If Jesus, Moses, Mohammad, Buddha, and Confucius were gathered in a room, who would be the first to speak? What would he say?


Dr. Cliff Pickover is the author of forty mind-expanding books at the edges of science, mysticism, and religion. His latest book is Archimedes to Hawking: Laws of Science and the Great Minds Behind Them.

If Jesus, Moses, Mohammad, Buddha, and Confucius were gathered in a room, who would be the first to speak? What would he say?


Jun 17th, 2008 | Philosophy survey
758 votes, 9,220 views , 78 comments

Add your comment
Update your status line


Recent Comments (78)
Bia18
(Reply)
Pakistan

posted Aug 6th, 2011 at 23:18 CDT

OK, I think this discussion is an indirect way of abusing religions and starting religious arguments.First of all, They can't be in a room together!! They were all from different eras.....OK? And if they were(if ever possible which is not)Mohammad PBUH would speak first bcoz He is Allah's last messanger and I dont believe in Buddha and Confucious......They were common men!

Bia18
(Reply)
Pakistan

posted Aug 6th, 2011 at 23:18 CDT

OK, I think this discussion is an indirect way of abusing religions and starting religious arguments.First of all, They can't be in a room together!! They were all from different eras.....OK? And if they were(if ever possible which is not)Mohammad PBUH would speak first bcoz He is Allah's last messanger and I dont believe in Buddha and Confucious......They were common men!

Seriousfun1
(Reply)
, United States

posted Apr 11th, 2011 at 02:55 CDT

Moses would speak first and he would say "sorry guys. I'm not sure what I'm doing here with you guys so I'll just make my way out the door now." (then he'd step out).

Hameer_saghar
(Reply)
Pakistan

posted Sep 13th, 2010 at 17:02 CDT

THIS SUCKS, ISLAM DOESNT SAY THAT MUHAMMAD [P.B.U.H] WAS BETTER THAN JESUS [P.B.U.H] OR MOSES [P.B.U.H] WAS BETTER THAN MUHAMMAD [P.B.U.H], OR WISE-VERSA, ALLAH SURE LOVES HIS PROPHETS MOST EQUALLY, ITS JUST LIKE ASKING A PARENT WHETHER WHICH CHILD HE LOVES THE MOST, WHEN ALL ARE MOST OBEDIENT..!!

Abdulrahman
(Reply)
Yemen

posted May 11th, 2010 at 01:57 CDT

Muhammad is the seal of the prophets and is send to whole the world unlike Jesus and Moses who they are sent only to their poeple

Abdulrahman
(Reply)
Yemen

posted May 11th, 2010 at 01:56 CDT

Muhammad is the seal of the prophets and is send to whole the world unlike Jesus and Moses who they are sent only to their poeple

Devon
(Reply)
Kentucky, United States

posted Feb 26th, 2009 at 22:55 CST

  Confucius was known to give constant advice and criticism. The man never shut up.

(Reply)
posted Nov 12th, 2008 at 01:23 CST

too bad for you

Ralphnader2012
(Reply)
Florida, United States

posted Nov 2nd, 2008 at 06:39 CST

Jesus would talk first, and he would ask: "Does anyone got any bud?".

(Reply)
posted Oct 27th, 2008 at 09:48 CDT

Confucius: "So a priest and a rabbi walk into a bar and..."/ Buddha: :)/ The rest: :0

(Reply)
posted Oct 27th, 2008 at 09:41 CDT

with what i've seen of buddha, he would say "we" are hungry

(Reply)
posted Jul 10th, 2008 at 08:04 CDT

i think the comment about the most aggressive being the first to speak is probably right...hummm...let's see, who made aggression,violence and forced "conversion" a tenet of his religion? who made killing others (or yourself) a shortcut to heaven?

(Reply)
posted Jun 29th, 2008 at 11:12 CDT

The question is one of omnisicience.  If any of these people are omniscient, then that person would know who be first to speak.

(Reply)
posted Jun 29th, 2008 at 11:11 CDT

Usually, the more agressive the person, the quicker he is to speak.  Thus, we must decide who is the most agressive.

(Reply)
posted Jun 26th, 2008 at 19:18 CDT

moses would because he was a bossy know it all

(Reply)
posted Jun 26th, 2008 at 13:58 CDT

rotflmao

Ang
(Reply)
Texas, United States

posted Jun 26th, 2008 at 12:19 CDT

Romans lied....

(Reply)
posted Jun 25th, 2008 at 11:04 CDT

Jesus! I'm a confuciused about allah this.  I have to think about it and get back to you.  In the meantime I'm abuddah have mohammad swiss sandwich buddha with mustard instead of mayo.

