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Compare and contrast the norms Buddhism vs. Christianity
Comparative study of religion
Commonalities in the development and spread of both Buddhism and Christianity
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Buddhism and Christianity are different religions. Both have numerous similarities as well as differences that one might find really interesting to look at in details. These two religions have certain beliefs, values and traditions which are really compatible. On the other hand, some of these values, beliefs and traditional practices are quite contradicting and conflicting. This makes the study of these two religions an inevitable and pleasurable task. Theology historians have raised adequate concerns and issues relating to connections between Buddhism and Christianity. They claim that there is strong comparability between the characters of Jesus and Buddha, especially their lives and teachings.
First, I will start by looking at the various
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Peace of mind, body and spirit, in a personal sense, a social sense and a universal sense. Although they share the same goal, adherents of the faiths have difference conceptions of what a ‘state of peace’ encompasses, and the path to which it may be attained. For Christians, the ultimate peace is in the afterlife, in heaven, where believers will find their salvation. In heaven there is no sin, Christians can see God, and live in his presence, whilst anyone who does not choose to believe within their lifetime on earth, will go to hell, a place of eternal pain and suffering. For Buddhists, peace is found in nirvana, through enlightenment, whereby one experiences perpetual rebirth until this ultimate harmony is achieved. Buddhism and Christianity both care about the Self and the Other, but the order is reversed. Buddhists believe that in serving yourself you serve others, focusing on your own path to enlightenment, and practicing loving kindness, will leads to social transformation and world peace. Christians on the other hand serve others in order to serve self, believing that by following Jesus’ instructions and entering relationship with …show more content…
According to Buddhism, this love should be extended to human beings as well as other living things. Similarly, Christian doctrines are based on the principle of loving a neighbor as much as one loves him/herself. This special kind of love, usually referred to as agape by Christians, begins at individual levels and should be extended to all people, including friends and enemies. Many Buddhists believe that after they die, they can be reborn on earth as someone else. This belief is called “reincarnation.” The cycle of rebirth and death is over when one becomes “enlightened” by following Buddhist principles. Believers who have trusted Christ for their salvation will enjoy unbroken fellowship with God for eternity.
Additionally, both Christianity and Buddhism have faced reduced influence and number of believers in their countries of origin. Both religions have suffered from decreased number of followers in countries where they first originated, for example, Christianity originated from Egypt which is currently dominated by Islamic religion. Buddhism and Christianity got wiped out of their countries of origin. Today, the two religions are followed majorly by people who do not have direct relation to the races of traditional founders of the
It is said that history is shaped by the lives of great men. Great men are leaders. They bring about change; they improve the lives of others; they introduce new ideas, models, and theories to society. Most of the world's religions were founded, developed, or discovered by great men. Two particular religions - Christianity and Buddhism - developed in different parts of the world, under different circumstances, and in different social atmospheres. But each religion is based upon the teachings of a great man. When one compares the life of Buddha with the life of Jesus, one finds that the two share many things in common. This essay aims to compare and contrast the lives of Buddha1 and Jesus in two key areas: conception and birth. In these two areas, one finds that the Buddha and Jesus share many similarities.
Buddhism and Christianity were each founded by one person, and then eventually grew into two of the largest religions in the world. Each religion had different reasons
Hinduism and Buddhism have different similarities and are in some ways connected to each other. Some of the practices of the two religions are similar in various ways and there are several examples to show this.
Into the world, many religions were born; out of all of them Buddhism and Hinduism are both one of the oldest surviving religion. Hinduism is very polytheistic, it is believed to have been established around 1500 B.C but it has no founder or an origin, while Buddhism on the other hand was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, who ordinarily allotted as the Buddha, which implies the “Awakened or “illuminated one”. Both religions come from the Indian roots.
This paper is a comparison between two very different religions. Specifically Christianity and Buddhism. Coming from opposite sides of the globe these two religions could not be any farther apart in any aspect. I will discuss who Christ is for Christians and who Buddha is for Buddhists. I will also get into the aspects of charity, love, and compassion in both religions and I will be looking at the individual self and how christians see resurrection where the buddhists feel about the afterlife. One thing to keep in mind is that the two religions are very different but they seem to have a very similar underlying pattern. Both believe that there was a savior of their people, Buddha and Christ, and both believe that there is something good that happens to us when our time is done here on earth. This is a very generalized summarization but in order to go in to depth I need to explain the two religions more to fully convey this theory.
Contrasted from Christianity, Muslim, and Hinduism, Buddhism is a nontheistic religion in which a god does not necessarily exist and everyone has the ability to become a Buddha. Heaven and Hell are complex due to the fact that they believe that places such as are temporary and reborn there based on the lives that they had lived on earth. According to the belief, once a person has spent an allotted amount of time in these places they are then reborn again. Conferring with the Buddhism teachings, believers believe that all things are deemed to be
Although Buddhism and Christianity show several parallels, their three key differences are that Buddhists do not believe in one divine being, and have different views about both the purpose of life and the concept of afterlife. Buddhists do not believe in a Supreme Being, God or Creator, though many Buddhists today worship the Buddha - the central figure of Buddhism - and his teachings. They view him as someone with a universal spirit, an essence that can be attained by everyone rather than only a higher deity that rules over the world (Brown). Especially in Mahayana Buddhism, the concept of the Buddha nature is fundamental (“Pure Land”).... ...
