Jesus

==Religious perspectives==
{{Main|Religious perspectives on Jesus}}
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, even non-Christians.<ref>''The Cambridge companion to Jesus'' edited by Markus N. A. Bockmuehl 2001 {{ISBN|0-521-79678-4}} pp. 156–157.</ref><ref>C. Stephen Evans (1996)''. The historical Christ and the Jesus of faith'', Oxford University Press {{ISBN|0-19-826397-X}} p. v.</ref> He is considered by many people to be the most influential figure 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><ref>{{cite news |first1=Steven |last1=Skiena |first2=Charles B. |last2=Ward |date=10 January 2014 |title=Who's the most significant historical figure? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/30/whos-most-significant-historical-figure |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=10 August 2023 |archive-date=4 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204180532/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jan/30/whos-most-significant-historical-figure |url-status=live }}</ref>

Apart from his own disciples and followers,<ref>{{Cite book |title=Jewish believers in Jesus: the early centuries |last1=Skarsaune |first1=Oskar |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-56563-763-4 |page=55 |last2=Hvalvik |first2=Reidar |url=https://archive.org/details/jewishbelieversi0000unse/page/55}}</ref> the Jews of Jesus' day generally [[Rejection of Jesus|rejected him as the messiah]],{{sfn|Levine|2007|p=61}} as does Judaism today.{{sfn|Levine|2007|p=17}} Christian theologians, [[ecumenical council]]s, reformers and others have written extensively about Jesus over the centuries. [[Christian denomination]]s have often been defined or characterized by their descriptions of Jesus. Meanwhile, [[Manichaeism|Manichaeans]], [[Gnosticism|Gnostics]], [[Muslims]], [[Druze]]s,<ref name=Hitti>{{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= 978-1-4655-4662-3| page =37 |publisher=Library of Alexandria}}</ref> the [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼís]], and others, have found prominent places for Jesus in their religions.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |year=2001 |title=The quest for the real Jesus |encyclopedia=Cambridge companion to Jesus |publisher=Cambridge University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vSehrtQpcYcC&pg=PA156 |access-date=14 August 2015 |last=Watson |first=Francis |editor-last=Bockmuehl |editor-first=Markus N. A. |pages=156–157 |isbn=978-0-521-79678-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910064807/https://books.google.com/books?id=vSehrtQpcYcC&pg=PA156 |archive-date=10 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The historical Christ and the Jesus of faith|first= C. Stephen|last= Evans |year=1996|publisher= Oxford University Press| isbn= 978-0-19-152042-6 |page= v}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Blackwell Companion to Jesus|last= Delbert|first= Burkett|year= 2010| isbn= 978-1-4443-5175-0 |page= 1 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons}}</ref>

===Christianity===
{{Main|Jesus in Christianity|Christ (title)|Christology}}
[[File:Shield-Trinity-Scutum-Fidei-English.svg|thumb|right|The [[Trinity]] is the belief in Christianity that God is one God in three persons: [[God the Father]], [[God the Son]] ([[Jesus in Christianity|Jesus]]), and [[Holy Spirit (Christianity)|God the Holy Spirit]].]]
[[File:Christ with beard.jpg|thumb|right|Jesus is depicted with the [[Alpha and Omega]] letters in the [[Catacombs of Rome]] from the 4th&nbsp;century.]]

Jesus is the central figure of Christianity.{{sfn|McGrath|2006|pp=4–6}} Although Christian views of Jesus vary, it is possible to summarize the key beliefs shared among major [[Christian denomination|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><ref>{{cite book|title=The Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Its History, Doctrine|first= John A.|last= McGuckin |year=2010| pages= 6–7 |isbn=978-1-4443-9383-5 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Basic Christian doctrine|last=Leith|first=John H.|year= 1993 |isbn= 978-0-664-25192-5 |pages= 1–2 |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press}}</ref> Christian views of Jesus are derived from the texts of the [[New Testament]], including the [[canonical gospels]] and letters such as the [[Pauline epistles]] and the [[Johannine writings]]. 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 (Christianity)|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|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910052649/https://books.google.com/books?id=elw8xkVeTTUC&pg=PA23|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite their many shared beliefs, not all Christian denominations agree on all doctrines, and both [[East–West Schism|major and minor differences]] on teachings and beliefs have persisted throughout Christianity for centuries.{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|2005|loc=Great Schism}}

