Comparing Christianity and Buddhism
explanatory Essay
2061 words
Comparing Christianity and Buddhism
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.
The Christian religion, like all other religions has its strengths and weaknesses in our modern society. Perhaps the strengths out weight the weaknesses as this is one of the largest religions in the world. Hundreds of people follow the Catholic/Christian religion yet still a greater number follow yet other religions. Perhaps this is because they see the weaknesses or perhaps it is simply because their parents have taught them that it is a sin to follow this religion.
The Christian religions do however present much more of an appealing atmosphere than such other religions which are as large as the Christian. The Christian religion is one of few religions where punishments for sins are not severe. In the Christian religion, even if you have lived a life of sin, so long as you repent in the end, you will be saved and given eternal life. This is not so in other religions. Such religions as Hinduism for instance do not believe this. For everything you do wrong you will be punished. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, if not in this life, then the next. Hindu's also believe that punishing the body is part of the path to salvation. Christianity is nothing like this. Many Christians live in high class society. Christianity is one of the most appealing in that any sins may easily be corrected and that Christians may live comfortable, if not wealthy lives without guilt.
In this essay, the author
- Compares christianity and buddhism, stating that the two religions are very different but have a very similar underlying pattern.
- Explains that the christian religion has its strengths and weaknesses in our modern society. hundreds of people follow the catholic/christian religion yet still a greater number follow yet other religions.
- Explains that the christian religion is one of few religions where punishments for sins are not severe. hinduism believes that punishing the body is part of the path to salvation.
- Opines that christianity, like other religions, has many weaknesses. one thing with christianity is that from day one we are given a guilt trip.
- Explains that the catholic faith has evolved with modern society and become a more "reasonable" faith under the leadership of the pope.
- Opines that a religion should change as the modern society does and conform to an "acceptable" approach to continue its teachings/practices.
- Explains that the bible is proof that jesus existed, but the stories contained have been transferred by word of mouth, which has certainly been distorted and exaggerated. the shroud of turin was the christian religion's artifact
- Explains that the catholic/christian religion strongly believes in correcting our corrupted world. many missionaries help educate, feed, and provide moral support for a people who have nothing.
- Explains that a strong hierarchy system helps the religion in well-organized money distribution, etc.
- Explains that the catholic/christian religion is one of the great religions which still lives strongly among us in our increasingly modern society.
- Explains that buddhism is the most tolerant religion in the world, as its teaching can coexist with any other religion.
- Narrates how siddhartha realized that physical harshness was not a means of achieving liberation. he encouraged people to follow balance rather than extremism.
- Explains that the buddha preached the dharma in an effort to help other people reach enlightenment.
- Explains buddhism's four noble truths: dhukka, tanha, desire, and the eight-fold path.
- Explains that even though the cultures of the two religions are quite possibly exact opposites, the underlying message is quite similar. human nature needs something or someone to believe in and entrust their faith.
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- Compare And Contrast Buddhism And Christianitycomparative essayBuddhism 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.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that buddhism and christianity are different religions. both have similarities and differences that one might find interesting to look at in detail.
- Compares buddhism and christianity. both religions are based on the golden rule which concerns individual well-being as well as the interests of other people.
- Explains that buddhists and christians have different conceptions of what a ‘state of peace’ encompasses, and the path to which it may be attained.
- Explains that both buddhism and christianity principles lay emphasis on equal love for all human beings. this special kind of love begins at individual levels and should be extended to all people, including friends and enemies.
- Explains that both christianity and buddhism have faced reduced influence and number of believers in their countries of origin.
- Explains that buddhism and christianity have different historical backgrounds with regard to dates of inception and places of origin. buddhists take sankharas as their rituals whereas christians take sacraments.
- Explains that buddhism does not believe that god may love his people. christians believe in one supreme good who performs a variety of responsibilities such as loving his devotees, taking care of the people, and providing them with both spiritual and material needs.
- Concludes that it is inherently impractical to deny high possibilities of interrelation between buddhism and christianity.
