus) in [[As-Suwayda Governorate]] ]]
In the [[Druze]] faith, Jesus is considered one of God's important prophets and the [[Messiah]],<ref>{{cite book|title=The Origins of the Druze People and Religion: With Extracts from Their Sacred Writings| first= Philip K.|last= Hitti|year= 1928| isbn= 9781465546623| page =37 |publisher=Library of Alexandria}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Druze in the Middle East: Their Faith, Leadership, Identity and Status| first= Nissim |last= Dana|year= 2008| isbn= 9781903900369| page =17 |publisher=Michigan University press}}</ref> being among the seven prophets who appeared in different periods of history.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Origins of the Druze People and Religion: With Extracts from Their Sacred Writings| first= Philip K.|last= Hitti|year= 1928| isbn= 9781465546623| page =37 |publisher=Library of Alexandria}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Druze in the Middle East: Their Faith, Leadership, Identity and Status| first= Nissim |last= Dana|year= 2008| isbn= 9781903900369| page =17 |publisher=Michigan University press}}</ref> The Druze venerate [[Jesus]] "the son of [[Saint Joseph|Joseph]] and [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Mary]]" and his [[Four Evangelists|four disciples]], who wrote the Gospels.<ref name="Dana47">{{cite book|title=The Druze in the Middle East: Their Faith, Leadership, Identity and Status| first= Nissim |last= Dana|year= 2008| isbn= 978-1-903900-36-9| page =47 |publisher=Michigan University press}}</ref> In the [[Druze]] tradition, Jesus is known under three titles: the True Messiah (''al-Masih al-Haq''), the Messiah of all Nations (''Masih al-Umam''), and the Messiah of Sinners. This is due, respectively, to the belief that Jesus delivered the true Gospel message, the belief that he was the Saviour of all nations, and the belief that he offers forgiveness.<ref>{{cite book|title=The A to Z of the Druzes| first= Samy |last=Swayd|year= 2019| isbn=9780810870024| page =88 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|quote=Jesus is known in the Druze tradition as the “True Messiah” (al-Masih al-Haq), for he delivered what Druzes view as the true message. He is also referred to as the “Messiah of the Nations” (Masih al-Umam) because he was sent to the world as "Masih of Sins" because he is the one who forgives.}}</ref> 

According to the Druze manuscripts Jesus is the Greatest Imam and the incarnation of Ultimate [[Reason]] (Akl) on earth and the first cosmic principle (Hadd),<ref name="Dana47" /> and regards Jesus and [[Hamza ibn Ali]] as the incarnations of one of the five great celestial powers, who form part of their system.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Princeton Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought|first=Patricia|last= Crone|year= 2013| isbn=9780691134840| page =139|publisher=Princeton University Press|quote=}}</ref> Druze believe that Hamza ibn Ali was a [[reincarnation]] of Jesus,<ref>{{cite book|title=The Princeton Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought|first=David |last= S. Sorenson|year= 2008| isbn=9780429975042| page =239|publisher=Routledge|quote=They further believe that Hamza ibn Ali was a reincarnation of many prophets, including Christ, Plato, Aristotle.}}</ref> and that [[Hamza ibn Ali]] is the true Messiah, who directed the deeds of the messiah Jesus "the son of Joseph and Mary", but when Jesus "the son of Joseph and Mary" strayed from the path of the true Messiah, Hamza filled the hearts of the Jews with hatred for him - and for that reason, they crucified him, according to the Druze manuscripts.<ref name="Dana47"/><ref name="Louis">{{cite book|title=The Passion of Al-Hallaj, Mystic and Martyr of Islam, Volume 1: The Life of Al-Hallaj| first= Louis |last= Massignon|year= 2019| isbn= 9780691610832| page =594 |publisher=Princeton University Press}}</ref> Despite this, [[Hamza ibn Ali]] took him down from the cross and allowed him to return to his family, in order to prepare men for the preaching of his religion.<ref name="Dana47" />

In an epistle ascribed to one of the founders of Druzism, [[Baha al-Din al-Muqtana]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Muslim-Jewish Encounters|first=Ronald|last= Nettler|year= 2014| isbn=9781134408542| page =140 |publisher=Routledge|quote=...One example of Druze anti—Jewish bias is contained in an epistle ascribed to one of the founders of Druzism, Baha al-Din}}</ref> probably written sometime between AD 1027 and AD 1042, accused the Jews of [[crucifixion of Jesus|crucifying Jesus]].<ref name="The War for Palestine1">{{cite book|title=The War for Palestine: Rewriting the History of 1948| first=Eugene |last= L. Rogan|year= 2011| isbn=9780521794763| page =73|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] }}</ref>

==Other==
Traditionally, [[Buddhists]] as a group take no particular view on Jesus, and [[Buddhism and Christianity]] have but a minor intersection. However, some scholars have noted similarities between the life and teachings of [[Gautama Buddha]] and Jesus. These similarities might be attributed to Buddhist missionaries sent as early as Emperor [[Ashoka]] around 250 BC in many of the Greek [[Seleucid]] kingdoms that existed then and then later became the same regions in which Christianity began.<ref>Old World Encounters. Cross-cultural contacts and exchanges in pre-modern times" by Jerry H.Bentley (Oxford University Press, 1993) {{ISBN|0-19-507639-7}}</ref> 

Jesus was seen as the saviour and bringer of [[gnosis]] by various [[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] sects, such as the quasi-extinct [[Manichaeism]]. 

