Similarities Between World Religions

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World religions are identifiable from each other. However, all religions share similarities just as they have differences between them. Religious leaders as Buddha, Jesus, or Muhammad are one in their resolve to ascertain the paths they take and in their beliefs in the betterment of man, but differ in how they profess said beliefs. Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad ala aimed to make man’s life better. The three founders of the three major religions may differ in their perspectives about life, however, they are bound by the common ideal that man’s life should be better though some form of spiritual achievement. In addition, the three founders of the major religions displayed traits of understanding and dedication from an early age; they lived lives …show more content…

In 624 BC in what is now Nepal, Buddha Shakyamuni was born as a royal prince to Queen Mayadevi and to King Shuddhodana (“About Buddha”). Queen Mayadevi knew the individual that Buddha Shakyamuni would become as she dreamed that a white elephant descended from heaven and entered her womb (“About Buddha”). A Brahmin predicted that the child would become a Buddha, and” that his beneficial influence will pervade the thousand million worlds like the rays of the sun” (“About Buddha”). He studied not because he needed to but to please his father and to benefit others, mastering traditional arts and sciences, learning sixty-four different languages, and becoming skilled at mathematics and sports (“About Buddha”) even as he always conveyed spiritual meanings in his actions and encouraged the following of spiritual paths (“About Buddha”). The need for the principle on spirituality he cultivated early in life was underlined further when he encountered the sufferings of birth, sickness, ageing and death in his visits to the capital city. To fulfill his father’s wishes and to benefit the Shakya people, Prince Siddhartha married Yasodhara, the daughter of a respected Shakya family, even when he had no attachment to worldly pleasures (“About Buddha”). However, at 29, Prince Siddhartha escaped the life in the palace as he had a vision of all the Buddhas inspiring him to become a …show more content…

Born in circa 6 B.C., Jesus was born to Mary and her betrothed Joseph who was a carpenter. Jesus’ birth differs from that of Muhammad and Buddha in that not only was he born to a family of less affluence but more importantly because he was conceived through Immaculate Conception (“Jesus Christ Biography”). When angels figured in Muhammad’s life when he was six years old and when divine intervention inspired Buddha when he as already 29, angels figured in Jesus’ life early when the angel Gabriel announced on to Mary that she would be God’s mother. In addition, unlike Muhammad and Buddha, Jesus did not receive formal educational training, and yet when he was 12 years old, Jesus became separated from his parents during a pilgrimage and was found several days later discussing affairs with some of the elders of Jerusalem (“Jesus Christ Biography”). Jesus was baptized by his cousin John when he was 30, (“Jesus Christ Biography”). Jesus then went into the Judean desert to fast and mediate to for 40 days and nights, in a manner similar to what Muhammad and Buddha did. More akin to Buddha than Muhammad, Jesus’ time in isolation was also plagued with temptations. Much like Buddha, Jesus emerged from his isolation stronger in his convections as well. However, much less like Buddha and more similar to Muhammad, Jesus actively taught the principles of his faith, gathering enough followers

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