The New Testament states that the [[resurrection of Jesus]] is the foundation of the Christian faith.<ref>[[wikisource:Bible (American Standard)/1 Corinthians#15:12|1 Corinthians 15:12–20]].</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/137622/The-Letter-of-Paul-to-the-Corinthians | title=The Letter of Paul to the Corinthians | encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica | access-date=26 June 2013 | archive-date=12 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512045839/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/137622/The-Letter-of-Paul-to-the-Corinthians | url-status=live }}</ref> Christians believe that through his sacrificial death and resurrection, humans can be [[reconciliation (theology)|reconciled with God]] and are thereby offered [[Salvation in Christianity|salvation]] and the promise of [[Eternal life (Christianity)|eternal life]].<ref name="Oxford Companion">{{cite book|title=Oxford Companion to the Bible|first1=Bruce M.|last1= Metzger|first2= Michael D.|last2= Coogan| page= [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195046458/page/649 649]| publisher=Oxford University Press|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195046458 |url-access=registration|isbn=978-0-19-974391-9|year=1993}}</ref> Recalling the words of [[John the Baptist]] in the [[gospel of John]], these doctrines sometimes refer to Jesus as the [[Lamb of God]], who was crucified to fulfill his role as the servant of God.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Christology of the New Testament|first= Oscar |last=Cullmann |year=1959 |isbn= 978-0-664-24351-7| page= 79 |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Christology of Anselm of Canterbury|first= Dániel|last= Deme|year= 2004| isbn= 978-0-7546-3779-0 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |pages= 199–200}}</ref> Jesus is thus seen as the [[new Adam|new and last Adam]], whose obedience contrasts with [[Fall of man|Adam's disobedience]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Systematic Theology| volume= 2|first= Wolfhart |last=Pannenberg |author-link=Wolfhart Pannenberg |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-567-08466-8 |pages= 297–303 |publisher=Continuum}}</ref> Christians view Jesus as a role model, whose God-focused life believers are encouraged to imitate.{{sfn|McGrath|2006|pp=4–6}}

At present, most Christians believe that Jesus is both human and the Son of God.{{sfn|Ehrman|2014}} While there has been [[Christological controversies|theological debate]] over his nature,{{efn|Following the [[Apostolic Age]], there was fierce and often politicized debate in the [[Early centers of Christianity|early church]] on many interrelated issues. [[Christology]] was a major focus of these debates, and was addressed at every one of the [[first seven ecumenical councils]]. Some early beliefs viewed Jesus as ontologically subordinate to the Father ([[Subordinationism]]), and others considered him an aspect of the Father rather than a separate person ([[Sabellianism]]), both were condemned as heresies by the Catholic Church.<ref name=Britannica />{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|2005|loc=Antitrinitarianism}} The Church resolved the issues in ancient councils, which established the Holy Trinity, with Jesus both fully human and fully God.<ref name=Britannica />}} Trinitarian Christians generally believe that Jesus is the Logos, God's incarnation and [[God the Son]], both fully divine and fully human. However, the doctrine of the Trinity is not universally accepted among Christians.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Antitrinitarianism|url=http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/A597.html|last=Friedmann|first=Robert|encyclopedia=Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia|access-date=24 October 2012|archive-date=20 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020232847/http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/A597.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Blessed Trinity|first=George H. |last= Joyce}}</ref> With the [[Reformation]], Christians such as [[Michael Servetus]] and the [[Socinian]]s started questioning the ancient creeds that had established Jesus' two natures.<ref name="Britannica" /> Nontrinitarian Christian groups include [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]],<ref>{{citation |title= Mormonism 101: What is Mormonism |url=http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormonism-101 |work= MormonNewsroom.org |publisher= LDS Church |access-date= 21 October 2014 |date= 13 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021175426/http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormonism-101 |archive-date= 21 October 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Unitarianism|Unitarians]] and [[Jehovah's Witnesses]].{{sfn|Cross|Livingstone|2005 |loc=Antitrinitarianism}}

Christians revere not only Jesus himself, but also [[Name of Jesus|his name]]. Devotions to the [[Holy Name of Jesus]] go back to the earliest days of Christianity.<ref>{{cite book|title=Outlines of dogmatic theology | volume=2 |first= Sylvester |last=Hunter|year= 2010| isbn= 978-1-177-95809-7 |page= 443 |publisher=Nabu Press}}</ref>{{sfn|Houlden|2006|p=426}} These devotions and feasts exist in both [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern]] and [[Western Christianity]].{{sfn|Houlden|2006|p=426}}

===Judaism's view===
{{Main|Judaism's view of Jesus}}
{{See also|Jesus in the Talmud}}

Judaism rejects the idea of Jesus (or any future Jewish messiah) being God,<ref name="JE1906" /> or a mediator to God, or part of a Trinity.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kessler|first=Ed|title=Jesus the Jew|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/thepassion/articles/jesus_the_jew.shtml|publisher=BBC|access-date=18 June 2013|archive-date=7 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207081354/http://www.bbc.co.uk/thepassion/articles/jesus_the_jew.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> It holds that Jesus is not the messiah, arguing that he neither fulfilled the messianic prophecies in the [[Tanakh]] nor embodied the personal qualifications of the messiah.<ref>{{cite book |first=Asher |last=Norman |title=Twenty-six reasons why Jews don't believe in Jesus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tx5qrKz6dRMC&pg=PA59 |publisher=Feldheim Publishers |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-9771937-0-7 |pages=59–70 |access-date=14 August 2015 |archive-date=10 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910065007/https://books.google.com/books?id=tx5qrKz6dRMC&pg=PA59 |url-status=live }}</ref> Jews argue that Jesus did not fulfill prophecies to build the [[Third Temple]],<ref>{{Bibleverse|Ezekiel|37:26–28|HE}}.</ref> gather Jews back to Israel,<ref>{{Bibleverse|Isaiah|43:5–6|HE}}.</ref> bring world peace,<ref>{{Bibleverse|Isaiah|2:4|HE}}.</ref> and unite humanity under the God of Israel.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Zechariah|14:9|HE}}.</ref><ref name="simmons">{{Cite web |last=Tzvi |date=9 May 2009 |others=Simmons, Rabbi Shraga |title=Do Jews Believe In Jesus? {{!}} Aish |url=https://aish.com/why-jews-dont-believe-in-jesus/ |access-date=24 July 2023 |website=Aish.com |language=en-US |archive-date=25 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825033652/https://aish.com/why-jews-dont-believe-in-jesus/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Furthermore, according to Jewish tradition, there were no prophets after [[Malachi]],<ref>{{cite web |last= Simmons |first= Shraga |url=http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/jewishsociety/Why_Jews_Dont_Believe_In_Jesus.asp |title= Why Jews Do not Believe in Jesus |date= 6 March 2004 |publisher= Aish.com |access-date= 24 February 2006 |archive-date= 16 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060316040138/http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/jewishsociety/Why_Jews_Dont_Believe_In_Jesus.asp |url-status= live }}</ref> who delivered his prophecies in the 5th century BC.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Malachi, Book of | encyclopedia=Jewish Encyclopedia | access-date=3 July 2013 |url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10321-malachi-book-of | archive-date=18 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518045350/http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10321-malachi-book-of | url-status=live }}</ref>