896 wordsRead More - Western Civilization Q&Aexplanatory essay...tled in Italy and Judea. Many Roman rulers persecuted Christians, under Diocletian they weren’t even considered human, and outlawed from the Roman Empire. Diocletian claimed Christians as reprehensible for the fall of the Roman Empire. When Diocletian retired, Constantine took power and legalized Christianity, then became one himself. Christianity remained perennial even after the Empire fell because once it became widely accepted, due to its teachings on equality, forgiveness, and eternal happiness, many people enjoyed the idea that Jesus accepted sinners, and forgive them for their actions. This led many people to switch from polytheism to monotheism. Many people switched because they no longer believed in relying on pleasing the Gods to make their lives happier, but to figure out to make it better on their own. Christianity gave followers a sense of community.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the second triumvirate consisted of general mark anthony, octavian, and lepidus; they were all supporters of caesar and were anti-senate.
- Explains that christianity dates back to the egyptians and the hebrews, who introduced the concept of monotheism. in the first century there were tensions between rome and judea due to religious differences.
- Explains that christianity struggled for acceptance among the roman government. many roman rulers persecuted christians, and under diocletian, constantine took power and legalized christianity.
- Describes the triumvirate as a political alliance involving three rulers who divide the land and power among each other.
1036 wordsRead More - Religion Vs Roman Religion Essayexplanatory essayThat is why Christianity appealed to so many throughout the course of history, there are no boundaries or barriers preventing any certain person or social class from achieving spiritual salvation. Christianity also gives the Bible to its followers and Christ was a real and present figure at the beginning of Christianity’s meteoric rise and there are accounts of his teachings in the New Testament. (Rogers 147) Romans also worshiped several gods including Nature Gods and a priesthood that would for see the future by reading animal entrails and interpreting omens. In early parts of Roman State religion they worshiped the emperor and sacrificed animals, which in turn the citizens were not invested into their kingdoms official religion and mainly used this as a symbol of support for the government. (Rogers 144) In contrast, the Christian society believed in universal monotheism, only worshiping Yahweh, as stated in the Ten Commandments, and following the teachings of Jesus Christ throughout his times of teaching amongst the people. Also Christianity focused on your own personal relationship with God and your own spiritual
In this essay, the author
- Opines that christianity challenged ancient societies for centuries and dawned a plethora of new followers and believers in short amount of time.
- Explains roman society was based on a formulaic type of state religion with the main concerns being the safety and well-being of the roman state.
- Explains that christianity appealed to everyone in the society, while roman society had social rankings and systems. christ was a real and present figure at the beginning of christianity's meteoric rise
- Explains that christianity appealed to the logical and simplistic side of roman society, which led to rome adopting christianity as the official religion of rome.
550 wordsRead More - What Is Swegland Religioncomparative essayOne reason,is that Christianity has 10 laws the Ten Commandments. These are ten laws in Christianity to follow in this religion.If you don’t follow the Ten Commandments you must repent.For what you did and your sin. You must follow the Ten Commandments you must follow the law.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that swegland is the name of their country. many people disagreed over all the religions that didn't seem good for them. as the leader, they decided that christianity should be the only religion.
- Explains that christianity has 10 laws, the ten commandments, which are ten laws to follow in christianity.
- Explains that christians go to church to worship god. there are different kinds of churches like roman catholic church.
- Explains that christians read the holy bible to overcome sin and temptations. it took 1,500 years to write the bible.
- Concludes that christianity is important because it will be a great religion for people. it will help others learn who is good for their own religion.
251 wordsRead More - Comparing Christianity and Buddhismcomparative essayComparing Christianity and Buddhism Two religions, both very different and both very similar. Siddhartha Guatama also known as Buddha ("Enlightened One") was the founder and probably the most influential person of Buddhism. He sat under a fig tree for 49 days to think and contemplate his thoughts. Buddhism was started around 600 B.C. Jesus is believed to be the Son of God in the Christian religion. He was also the most influential person of Christianity.
In this essay, the author
- Compares christianity and buddhism. siddhartha guatama was the founder and probably the most influential person of buddhism, and jesus is believed to be the son of god in the christian religion.
- Compares the way the two religions are preached, and explains that in buddhism, the followers are not given the option to believe or not believe.
- Explains that christianity has yearly rituals, whereas buddhism has no. christians celebrate christmas on december 24; it was the day jesus was born, and easter on the second sunday in april.
