Scholars & Sages
Explore influential thinkers, philosophers, and teachers across religious traditions.
Tradition
Time Period
Showing 60 scholars
Adi Shankaracharya
Philosopher and Mystic
788 CE — 820 CE
Advaita Vedanta, Non-Dualism, Hindu Philosophy
Ajahn Chah
Forest Meditation Master
1918 CE — 1992 CE
Theravada Buddhism, Forest Tradition, Meditation Teaching
Al-Bukhari
Hadith Collector and Imam
810 CE — 870 CE
Hadith Collection, Islamic Jurisprudence, Quran Exegesis
Al-Ghazali
Proof of Islam
1058 CE — 1111 CE
Theology, Islamic Philosophy, Jurisprudence
Al-Tabari
Exegete, Historian, and Jurist
839 CE — 923 CE
Quranic Exegesis, Islamic History, Islamic Law
Anselm of Canterbury
Philosopher and Archbishop
1033 CE — 1109 CE
Scholasticism, Ontological Argument, Atonement Theory
Athanasius of Alexandria
Doctor of the Church and Defender of Orthodoxy
296 CE — 373 CE
Christology, Trinitarian Theology, Nicene Tradition
Augustine of Hippo
Doctor of the Church
354 CE — 430 CE
Theology, Philosophy
Baal Shem Tov
Founder of Hasidism
1698 CE — 1760 CE
Hasidic Mysticism, Spiritual Leadership, Devotion
Buddhaghosa
Great Commentator
400 CE — 450 CE
Theravada Buddhism, Pali Commentary
Charles Spurgeon
Prince of Preachers
1834 CE — 1892 CE
Preaching, Reformed Theology, Pastoral Ministry
C.S. Lewis
Apologist and Writer
1898 CE — 1963 CE
Theology, Christian Apologetics, Fiction
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Theologian, Martyr, and Resister
1906 CE — 1945 CE
Christian Ethics, Theology of Suffering, Political Resistance
Dogen
Zen Master and Founder of Soto Zen
1200 CE — 1253 CE
Zen Buddhism, Meditation, Philosophical Theology
Fatima al-Fihri
Scholar and Founder
800 CE — 880 CE
Islamic Education, Philanthropy
Gershom Scholem
Founder of Kabbalah Studies
1897 CE — 1982 CE
Jewish Mysticism, Kabbalah, Hasidic Thought
Hamza Yusuf
Islamic Scholar and Educator
1958 CE
Traditional Islamic Studies, Contemporary Theology, Education
Hildegard of Bingen
Doctor of the Church, Mystic, and Visionary
1098 CE — 1179 CE
Mysticism, Theology, Science, Medicine
Ibn Arabi
Greatest Master
1165 CE — 1240 CE
Mysticism, Islamic Philosophy, Sufism
Ibn Rushd (Averroes)
Commentator and Philosopher
1126 CE — 1198 CE
Islamic Philosophy, Aristotelian Thought, Medicine
Ibn Taymiyyah
Theologian and Jurist
1263 CE — 1328 CE
Islamic Theology, Jurisprudence, Islamic Renewal
John Chrysostom
Doctor of the Church and Golden-Tongued Preacher
349 CE — 407 CE
Homiletics, Biblical Commentary, Pastoral Theology
John Wesley
Theologian and Founder of Methodism
1703 CE — 1791 CE
Practical Theology, Holiness, Christian Perfection
Joseph Karo
Halakhist and Mystic
1488 CE — 1575 CE
Jewish Law, Mysticism, Codification
Judah Halevi
Poet and Philosopher
1075 CE — 1141 CE
Jewish Philosophy, Poetry, Hebrew Language
Julian of Norwich
Mystic and Theologian
1342 CE — 1416 CE
Christian Mysticism, Theology of Love, Spiritual Experience
Madhvacharya
Philosopher and Devotional Master
1238 CE — 1317 CE
Dvaita Vedanta, Dualism, Devotion
Maimonides
Rambam (Master of Masters)
1138 CE — 1204 CE
Jewish Law, Philosophy, Medicine
Martin Buber
Philosopher and Theologian
1878 CE — 1965 CE
Jewish Theology, Philosophy, Hasidic Thought