Judaic criticism of Jesus is long-standing, and includes a [[Jesus in the Talmud|range of stories]] in the [[Talmud]], written and compiled from the 3rd to the 5th century AD.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title=Talmud | encyclopedia=Jewish Encyclopedia | access-date=3 July 2013 |url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/14213-talmud | archive-date=6 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906061120/http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=32&letter=T | url-status=live }}</ref> In one such story, ''[[Yeshu]] HaNozri'' ("Jesus the Nazarene"), a lewd apostate, is executed by the Jewish high court for spreading idolatry and practising magic.<ref>{{cite book |title=A Dictionary of Jewish-Christian Relations |first1=Edward |last1=Kessler |first2=Neil |last2=Wenborn |year=2005 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-139-44750-8 |page=416 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QkI_JNv3rIwC&pg=PA416 |access-date=14 August 2015 |archive-date=7 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907090106/https://books.google.com/books?id=QkI_JNv3rIwC&pg=PA416 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to some, the form Yeshu is an [[acronym]] which in Hebrew reads: "may his name and memory be blotted out".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Neuhaus |first=David M. |title=How Israeli Jews' Fear of Christianity Turned Into Hatred |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2021-02-06/ty-article/.highlight/how-israeli-jews-fear-of-christianity-turned-into-hatred/0000017f-dbd5-d3ff-a7ff-fbf562150000 |access-date=24 July 2023 |quote=The religious public in Israel is in many cases aware of the traditional interpretation of the term "Yeshu": an acronym in Hebrew for "may his name and memory be blotted out. |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327165613/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2021-02-06/ty-article/.highlight/how-israeli-jews-fear-of-christianity-turned-into-hatred/0000017f-dbd5-d3ff-a7ff-fbf562150000 |url-status=live }}</ref> The majority of contemporary scholars consider that this material provides no information on the historical Jesus.{{sfn|Theissen|Merz|1998|pp=74–75}} The ''[[Mishneh Torah]]'', a late 12th-century work of [[Halakha|Jewish law]] written by [[Moses Maimonides]], states that Jesus is a "stumbling block" who makes "the majority of the world to err and serve a god other than the Lord".<ref>{{cite book|last=Jeffrey|first=Grant R.|title=Heaven: The Mystery of Angels|year=2009|publisher=Random House Digital|isbn=978-0-307-50940-6|page=108|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xCW8fjiE-DYC&pg=PA108|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=14 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914213327/https://books.google.com/books?id=xCW8fjiE-DYC&pg=PA108|url-status=live}}</ref>

Medieval Hebrew literature contains the anecdotal "Episode of Jesus" (known also as ''[[Toledot Yeshu]]''), in which Jesus is described as being the son of Joseph, the son of [[Tiberius Julius Abdes Pantera|Pandera]] (see: [[s:Translation:Story of Jesus|''Episode of Jesus'']]). The account portrays Jesus as an impostor.<ref name="Sutcliffe2005">{{cite book |author=Sutcliffe |first=Adam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vjilDDXfmqEC&pg=PA141 |title=Judaism and Enlightenment |date=2005 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-67232-0 |pages=141– |access-date=11 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208000728/https://books.google.com/books?id=vjilDDXfmqEC&pg=PA141 |archive-date=8 December 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Manichaeism===
{{Main|Jesus in Manichaeism}}
[[Manichaeism]] was the first organized religion outside of Christianity to venerate Jesus.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=57nFeeC3GKoC&q=Mani+declared+he+was+an+apostle+of+Jesus&pg=PA315 |title=The Manichean Debate |access-date=18 August 2012|isbn=978-1-56548-247-0|year=2006|author=Augustine of Hippo|publisher=New City Press |author-link=Augustine of Hippo|editor=Ramsey, Boniface |editor-link=Boniface Ramsey}}</ref><ref name="Reeves1996">{{cite book |author=Reeves |first=John C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ewM1xTuRQaoC&pg=PA6 |title=Heralds of That Good Realm: Syro-Mesopotamian Gnosis and Jewish Traditions |publisher=Brill |year=1996 |isbn=978-90-04-10459-4 |pages=6– |access-date=27 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |year=1930 |title=Manichaeism |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics |publisher=Kessinger Publishing |last=Bevan |first=A. A. |editor-last=Hastings |editor-first=James |volume=8 |isbn=978-0-7661-3666-3}}</ref> He is considered one of the four prophets, along with [[Zoroaster]], [[Gautama Buddha]], and [[Mani (prophet)|Mani]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Gulácsi |first=Zsuzsanna |date=2015 |title=Mani's Pictures: The Didactic Images of the Manichaeans from Sasanian Mesopotamia to Uygur Central Asia and Tang-Ming China |series=Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies |volume=90 |place=Leiden |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-30894-7 |url=https://gnosis.study/library/%D0%94%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B5%20%D1%83%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%85%D0%B5%D0%B9%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE/%D0%9A%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B8/ENG/Gul%C3%A1csi%20Z.%20-%20Mani's%20Pictures.pdf}}</ref><ref name="SNC Lieu">{{cite book |title=Manichaeism in the Later Roman Empire and Medieval China |first=Samuel N. C. |last=Lieu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hmNPz9teHqUC&q=manichaeism+divinity+of+Jesus&pg=PA161 |isbn=978-3-16-145820-0 |date= 1992 |publisher=J.C.B. Mohr }}</ref>