- Explains that both buddhism and christianity believe in moral laws. buddhism's eight-fold path urged his disciples to know the truth, resist evil, say nothing to hurt others, respect life, work for the good of others.
- Opines that the lord is the god who brought them out of the land of egypt, the house of bondage.
- Compares the moral laws of the ten commandments with buddhism laws.
- Explains that buddhism and christianity share some of the same ideas and disagree on some ideas. they agree on moral laws, although buddhism has a more relaxed, meditative approach.
401 wordsRead More - Comparing Buddhism and Christianityargumentative essayMystical Quest is a way of being religious in which many of the adherents apply a form of meditation. The meditation usually includes a specific set of practices that have been found to make one more aware of all that is going on around them as well as inside, both physically and mentally. The religious part of the practices brings in the aspects of ‘ultimate reality’ with which the participants are familiar (Cannon 22-3). This practice is for the purpose of bringing those who practice it into a particularly close experience of ‘ultimate reality.’ Most believe that the experiences one has are not going to be constantly or consistently direct experiences of ‘the divine.’
In this essay, the author
- Explains that mystical quest is a way of being religious in which many adherents apply meditation. the religious part of the practices brings in the aspects of ‘ultimate reality’ with which they are familiar.
- Explains buddhism of the theravada tradition, commonly practiced in the southeast of asia, is called satipatthana. it is done through meditative posture, mindfulness, and guided direction of thought.
- Explains that eastern orthodox christianity's hesychasm emphasizes the use of the jesus prayer as a means of attaining mental and spiritual openness.
- Explains that there are many similarities between the two ways of meditation. one is the idea that ‘ultimate reality’ can be accessed through these methods.
- Compares the buddhist, christian, and buddhist approaches to transcending the conscious part of the self.
- Explains that a final similarity is in the result of much practice and concentration. one may develop the capacity to not even think about “praying”, or “being mindful”, and yet be doing it continuously.
- Explains that the emphases put on different aspects of the meditations differs between the two ways. for the buddhists one must be in a sitting position or, if incapacitated, may be laying down.
- Explains that christianity seeks a relationship with god, as they know him to be, personal basis, while buddhism looks for an opening of awareness onto the oneness of everything that exists.
- Describes cannon's "six ways of being religious" as examples of the way of mystical quest. each has as its focus the ideal of coming into contact with whatever the religion takes to be ‘ultimate reality’.
- Analyzes how s of the texts on how to meditate and pursue their own experience of ‘reality’ expect that the reader is looking for a means of going beyond this physical and mental existence, in some sense, and meet with what is, for them, ‘ultimate reality’
- Explains that the participants take particular note of the passages of scripture that are guidelines (or can be taken as such) for coming to experience ‘ultimate reality.’
- Opines that a religious life requires more commitment than most people can put into it. there are splits in how people observe 'ultimate reality' and what is permissible as forms of meditation.
- Explains that the experiences of each of those who would practice mystical quest would be fairly similar, at least in outward descriptions.
1300 wordsRead More - Differences Between Buddhism and Christianitycomparative essayPeople who come from different areas may have same cultures and language while people who come from different countries may eat different food. However, people who live in the different places may have different religions. Two different religions that have a certain differences are the Buddhism and Christianity such as lifestyle, beliefs, and vies on universe. Although the Buddhism and Christianity could share similarities in some ways, the differences between them are more significant.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that people from different areas may have the same cultures and language, while people who live in different countries may eat different food. the differences between buddhism and christianity are more significant.
- Explains that buddhism, christianity, and islamism are the three largest religions all over the world, despite christianity and buddhism being the largest population.
- Explains that buddhism descends from ancient india, the creator is sakyamuni, and spreads to all around the world.
- Explains that both buddhism and christianity share differences in places and environment.
- Explains that both buddhism and christianity share different views on women. they believe that truth is within deep, and follow buddha's example and teachings.
- Explains that buddhists believe that the universe is always existed, and everything is the one, whereas christians believe god created everything.
- Compares buddhism and christianity in that one has to work for one's salvation. the christian believes that salvation is a free gift to those who would accept jesus christ as their savior.