Christianity and Islam are monotheistic religions, but Buddhism differs from those religions as it is considered more of a ‘lifestyle’ than a specific type of religion. Buddhism centers around ...
There are many religions that are practiced around the world, especially in Asia where there are eight different religions being practiced. In the country of India, Buddhism and Hinduism are the main religions that are practiced today. Buddhism and Hinduism were both founded in Asia, but they were founded by two different people and practiced in two different ways and languages. Buddhism is a living tradition that is passed down from teacher to student as a set of instruction and techniques for sanity and brilliance in the inner self and the world. Hinduism is more based on the thoughts and attitude about one’s everyday life, and reflects in his actions.
Have you ever wondered about other religions and philosophies of the world? What it would be like to live in their world, state of mind, and culture. To experience life in their shoes with the drastic different believes and practices compared to your average day. In my compare and contrast I will be comparing two awesome philosophies called Buddhism & Confucianism. You most likely have heard of these but do you really know anything about them, most likely not. The definition of Confucianism by google definitions is “Confucianism, also known as Ruism, is an ethical and philosophical system, also described as a religion.” The definition of Buddhism by google definitions is “Buddhism is a nontheistic religion or a philosophy that encompasses
Part B – Essay Question 1: Buddhism and Hinduism are major faiths that were born in India. Can History tell us why Hinduism has not spread around the world, as has Buddhism? Hinduism and Buddhism are considered to popular forms of faith to follow throughout the world, however Hinduism primarily hasn’t spread amongst the world in the same dynamic as Buddhism. Personally, I believe this is because Hinduism is considered to be a clear cut systematic religion where as Buddhism is considered to be a way of life which is easier to adopt for the different lifestyles of people around the world. Hinduism is also the most ancient religion of existence, being born in a time where the means of communication were limited and exclusive for those in close proximity.
Hinduism is the 3rd most popular religion in the world followed by Buddhism, together they are followed by 22 percent of the world’s population. These two religions are alike in many ways, and are tied together by Asia, where they have deep roots in its culture and history. Although Hinduism and Buddhism are similar in many ways, very important and large differences separate the two. No one and nothing can ever truly prove either religion is better than the other because that is up to personal beliefs and opinions, but many more people around the world prefer Buddhism over Hinduism because of its beliefs and practices.
Buddhism is centered upon the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha, whereas Christianity is centered on the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ. Buddhism is a nontheistic religion, i.e., it does not believe in a supreme creator being God. Christianity is a monotheistic religion and believes that Christ Is the Son Of God. In Christianity, they believe in Jesus. Christianity is monotheistic because they only believe in one God, unlike Buddhism whom believes in several Gods. First and foremost, I will start by looking at the various similarities between Buddhism and Christianity. Both religions are based on the golden rule which concerns individual wellbeing as well as the interests of other people. Both Lord Buddha and Jesus Christ taught their disciples about the welfare of all human beings. They encouraged their followers to do good to others the same way they would like others do unto them. Jesus and Buddha preached the importance of social values and ethics. Both Buddha and Jesus rejected and highly condemned excessive asceticism and emphasized on self-liberation. Both Buddhism and Christianity doctrines lay emphasis on equal love for all human beings. According to Buddhism, this love should be extended to human beings as well as other living things. Similarly, Christian doctrines are based on the principle of loving a neighbor as much as one loves him/herself. This special kind of love, usually referred to as Agape by Christians, begins at individual levels and should be extended to all people, including friends and enemies. Both Buddhism and Christianity entail worships that involve use of rosaries, incense and performance of rituals among other spiritual practices. Buddhists and Christians worship through personal confessions, monasticism, bowing before holy images and mediations. Often, bells are rung to indicate transitions within prayer
This principle also supports the idea that Christianity and Buddhism are most different. Buddhism goes so far as to suggest that the afterlife should not be discussed as it leads to “long-term egoism, if it encourages desires for quasi-sensory pleasures” (Ward, p.78). On the contrary, Christianity supports that desires for God actually lead one to Heaven as God “teaches the way to liberation” (Ward, p.200). All in all, these religions are only three of the many religious traditions that attempt to answer the issue of desire in human nature. These traditions have different approaches, yet the same end goal of being released from suffering and into a blissful and altered state of
First, Christianity and Buddhism’s fundamental view for Salvation will be briefly defined. Second and third, the life and teachings of Christ and Buddha will be respectively examined as their idea of salvation is significantly embedded within their scriptures. Lastly, the salvation that Christ compromises, and the salvation that Buddha teaches will be compared and evaluated.