===Islam===

{{Main|Jesus in Islam}}
{{Islamic prophets}}
[[File:Virgin Mary and Jesus (old Persian miniature).jpg|thumb|upright=.9|[[Persian miniature]] of Mary and Jesus]]
A major figure in Islam,<ref name="uscsite">{{cite web|url=http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious-texts/quran/verses/004-qmt.php#004.157 |title=Quran 3:46–158 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501064500/http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious-texts/quran/verses/004-qmt.php |archive-date=1 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Siddiqui">{{cite book |last=Siddiqui |first=Mona |title=Christians, Muslims, and Jesus |publisher=Yale University Press |year=2013 |author-link = Mona Siddiqui |url=https://archive.org/details/christiansmuslim0000sidd |url-access=registration |isbn=978-0-300-16970-6 }}</ref><ref name="CEI" /> Jesus (often referred to by his Quranic name {{transliteration|ar|ISO|[[Isa (name)|''ʿĪsā'']]}})<!--Yasūʿ is in Christian contexts, never in Islam called Yasūʿ--> is considered to be a [[Prophets and messengers in Islam|messenger]] of [[God in Islam|God]] and the messiah ([[Masih (title)|{{transliteration|ar|ISO|al-Masīḥ}}]]) who was sent to guide the [[Israelites|Children of Israel]] ({{transliteration|ar|ISO|Banī Isrāʾīl}}) with a new scripture, the Gospel (referred to in Islam as [[Gospel in Islam|{{transliteration|ar|ISO|Injīl}}]]).<ref name="CEI" /><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|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=7 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907105909/https://books.google.com/books?id=E324pQEEQQcC&pg=PA159|url-status=live}}</ref> Muslims regard the gospels' accounts in the New Testament as partially authentic, and believe that Jesus' original message was altered ([[tahrif|{{transliteration|ar|ISO|taḥrīf}}]]) and that [[Muhammad in Islam|Muhammad]] came later to revive it.<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 |access-date=14 August 2015 |archive-date=10 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910045903/https://books.google.com/books?id=vSehrtQpcYcC&pg=PA183 |url-status=live }}</ref> Belief in Jesus (and all other [[Prophets in Islam|messengers of God]]) is a requirement for being a [[Muslim]].<ref>{{cite AV media | title=The Muslim Jesus | publisher=ITV Productions | date=19 August 2007 | people=Ashraf, Irshad (Director) | medium=Television production}}</ref> The Quran mentions Jesus by name 25 times—more often than Muhammad<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e1196|title=Jesus, Son of Mary|publisher=Oxford Islamic Studies Online|access-date=3 July 2013|archive-date=2 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702042354/http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e1196|url-status=dead}}</ref><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|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=14 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914213353/https://books.google.com/books?id=tX3suVDTJz0C&pg=PA20|url-status=live}}</ref>—and emphasizes that Jesus was a mortal human who, like all other prophets, had been divinely chosen to spread God's message.<ref name="comparative" /> While the Quran affirms the Virgin birth of Jesus, he is considered to be neither an incarnation nor a [[Son of God (Christianity)|son of God]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surah Al-Kahf – 4 |url=https://quran.com/al-kahf?locale=en&font=v1&reading=false&translations=20%2C131 |access-date=24 June 2021 |website=quran.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Surah Al-Kahf – 5 |url=https://quran.com/al-kahf?locale=en&font=v1&reading=false&translations=20%2C131 |access-date=24 June 2021 |website=quran.com}}</ref><ref name="Morgan" /> Islamic texts emphasize a strict notion of [[monotheism]] ({{transliteration|ar|ISO|[[tawḥīd]]}}) and forbid the association of partners with God, which would be [[Shirk (Islam)|idolatry]].<ref>{{cite book|last=George|first=Timothy|title=Is the Father of Jesus the God of Muhammad?: Understanding the Differences Between Christianity and Islam|year=2002|publisher=Zondervan|isbn=978-0-310-24748-7|pages=150–51|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A5uVfN5xT3YC&pg=PA150|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=7 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907174156/https://books.google.com/books?id=A5uVfN5xT3YC&pg=PA150|url-status=live}}</ref> <!--<ref>{{cite book|last1=Caner|first1=Emir F.|first2=Ergun M.|last2= Caner |title=More Than a Prophet: An Insider's Response to Muslim Beliefs About Jesus and Christianity|year=2003|publisher=Kregel Publications|isbn=978-0-8254-9682-0|page=114|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MkcooJC8Q9EC&pg=PA114 }}</ref>-->