- Explains that buddhists believe that the buddhist doctrine emphasizes on love for the entire mankind and every other being as well, no matter whether the being is a friend or enemy.
- Concludes that both buddhism and christianity share differences in life styles, theories, views on the world, rebirth, and eternal life.
- Cites harvey, peter, lewis, sarah m., and james r. lewis. sacred schisms: how religions divide.
- Cites mitchell, scott a., and betty, stafford. "what buddhists and christians are teaching each other about god."
- Explains the 2004 gerald weisfeld lectures: buddhism and christianity indialogue.
- Explains buddhism & christianity, comparitive study of buddhism, christianity, and christianity.
- Explains the premier online debate website's "thoughts on buddhism vs christianity".
- Narrates breuilly, elizabeth, joanne brien, martin palmer, and martin e. marty. religions of the world: the illustrated guide to origins, beliefs, traditions & festivals.
- Cites severy, merle, lopez, donald s., and wallace, holly. from stone to flesh: a short history of the buddha.
- Explains that giroux, schmidt, and valeri, practicing protestants: histories ofchristian life in america, 1630-1965.
1226 wordsRead More - Christianity And Buddhism Compare And Contrast Essayexplanatory essayThe origins of different religion often bare no similarities other than the existence of the people who perpetuated the founding ideas and theologies. Unsurprisingly, three of the oldest and some of the largest world religions practiced in the world are Hinduism, Christianity, and Buddhism. Each of these religions has a rich history that has touched people from all cultures and civilizations. As time has shown, both history and politics have been deeply influenced as a result of the developing of these religions. Likewise, as each evolved over centuries, they have taken on a certain framework, or set of beliefs and practices that are adhered to by its devotees. My feeling is that most people are looking for a core set of beliefs, or something that can give their life greater depth or direction. I also think that may have occurred since the human race became socialized,
In this essay, the author
- Opines that hinduism, christianity, and buddhism have a rich history that has touched people from all cultures and civilizations.
- Explains that hinduism religion believes in reincarnation. they believe that people are born, and die, many times. this ideology provides a possible explanation for suffering and evil.
- Explains that christianity, the world's most popular religion, is monotheistic and has branched into many different churches for different interpretations of its holy text.
- Explains that buddhism is a religion without study and teaching, without thinking of sin, salvation, heaven or hell, and teaches how to live and think right.
- Opines that while christianity and buddhism are opposites, they are structured religions based upon a strict set of guidelines.
1135 wordsRead More - Essay On Similarities Between Buddhism And Christianitycomparative essayThere are several major world religions all with their own belief system. The oldest organized religion is Hinduism which began in the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilization. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world today. Buddhism which is rooted in Hinduism spread from India to China and Japan at the same time that a new world religion, Christianity, was developing within the Roman Empire. Christianity is the world’s largest religion today. There are several key similarities and differences between the belief systems of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity in regard to their development, their basic ideology, and how their specific ideology is expressed in the arts.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that hinduism is pantheistic and the upanishads revealed that there was one supreme divinity or reality called brahman.
- Explains that buddhism differs from hinduism in that there is no god or supreme being. the ultimate objective of a buddhist is to reach nirvana.
- Explains that buddhism renounces earthly desires and worldly pleasures, emphasizes modesty and moderation, and promotes love and compassion for all people.
- Explains that christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the trinity of father, son, and holy spirit.
- Compares the architecture of hindu temples and buddhist stupas with early christian churches.
- Explains that hinduism, buddhism, and christianity all have their own belief systems.
- Explains that hinduism, buddhism, and christianity all teach the human values of reverence, compassion, kindness and tolerance to all humanity.
1993 wordsRead More - Film Summary Of The Film 'Own' By Alanaopinion essayInteresting to note, that I am currently working in a Jewish organization and now every day I am learning about their culture and tradition, which when I think about it, Christianity is not that different. I believe the take away from this discussion is that even though we come from the various culture when you get
In this essay, the author
- Opines that they were unaware of the orthodox jews rules until they had that encounter with the patient's son. they are happy to point out that in the synagogue women and men are separated.
- Explains that they are currently working in a jewish organization and learning about their culture and tradition, which when they think about it, christianity is not that different.
158 wordsRead More