Martin Luther
Reformer
1483 CE — 1546 CE
Theology, Biblical Exegesis, Reformation
Meister Eckhart
Mystic and Dominican Friar
1260 CE — 1328 CE
Christian Mysticism, Theology, Neoplatonism
Milarepa
Poet-Saint and Yogi
1052 CE — 1135 CE
Tibetan Buddhism, Yoga Practice, Mysticism
Mordecai Kaplan
Founder of Reconstructionist Judaism
1881 CE — 1983 CE
Jewish Philosophy, Theology, Religious Innovation
Muhammad Iqbal
Poet-Philosopher and Ideologue
1877 CE — 1938 CE
Islamic Philosophy, Modern Theology, Political Thought
Nachmanides
Cabalist and Biblical Commentator
1194 CE — 1270 CE
Kabbalah, Biblical Commentary, Jewish Mysticism
Nagarjuna
Founder of Madhyamaka School
150 CE — 250 CE
Buddhist Philosophy, Metaphysics
Nichiren
Buddhist Reformer and Founder of Nichiren Buddhism
1222 CE — 1282 CE
Buddhist Reform, Lotus Sutra Devotion, Social Engagement
N.T. Wright
New Testament Scholar and Bishop
1948 CE
Biblical Exegesis, Eschatology, Resurrection Theology
Origen
Church Father and Theologian
185 CE — 254 CE
Biblical Exegesis, Theology, Allegorical Interpretation
Pema Chödrön
Buddhist Nun and Teacher
1936 CE
Tibetan Buddhism, Compassion, Courage
Rabbi Akiva
Talmudic Sage
50 CE — 135 CE
Torah Interpretation, Hermeneutics
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
Saint and Mystic
1836 CE — 1886 CE
Mysticism, Bhakti, Spiritual Experience
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
Saint and Mystic
1836 CE — 1886 CE
Mysticism, Bhakti, Spiritual Experience
Ramana Maharshi
Sage and Self-Realization Master
1879 CE — 1950 CE
Advaita Vedanta, Self-Inquiry, Silence
Ramanujacharya
Philosopher of Bhakti
1017 CE — 1137 CE
Vishistadvaita, Devotion, Hindu Philosophy
Rashi
Parshan (Commentator)
1040 CE — 1105 CE
Biblical Exegesis, Talmudic Commentary
Rumi
Poet-Saint and Sufi Master
1207 CE — 1273 CE
Mysticism, Poetry, Sufism
Saadia Gaon
Gaon and Rationalist Philosopher
882 CE — 942 CE
Jewish Philosophy, Rationalism, Linguistics
Samson Raphael Hirsch
Orthodox Reformer and Philosopher
1808 CE — 1888 CE
Jewish Philosophy, Orthodox Modernism, Torah Exegesis
Sayyid Qutb
Islamic Theorist and Martyr
1906 CE — 1966 CE
Islamic Ideology, Quranic Interpretation, Islamic Politics
Shah Waliullah
Theologian and Reformer
1703 CE — 1762 CE
Quranic Exegesis, Islamic Law, Islamic Renewal
Shunryu Suzuki
Zen Master
1904 CE — 1971 CE
Zen Buddhism, Mindfulness, Simplicity
Sri Aurobindo
Mystic and Philosopher
1872 CE — 1950 CE
Integral Yoga, Evolution, Spirituality
Swami Vivekananda
Monk and Reformer
1863 CE — 1902 CE
Hindu Philosophy, Social Reform, Yoga
Swami Vivekananda
Monk and Reformer
1863 CE — 1902 CE
Hindu Philosophy, Social Reform, Yoga
Teresa of Ávila
Doctor of the Church
1515 CE — 1582 CE
Mysticism, Spiritual Direction, Contemplative Prayer
Thich Nhat Hanh
Zen Master and Monk
1926 CE — 2022 CE
Engaged Buddhism, Mindfulness, Peace
Thomas Aquinas
Doctor of the Universal Church
1225 CE — 1274 CE
Theology, Philosophy, Scholasticism
Tsongkhapa
Reformer and Founder of Gelug School
1357 CE — 1419 CE
Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhist Philosophy, Monastic Reform
Vilna Gaon
Gaon and Master of Torah
1720 CE — 1797 CE
Talmudic Analysis, Biblical Commentary, Rabbinic Thought