The Quran describes the annunciation to Mary ([[Mary in Islam|{{transliteration|ar|ISO|Maryam}}]]) by the Holy Spirit that she is to give birth to Jesus while remaining a virgin. It calls the virgin birth a miracle that occurred by the will of God.<ref name="RobB32" /><ref name="Peters23" /> The Quran ({{qref|21|91}} and {{qref|66|12}}) states that God breathed [[Holy Spirit (Islam)|his spirit]] into Mary while she was chaste.<ref name="RobB32" /><ref name="Peters23">{{cite book|title=Islam: A Guide for Jews and Christians |first=F. E. |last=Peters |year=2003 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0-691-11553-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/islamguideforjew00fepe/page/23 23] |url=https://archive.org/details/islamguideforjew00fepe/page/23 }}</ref> Jesus is called a "spirit from God" because he was born through the action of the Spirit,<ref name="RobB32">{{cite book|title= Christianity, Islam, and the West|first= Robert A.|last= Burns|year= 2011|isbn= 978-0-7618-5560-6|page= 32|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=akWUGyN7fwEC&pg=PA32|publisher= University Press of America|access-date= 14 August 2015|archive-date= 10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910174421/https://books.google.com/books?id=akWUGyN7fwEC&pg=PA32|url-status= live}}</ref> but that belief does not imply [[Pre-existence of Christ|his pre-existence]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cooper|first1=Anne|first2=Elsie A.|last2=Maxwell|title=Ishmael My Brother: A Christian Introduction To Islam|year=2003|publisher=Monarch Books|isbn=978-0-8254-6223-8|page=59|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X4J-p1E1OkwC&pg=PA59|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=7 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907085409/https://books.google.com/books?id=X4J-p1E1OkwC&pg=PA59|url-status=live}}</ref>