The Vietnamese syncretic religion [[Cao Dai]] locates Jesus in the celestial Council of Great Spirits that directs the universe.<ref name="Blagov">{{cite book |last1=Blagov |first1=Serguei A. |title=Caodaism: Vietnamese Traditionalism and Its Leap Into Modernity |date=2001 |publisher=Nova Publishers |isbn=978-1-59033-150-7 |page=53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fzKjJndNTjIC&q=jesus&pg=PA40 |access-date=3 March 2021 |language=en |chapter=5: Caodaist Hierarchy and Ritials [sic]}}</ref>

In the [[Jesus in Ahmadiyya Islam|Ahmadiyya Islamic view]], Jesus survived the crucifixion and later travelled to [[India]], where he lived as a prophet (and died) under the name of [[Yuz Asaf]].

According to ''[[The Urantia Book]]'', Jesus was one of numerous sons of God named Michael of Nebadon, who took on earthly incarnation.<ref>{{cite book |last=House |first=Wayne |title=Charts of Cults, Sects and Religious Movements |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rRbKQwAACAAJ |publisher=[[Zondervan]] |year=2000 |page=262|isbn=9780310385516 }}</ref>

In [[Raëlism]], Jesus and several other religious figures are considered prophets sent by an extraterrestrial race called the [[Elohim]].<ref name="other views">{{cite book | last =Hutson | first =Steven | title =What They Never Taught You in Sunday School: A Fresh Look at Following Jesus | publisher =City Boy Enterprises | year =2006 | page =57 | isbn = 978-1-59886-300-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sVnT_hSpSBAC&pg=PA57 }}</ref> 

The [[Religious Science]] movement considers Jesus to be a teacher of “Science of Mind”.<ref name="other views" /><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jashow.org/Articles/_PDFArchives/apologetics/AP2W0105.pdf | title=What Does Religious Science Teach About Jesus? | publisher=Ankerberg Theological Research Institute | access-date=June 13, 2013|first1=John |last1=Ankerberg |first2=John |last2=Weldon }}</ref>

The [[Lacandon people]] of Central America acknowledge Äkyantho', the god of foreigners. He has a son named Hesuklistos (Jesus Christ) who is supposed to be the god of the foreigners. They recognize that Hesuklistos is a god but do not feel he is worthy of worship as he is a minor god.<ref name="Mc1">McGee, Jon (2002) "Watching Lacandon Maya Lives," Boston: Allyn and Bacon.</ref>

Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no established set of beliefs and thus no universal or common view of Jesus. However, a lot of Hindus, including religious and political leaders, tend to variously venerate Jesus as either a [[Acharya|Āchārya]], [[Sadhu]] or [[Avatar]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reform-magazine.co.uk/2016/09/a-hindus-jesus/|title=A Hindu's Jesus &#124; Reform Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wallace |first=J. Warner |date=2017-12-04 |title=Who Is Jesus, According to Other Religions? {{!}} Cold Case Christianity |url=https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/who-is-jesus-according-to-other-religions/ |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=coldcasechristianity.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Braun |first=Henrik |date=2023-05-01 |title=Was Jesus a Hindu avatar? |url=https://catholicismcoffee.org/was-jesus-a-hindu-avatar-5958ea10f8d9-catholicism-coffee-5958ea10f8d9 |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref> Some Hindus and [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness|Hare Krishnas]] also claim that Jesus was [[Prediction|predicted]] or [[Prophecy|prophesied]] in the scripture [[Bhavishya Purana]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dāsa |first=Maitreya Ṛṣi |date=2021-01-13 |title=What do the Hare Krishnas think about Jesus Christ? |url=https://www.expandthebliss.com/post/predictions-in-the-vedas-about-lord-jesus-christ |access-date=2023-12-03 |website=Krishna devotees London |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Christianity and world religions]]
*[[Life of Jesus in the New Testament]]
*[[Master Jesus]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{cite journal|last=Slade|first=Darren M.|title=Arabia Haeresium Ferax (Arabia Bearer of Heresies): Schismatic Christianity's Potential Influence on Muhammad and the Qur'an|journal=American Theological Inquiry|date=January 2014|volume=7|issue=1|pages=43–53|url=https://www.academia.edu/7928101|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202093241/http://atijournal.org/ATI_Vol7_No1.pdf|archive-date=2014-02-02}}

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[[Category:Religious belief and doctrine|Jesus]]