(Reply)
posted Jun 25th, 2008 at 10:56 CDT

Moo-Hommid would declare jihad and kill everybody else for being infidels.

(Reply)
posted Jun 25th, 2008 at 08:21 CDT

"Dude, did you see the new Indiana Jones? Aliens! Yeah man, aliens! I know! And that kid from Even Stevens..."

(Reply)
posted Jun 25th, 2008 at 02:35 CDT

Buddha to Muhammad, Jesus, and Moses: Are you going to eat that? *points to the roast pig on the table*

(Reply)
posted Jun 24th, 2008 at 16:49 CDT

Wrong. Google Roman historian Tacitus. There is historical proof outside of the scriptures.

(Reply)
posted Jun 23rd, 2008 at 12:48 CDT

they would all look at each other and in unison say "He does exist!"

(Reply)
posted Jun 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 CDT

Wrong. There is no proof other than anecdotal heresay anywhere outside of scripture attesting to the existence of either Moses or Jesus. If the existence of either went before the courts today, the case for their existence would be thrown out of court... As for the rest of the dudes here, their  existence and histories are well documented by third parties.

(Reply)
posted Jun 22nd, 2008 at 20:26 CDT

yeah, right!

(Reply)
posted Jun 22nd, 2008 at 20:22 CDT

how do you know I'm a sir?

(Reply)
posted Jun 22nd, 2008 at 17:56 CDT

Haven't each of these people been proven to exist in one way or another? Buddha isn't even an individual person either.

(Reply)
posted Jun 22nd, 2008 at 17:39 CDT

Pretty sure he meant the ark of the covenant, not Noah's ark. Here's where you slap yourself on the forehead and say 'doh!'

(Reply)
posted Jun 22nd, 2008 at 14:26 CDT

Confucius seems like he always has a lot to say.

(Reply)
posted Jun 22nd, 2008 at 09:43 CDT

You are rude sir!   

(Reply)
posted Jun 22nd, 2008 at 09:41 CDT

Moses would NOT be first as he had a speech issue, Aaron, spoke for him during the plagues.

(Reply)
posted Jun 22nd, 2008 at 07:05 CDT

Moses - Wazzzzaaaap!!!!!

(Reply)
posted Jun 22nd, 2008 at 02:37 CDT

incorrect.Jesus was real, "buddha" was Siddhartha. confucius was was real as was mohammad.Moses is real, too.if only americans had as many brains as cheeseburgers.

(Reply)
posted Jun 22nd, 2008 at 02:10 CDT

WOW! The only person  here who does not have his arrogant head up his ass!!! I doubt very seriously that your a white american ... because you actually think for yourself! Very rare ins the U.S... very rare indeed. I hope you find enlightenment !

(Reply)
posted Jun 22nd, 2008 at 01:34 CDT

Jesus. "Boys, Canada is a lost cause. Not a single believerl. Time to loose a plague."

(Reply)
posted Jun 22nd, 2008 at 01:15 CDT

easter bunny, definately.  they've got the feet for it

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 19:50 CDT

Actually, Jesus was a real man and did walk the face of this earth, so sorry man.

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 17:18 CDT

It was Noah who built the ark not Moses!!

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 16:18 CDT

tripleX: Actually I like to say something...

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 15:52 CDT

Nobody would speak 'cos they're all fictitious

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 15:11 CDT

Mohammad would immediately kill everyone else in the room, then proclaim "god is great".

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 13:23 CDT

No such thing as god, but there is a God. 

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 13:20 CDT

There was an actual buddha. He experienced life in many ways from poverty to riches, hunger to feasting. and in the end he came to the same conclusions as Solomon. It's ll dust in the wind, it doesn't matter how you choose to live. This life is temporary without God.

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 11:31 CDT

Confucius he say... so it must have been him

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 08:58 CDT

But then he is, since GOD isn't 'the earth' [pffft!] but the universe, and since Yeushua bin Yosiphas was created by [and of] the universe then hes GOD. athiests: flatearthers without sense of humour. 

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 08:47 CDT

moses is older , and you know how oldies are , they must say something just cover the farts

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 08:23 CDT

Moses is most like a mortal so he would speak first.

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 07:43 CDT

Moses had a slight speech impediment and hated orating. That's why the Bible discribes his reluctants to take the role. After God told him to do so he allowed Moses' brother to assist him in the public speaking area.

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 06:57 CDT

Moses. "Dudes, lets do some shots, then I will tell you about the whole ark thing which you ain't gonna believe."

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 05:37 CDT

If it's the first time they're together in a room they probably burst out in laughter together, and it will be very hard to speak at all.