To aid in his ministry to the Jewish people, Jesus was given the ability to perform [[miracle]]s, by permission of God rather than by his own power.<ref name="Morgan">{{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><!--{{sfn|Ankerberg|Caner |2009|p=19}}--> Through his ministry, Jesus is seen as a [[precursor (religion)|precursor]] to Muhammad.<ref name="comparative">{{cite book |last1=Fasching |first1=Darrell J. |url=https://archive.org/details/comparativerelig0000fasc/page/241 |title=Comparative Religious Ethics: A Narrative Approach |last2=deChant |first2=Dell |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-631-20125-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/comparativerelig0000fasc/page/241 241, 274–275] |language=en}}</ref> In the Quran ({{qref|4|157–159}}) it is said that Jesus was not killed but was merely made to appear that way to unbelievers,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=3&verse=54 |title=The Quranic Arabic Corpus – Translation |publisher=Corpus.quran.com |access-date=20 May 2016 |archive-date=18 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418170132/http://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=3&verse=54 |url-status=live }}</ref> and that he was raised into the heavens while still alive by God.<ref>{{qref|4|157|b=y}}: "''and for boasting, "We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah." But they neither killed nor crucified him—it was only made to appear so. Even those who argue for this ˹crucifixion˺ are in doubt. They have no knowledge whatsoever—only making assumptions. They certainly did not kill him.''"</ref> According to most classic [[Sunni]] and [[Twelver Shi'ite]] interpretations of these verses, the likeness of Jesus was cast upon a [[Substitution hypothesis|substitute]] (most often one of the apostles), who was crucified in Jesus' stead.<ref>{{harvnb|Robinson|2005}}; {{harvnb|Lawson|2009}}. The substitution theory was criticized and rejected by the Sunni Quran commentator [[Fakhr al-Din al-Razi]] (1150–1210); see {{harvnb|Lawson|2009|pp=156–162}}. According to [[Abu Mansur al-Baghdadi]] (d. 1037), the substitution theory was also applied to the death of [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]] by the semi-legendary 7th-century figure [[Abdullah ibn Saba'|Abdallah ibn Saba']]; see {{harvnb|De Smet|2016|pp=98–99}}.</ref> However, some medieval Muslims (among others, the [[ghulat|{{transliteration|ar|ISO|ghulāt}}]] writing under the name of [[al-Mufaddal ibn Umar al-Ju'fi]], the [[Brethren of Purity]], various [[Isma'ili]] philosophers, and the Sunni mystic [[al-Ghazali]]) affirmed the historicity of Jesus' crucifixion. These thinkers held the [[docetic]] view that, although Jesus' human form (his body) had died on the cross, his true divine nature (his spirit) had survived and ascended into heaven, so that his death was only an appearance.<ref>On the writings attributed to al‐Mufaddal ibn Umar al‐Ju'fi, see {{harvnb|De Smet|2016|p=93}}. On the Brethren of Purity, see {{harvnb|Robinson|1991|pp=55–57}}, {{harvnb|Lawson|2009|pp=129–133}} and especially {{harvnb|De Smet|2016|pp=100–101}}. On the Isma'ili philosophers (who include [[Abu Hatim Ahmad ibn Hamdan al-Razi|Abu Hatim al-Razi]], Abu Tammam, [[Ja'far ibn Mansur al-Yaman]], [[Abu Yaqub al-Sijistani]] and [[Ibrahim ibn al-Husayn al-Hamidi|Ibrahim al-Hamidi]]), see {{harvnb|Lawson|2009|pp=123–129}} and especially {{harvnb|De Smet|2016|pp=101–107}}. On al-Ghazali, see {{harvnb|Lawson|2009|pp=117–118}}. This type of interpretation of Quran 4:157–159 was specifically rejected by the Sunni Quran commentator al-[[Qadi Baydawi|Baydawi]] (d. 1319); see {{harvnb|Lawson|2009|p=155}}.</ref> Nevertheless, to Muslims it is the ''[[Ascension of Jesus|ascension]]'' rather than the ''[[Crucifixion of Jesus|crucifixion]]'' that constitutes a major event in the life of Jesus.<ref name="Khalidi">{{Cite book| publisher = Harvard University Press| isbn = 978-0-674-00477-1| last = Khalidi| first = Tarif| title = The Muslim Jesus: Sayings and Stories in Islamic Literature| year = 2001| page = [https://archive.org/details/muslimjesussayin00/page/12 12]|url=https://archive.org/details/muslimjesussayin00/page/12}}</ref> There is no mention of his resurrection on the third day, and his death plays no special role in [[Soteriology#Islam|Islamic theories of salvation]].<ref>{{harvnb|Robinson|2005}}.</ref> However, Jesus is a central figure in [[Islamic eschatology]]: Muslims believe that [[Second Coming#Islam|he will return to Earth]] at the [[Eschatology|end of time]] and defeat the [[Antichrist]] (''[[Masih ad-Dajjal|ad-Dajjal]]'') by killing him.<ref name="CEI">{{cite book |last=Glassé |first=Cyril |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D7tu12gt4JYC&pg=PA270 |title=Concise Encyclopedia of Islam |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7425-6296-7 |pages=270–271 |language=en |access-date=14 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907070905/https://books.google.com/books?id=D7tu12gt4JYC&pg=PA270 |archive-date=7 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Garrett |first=James L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WZEhBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA766 |title=Systematic Theology, Volume 2, Second Edition: Biblical, Historical, and Evangelical |publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-62564-852-5 |page=766 |access-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125164743/https://books.google.com/books?id=WZEhBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA766 |archive-date=25 January 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Grudem|1994|pp=568–603}}<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=The Nicene Creed |encyclopedia=The Catholic Encyclopedia |publisher=Robert Appleton Company |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11049a.htm |access-date=11 April 2016 |last=Wilhelm |first=Joseph |date=1911 |volume=11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417055109/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11049a.htm |archive-date=17 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the Quran, the coming of [[Muhammad]] (also called "Ahmad") was predicted by Jesus:
{{blockquote|And ˹remember˺ when Jesus, son of Mary, said, "O children of Israel! I am truly Allah's messenger to you, confirming the Torah which came before me, and giving good news of a messenger after me whose name will be Aḥmad." Yet when the Prophet came to them with clear proofs, they said, "This is pure magic."|{{qref|61|6|c=y}}}}
Through this verse, early Arab Muslims claimed legitimacy for their new faith in the existing religious traditions and the alleged predictions of Jesus.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Virani|first=Shafique N.|title=Taqiyya and Identity in a South Asian Community|url=https://www.academia.edu/36996009|journal=The Journal of Asian Studies|year=2011|volume=70|issue=1|pages=99–139|doi=10.1017/S0021911810002974|s2cid=143431047|issn=0021-9118}} p. 128.</ref>

====Ahmadiyya Islam====
{{Main|Jesus in Ahmadiyya Islam}}
The [[Ahmadiyya]] Muslim Community has several [[Jesus in Ahmadiyya Islam|distinct teachings]] about Jesus.<ref>{{harvnb|Friedmann|1989|pp=111–118}}.</ref> Ahmadis believe that he was a mortal man who survived his crucifixion and died a natural death at the age of 120 in [[Kashmir]], India, and is buried at [[Roza Bal]].<ref>{{harvnb|Friedmann|1989|p=114}}; {{harvnb|Melton|2010|p=55}}.</ref>

===Druze Faith===
{{Main|Jesus in Druze faith}}
In the [[Druze|Druze Faith]],<ref name="Hitti" /> Jesus is considered and revered as one of the seven spokesmen or prophets (''natiq''), defined as messengers or intermediaries between God and mankind, along with [[Adam]], [[Noah]], [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[Muhammad]] and [[Muhammad ibn Isma'il]], each of them sent in a different period of history to preach the message of God.<ref name=Hitti/><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><ref>{{cite book|title=The Druse, a Religious Community in Transition| first= Nissim |last= Dana|year= 1980| isbn=978-965-200-028-6| page =11|publisher=Turtledove}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Betts |first=Robert Brenton |title=The Druze |publisher=Yale University Press |year=1988 |isbn=978-0-300-04810-0 |location=New Haven, Connecticut, USA |page=21 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The A to Z of the Druzes| first= Samy |last=Swayd|year= 2019| isbn=978-0-8108-7002-4| page =xxxviii |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield}}</ref>