(Reply)
posted Jun 21st, 2008 at 00:05 CDT

Confucious, of course. He'd say, "All of you died before I was born." 

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 22:26 CDT

probably gintonix. and they'd speak german (cause god speaks german whenever he means business (q. Zappa)) mK

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 22:22 CDT

"to yo momma" that is =] mK

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 22:18 CDT

But then he isnt. No such thing as god, unless you'd want to call the earth god... mK (note the use of lower case for god)

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 22:13 CDT

I think the time frame is all important in this thesis, I mean; do they all know who the others are? And, more importantly; what they grew out to be in our (your) religions nowadays? If so, I predict a LONG and very awkward, if not embarased silence, after which any of the above would suggest drinks. My 2cts, mK

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 21:22 CDT

so the revisionist Muhammed would be a man of peace and not a caravan-jacking, bloody-handed thug who imposed islam by the sword?

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 19:22 CDT

Perhaps the next question should be : Of the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus and an honest politician which would be the best tap dancer? Since all of the participants in both questions are either imaginary or so blown out of their original reality that they are no longer recognizable any answer is correct or a least defendable.

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 19:21 CDT

What no Lao Tzu?

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 17:57 CDT

Jesus, knowing scripture, would begin by saying "word."

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 17:35 CDT

No way on Moses. He never spoke. His brother always spoke for him b.c he stuttered.

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 17:29 CDT

There is a branch of Buddhism that denies as irrelevant the existence of an individual historical Buddha.

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 16:43 CDT

couldn't be moses, he stuttered.

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 16:35 CDT

Buddha would to ask why there was a need to be first

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 16:27 CDT

Didn't Buddha claim to be born 1000 times or something?  That's a claim of DOING something in my book.

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 16:25 CDT

To know who would speak last, see Numbers 12:3.

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 15:04 CDT

If Jesus is God then he knows who would speak first... so let's ask him

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 10:25 CDT

Wait long enough - there won't be actual historical evidence that any of us existed.  So much for logical points.

(Reply)
posted Jun 20th, 2008 at 09:05 CDT

Nah, there is little actual historical evidence that any of them actually existed, INCLUDING Buddha. The only exception is Mohammad, and he was a stark raving lunatic. So much for gods and prophets.

Oden
(Reply)
United Kingdom

posted Jun 19th, 2008 at 09:36 CDT

Jesus will probably start by saying: "First!!!!1"^___^

Gigglybritches
(Reply)
Texas, United States

posted Jun 17th, 2008 at 21:40 CDT

Buddha isn't a god. He was a real person. Buddha never claimed to do anything. Just enlightened. Confucious was a real person and not a religious entity. Mohammad, also real. Jesus..not so much. Moses, more evidence that he existed but not so much doing anything but climbing a hill having schizophrenic delusions and hearing voices. I took stuff that did that in the 80's

Engreirte
(Reply)
California, United States

posted Jun 17th, 2008 at 17:47 CDT

Moses would break the ice by talking about the weather.

(Reply)
posted Jun 17th, 2008 at 16:41 CDT

Mohammed would say, "Die you dogs of infidels!"

Scotkitty
(Reply)
Arizona, United States

posted Jun 17th, 2008 at 15:09 CDT

Confucius - He would say "Man who farted in church sit in own pew".

Scotkitty
(Reply)
Arizona, United States

posted Jun 17th, 2008 at 15:05 CDT

Aren't most of them "fictional" characters?

Distortedsmile
(Reply)
New York, United States

posted Jun 17th, 2008 at 14:58 CDT

Moses:  "So, uhh.....Jesus....Can I get a piece of you NOW, or do we have to wait for later for snacks?  I mean, parting that Red Sea made me kinda thirsty...and I hear your blood tastes like communal wine..."

Drowlord
(Reply)
Texas, United States

posted Jun 17th, 2008 at 14:02 CDT

Well, Jesus is fictional and Confucius and Buddha would probably think before talking.  That leaves Moses and Mohammed.  I get the impression that Mohammed is more aggressive and/or assertive.

Hammerhead
(Reply)
Denmark

posted Jun 17th, 2008 at 13:55 CDT

 cofucius,saying.I´m so smart that I don´t even need a head anymore

Politicass
(Reply)
California, United States

posted Jun 17th, 2008 at 13:39 CDT

Can't imagine Budha or Confucius speaking first - they're all about patience and zen. So it'll have to be one of the three monotheistic guys. Considering Jesus is the most popular, I imagine him speaking first.

Log in using your:

* Username
* Email address
* Password
 
Buddy icon
* Gender
     
* Birth date
Country
City
 (your vote will still count)
Embed Flash Widget
Embed Java Script Widget
Copy & paste the embed code to your site.