===Baháʼí Faith===
In the [[Baháʼí Faith]], Jesus is considered one of the [[Manifestation of God (Baháʼí Faith)|Manifestations of God]],<ref>{{cite web |date=13 June 2014 |title=Who is Christ to Baha'is? |url=https://bahaiteachings.org/who-is-christ-to-bahais/}}</ref> defined as divine messengers or prophets sent by God to guide humanity, along with other religious figures such as [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[Krishna]], [[Zarathushtra]], [[Buddha]], [[Muhammad]] and [[Baháʼu'lláh]]. Baháʼís believe that these religious founders or leaders have contributed to the [[Progressive revelation (Baháʼí)|progressive revelation]] by bringing spiritual and moral values to humanity in their own time and place.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Baha'i Faith |last=Hartz |first=Paula |publisher=Chelsea House Publishers |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-60413-104-8 |location=New York |pages=14–15 |url=https://archive.org/details/bahaifaith0000hart/page/14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Miller |first=William McElwee |url=https://archive.org/details/bahaifaithitshis0000mill/page/355 |title=The Baha'i faith: its history and teachings |publisher=William Carey Library |year=1974 |isbn=978-0-87808-137-0 |location=South Pasadena, California, USA |pages=355 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | title = Jesus Christ in the Baháʼí Writings | first = Robert | last = Stockman | journal = [[Baháʼí Studies Review]] | volume = 2 | issue = 1 | year = 1992 |url=http://bahai-library.com/stockman_jesus_bahai_writings | access-date = 4 July 2010 | archive-date = 7 June 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607061448/http://bahai-library.com/stockman_jesus_bahai_writings | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | first = Juan | last = Cole | title = The Concept of Manifestation in the Bahaʼi Writings | year = 1982 | journal = [[Baháʼí studies#Journals|Études Baháʼí Studies]] | volume = 9 | pages = 1–38 |url=http://bahai-library.com/cole_concept_manifestation | access-date = 4 July 2012 | archive-date = 17 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517105145/http://bahai-library.com/cole_concept_manifestation | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last = Smith |first = Peter |year = 2008 |title = An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith |publisher = Cambridge University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z7zdDFTzNr0C&pg=PA107|isbn = 978-0-521-86251-6 |page = 107}}</ref> As a Manifestation of God, Jesus is believed to reflect God's qualities and attributes, but is not considered the only saviour of humanity nor the incarnation of God.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Adamson |first=Hugh C. |url=https://archive.org/details/atozofbahaifaith0000adam/page/188 |title=The A to Z of the Baháʼí Faith |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-8108-6853-3 |location=Lanham, Maryland, USA |pages=188 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Beckwith |first=Francis |url=https://archive.org/details/bahai0000beck/page/14 |title=Bahaʼi |publisher=Bethany House |year=1985 |isbn=978-0-87123-848-1 |location=Minneapolis, Minnesota |pages=13–15 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Garlington |first=William |url=https://archive.org/details/bahaifaithinamer0000garl_r5j0/page/175 |title=The Baha'i Faith in America |publisher=Praeger Publishers |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-7425-6234-9 |location=Westport, Connecticut, USA |page=175 |language=en-us}}</ref> Baháʼís believe in the virgin birth,<ref>{{cite book | title = In the Glory of the Father: The Baháʼí Faith and Christianity | first = Brian D. | last = Lepard | year = 2008 | publisher = Baháʼí Publishing Trust | isbn = 978-1-931847-34-6 | page = 118 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v2ob2Tw2k3MC&pg=PA118 | access-date = 14 August 2015 | archive-date = 10 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910050221/https://books.google.com/books?id=v2ob2Tw2k3MC&pg=PA118 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Cole">{{cite journal|last=Cole|first=Juan R. I.|title=Behold the Man: Baha'u'llah on the Life of Jesus|journal=Journal of the American Academy of Religion |year=1997|volume=65|issue=1|pages=51, 56, 60}}</ref> but see the resurrection and the miracles of Jesus as symbolic.<ref name="Smith-jesus">{{cite encyclopedia |last= Smith |first= Peter |encyclopedia= A concise encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith |title= peace |year= 2000 |publisher= Oneworld Publications |isbn= 978-1-85168-184-6 |page= [https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope0000smit/page/214 214] |url=https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope0000smit/page/214 }}</ref><ref name="Cole" />

===Other===
{{See also|Criticism of Jesus}}
[[File:The_Liberator_masthead,_1861_Jan_11.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Jesus depicted as the liberator of Black slaves, on the masthead of the [[abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]] paper ''[[The Liberator (newspaper)|The Liberator]]'']]
[[File:Jesus Image on a Manichaean Temple Banner.jpg|thumb|Enthroned Jesus image on a [[Manichaeism|Manichaean]] temple banner from {{circa|10th-century}} [[Qocho]]]]
In [[Gnosticism|Christian Gnosticism]] (now a largely extinct religious movement),<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DhpKxQT8n74C&pg=PA27 | title=The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2001 | page=27 | isbn=978-0-19-285439-1 | first=John | last=McManners | access-date=14 August 2015 | archive-date=7 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907102122/https://books.google.com/books?id=DhpKxQT8n74C&pg=PA27 | url-status=live }}</ref> Jesus was sent from the divine realm and provided the secret knowledge ([[gnosis]]) necessary for salvation. Most Gnostics believed that Jesus was a human who became possessed by the spirit of "the Christ" at his baptism. This spirit left Jesus' body during the crucifixion but was rejoined to him when he was raised from the dead. Some Gnostics, however, were [[docetism|docetics]], believing that Jesus did not have a physical body, but only appeared to possess one.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ehrman |first=Bart D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=URdACxKubDIC&pg=PA124 |title=Lost Christianities: The Battles For Scripture And The Faiths We Never Knew |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-19-518249-1 |pages=124–125 |language=en |access-date=8 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008222010/https://books.google.com/books?id=URdACxKubDIC&pg=PA124 |archive-date=8 October 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Some [[Hinduism|Hindus]] consider Jesus to be an [[avatar]] or a [[sadhu]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/beliefs/jesus_1.shtml | title=Jesus in Hinduism | publisher=BBC | date=24 March 2009 | first=Shaunaka | last=Rishi Das | access-date=4 June 2013 | archive-date=25 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125233747/http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/beliefs/jesus_1.shtml | url-status=live }}</ref> [[Paramahansa Yogananda]], an Indian [[guru]], taught that Jesus was the reincarnation of [[Elisha]] and a student of [[John the Baptist]], the reincarnation of [[Elijah]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Paramahansa |last=Yogananda |title=Autobiography of a Yogi |publisher=Diamond Pocket Books |year=2008 |isbn=978-81-902562-0-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xsIi4ePN4hYC&pg=PA319 |access-date=14 August 2015 |archive-date=10 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910173606/https://books.google.com/books?id=xsIi4ePN4hYC&pg=PA319 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some [[Buddhist]]s, including [[Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama|Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama]], regard Jesus as a [[bodhisattva]] who dedicated his life to the welfare of people.<ref>{{cite web|last=Beverley|first=James A.|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/june11/15.64.html?paging=off|title=Hollywood's Idol|publisher=Christianity Today|date=11 June 2011|access-date=15 May 2013|archive-date=29 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329222548/https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/june11/15.64.html?paging=off|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[New Age]] movement entertains a wide variety of views on Jesus.<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 | access-date =14 August 2015 | archive-date =7 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907100719/https://books.google.com/books?id=sVnT_hSpSBAC&pg=PA57 | url-status =live }}</ref> [[Theosophy (Blavatskian)|Theosophists]], from whom many New Age teachings originated,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/newageneopaganre00pike/page/56 | title=New Age and neopagan religions in America | publisher=Columbia University Press | year=2004 | page=[https://archive.org/details/newageneopaganre00pike/page/56 56] | isbn=978-0-231-12402-7 | first=Sarah M. | last=Pike }}</ref> refer to Jesus as the [[Master Jesus]], a spiritual reformer, and they believe that Christ, after [[reincarnation|various incarnations]], occupied the body of Jesus.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Treatise on Cosmic Fire|first1=Alice|last1=Bailey|first2=Djwhal|last2=Khul|isbn=978-0-85330-117-2|publisher=Lucis Publishing Company|pages=678, 1150, 1193|year=2005|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3FAZi674omIC|access-date=8 October 2020|archive-date=8 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008222027/https://books.google.com/books?id=3FAZi674omIC|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Urantia Book]]'' teaches Jesus is one of more than 700,000 heavenly sons of God.<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=978-0-310-38551-6 |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-date=8 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008222014/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Charts_of_Cults_Sects_Religious_Movement/rRbKQwAACAAJ?hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Antony Theodore]] in the book ''Jesus Christ in Love'' writes that there is an underlying oneness of Jesus' teachings with the messages contained in [[Quran]], [[Vedas]], [[Upanishads]], [[Talmud]] and [[Avesta]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Theodore |first=Antony |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-cwcEAAAQBAJ&q=jesus+christ+in+love+antony |title=Jesus Christ in Love |publisher=Kohinoor Books |year=2019 |isbn=978-8-194-28353-9 |location=New Delhi, India |translator-last=Pradhan |translator-first=Tapan Kumar |access-date=13 June 2021}}</ref> [[Atheist]]s reject Jesus' divinity, but have different views about him – from challenging [[Mental health of Jesus|his mental health]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Schweitzer |first=Albert |url=https://archive.org/details/psychiatricstudy00schw |title=The Psychiatric Study of Jesus: Exposition and Criticism |publisher=Beacon Press |year=1948 |location=Boston, Massachusetts |language=en-us |translator-last=Joy |translator-first=Charles R. |lccn=48006488 |oclc=614572512 |ol=6030284M |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Bundy |first=Walter E. |title=The Psychic Health of Jesus |publisher=The Macmillan Company |location=New York |year=1922 |lccn=22005555 |oclc = 644667928 |ol=OL25583375M |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/psychichealthofj00bund }}</ref> to emphasizing his "moral superiority" ([[Richard Dawkins]]).<ref>{{cite book |last=Dawkins |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Dawkins |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yq1xDpicghkC&pg=PA284 |title=The God Delusion |page=284 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |access-date=13 December 2014 |isbn=978-0-547-34866-7 |date=2008 |archive-date=27 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327215018/http://books.google.com/books?id=yq1xDpicghkC |url-status=live }}</ref>