How is Buddhism different from Christianity? There are several different types of religion throughout the world. Many of us take on the religion of the house hold in which we grew up. Lots of time we maintain that religion through our adult lives and even pass it on to our kids without researching or even attending any other religious service or event. For most people, once a denomination is chosen they believe it to be the only religion that is true and all others are fake or untrue. The belief that all other religions are wrong is achieved without knowing anything about the religion or its beliefs. A quick google search says that there are roughly five major religions in the world with around 4,200 different various. For this …show more content…
Because of the many different definition given to the word God, I will focus on how it is defined in Buddhism and in Christianity. Buddhism does not believe in a God, but does not deny the existence. Buddha believes that a person’s belief in a God would take away from their quest for Nirvana. Nirvana is the “the release from suffering and rebirth that brings inner peace (Molloy 179).” Additionally Buddhism believes even if there was a God that being would be impermanent like all living beings of the world. Buddhism also feels that God is not necessary to explain the origins of the universe. There is no evidence of God and science does have evidence of creation that do not involve a God. Finally, Buddha did not like the idea of a God because the idea of God can be traced to the origins of fear. Often God is used to invoke fear into people in order to get them to comply with the guideline of a religion. Fear of God is at the center of Christianity. When Jesus begin ministering the word of God, many believed that they were living in the ends of time. “God would destroy all the enemies of pious Jews (Molloy 336).” This fear of God led many to Christianity. According to the Holy Trinity there is not just God, but instead there are three. The Father God, the son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit which is the power of God. Christians believe that God sent Jesus to earth inform them of his existence and to teach them how to worship his believes
Religion is one of the oldest and most sacred traditions of the human species. Religion started off as a basic belief in an afterlife, and then further developed into tribal religions, which evolved into ancestral worship, then to polytheism, and lastly into monotheism. Monotheism in the form of Christianity is the largest religion of the modern world, and it has similar beliefs to other world religions such as Buddhism. Christianity and Buddhism are similar because both religions teach about the equality of people and that making good choices reflects the positive teachings of that religion. They are also similar in how they formed, as both broke off from another religion that was exclusive, and both became popular and spread easily
Can a person be a Christian and follow Buddhist traditions? In comparison to ancient times, today it is not unusual for a person to identify as both a Christian and a Buddhist. Though Christians and Buddhists have been interacting since ancient times, it is now that the topic of dual belonging has become more common. How can a person be both a Christian and Buddhist when both are significantly different from the other in practice and in belief? Dual belonging is becoming a common practice in the Western world. This paper will compare Christianity and Buddhism and explain the concept and practice of dual belonging.
Throughout history many universal religions have spread throughout the world. From cities to cities, countries to countries and so on. Christianity and Buddhism are two of the top universal religions that were practiced and spread throughout the early world. A series of events lead to the early and quick spread of Christianity and Buddhism throughout the early world. As turmoil engulfed the Jews in Judea, Christianity arose. The teaching of Christianity began with a Jew named Jesus. At the age of 30, Jesus began preaching the word of God to villagers near the Sea of Galilee. As Jesus preached, significant amounts of groups crowded around him to learn about his teachings, especially when word spread that he had performed acts of healing. Soon Jesus later formed a group of disciples or close followers to help spread his teachings.
According to our text, Huston Smith believed that all religions were essentially the same, whereas Stephen Prothero believes that they are all fundamentally different. These two differing opinions can be looked at further by comparing two of the world religions: Christianity and Buddhism. I believe that all religions are a mixture of both; religions are essentially the same and are also fundamentally different. Christianity and Buddhism both have similar aspects within them, and they have different aspects as well. In order to make sense of the world, one needs to have knowledge of religion and the implications it has on society (Prothero).
Two of the most widely practiced religions around the world today are Christianity and Buddhism. However, they did not start off with such a large following. Christianity, was a small cult that branched off of Judaism and was being strongly prosecuted against. Buddhism was just a single person trying to find a reason for and an end to the universal suffering that he had just newly encountered. Even though the following of Christianity and Buddhism had started off small, by developing their core beliefs as rejections of Judaism and Hinduism, they were able to better fascinate and convert others.
Every Religion believes in either a God(s), a leader, or supernatural forces. Unlike Christians who believe in Jesus Christ, is the divine savior of God, who died upon the cross to save others from their sins, Buddhists believe in an enlightened man referred to as Buddha. Buddha is believed to have lived between circa 563 to 483 BCE and believed to have taught in northeastern India. Buddha’s teachings are based upon his life, and provide guidance and support to his followers.
“Rivers, ponds, lakes, and streams—they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do—they all contain truths,” said by Muhammad Ali. Religion is the belief and reverence for a supernatural power and powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe (2003). The religions I’ve chose to compare and contrast would be non denomination/ Christianity and Buddhism. Each religion would be broken down by their religious belief, religious ritual, and religious experience. The definition of these religious things are: religious belief is a statement to which members of a particular religion adhere, religious ritual is a practice required or expected of members of a faith, and religious experience is the feeling or
Christians also believe in such polarities as good and evil, God and Devil, Heaven and Hell -- none of which form an important part of any Buddhist teachings. Christianity is likewise authoritarian and dictatorial -- "you must believe this or you will be condemned" -- whereas Buddhism tends to be more liberal and allows people to believe more or less whatever they like. Christians ban certain teachings as heretical, evil and harmful, but
Religion is defined as "the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God" . There are many recognised religions of the world, which all teach its followers to live life "the right way", whose definition varies according to the religion itself. They have some beliefs and practices that distinguish themselves from each other. Some examples are differences and similarities of Buddhism and Islam.
At first glance the traditions of Christianity and Buddhism appear very different from each other. One centers around a God that was at one time physically manifest on earth in the human form of his "son" Jesus Christ, the other primarily worships a historical figure that gained divine status through enlightenment. This assessment is broad at best, especially in the case of Buddhism where the Theravada and Mahayana traditions differ significantly. Christianity also has division within itself, the most prominent being between the Roman Catholic and Protestant systems. There are however, despite obvious differences, some very interesting similarities between Buddhism and
In present-day society, the globalization, briefly including economics, and culture, has become an unstoppable tendency. With its rapid development and cultural communication, some controversies have emerged. Religious conflicts are characteristic examples showing the detrimental influences of cultural globalization. It is generally acknowledged that Buddhism and Christianity are ancient and global religions; however, whether the belief in Buddhism is credible or not, has sparked spirited debate. The Christian believes the Buddha is a “shadow”, and he is not to be believed. Actually, there are some similarities in terms of histories, main figures, and beliefs between Buddhism and Christianity. In order to solve sources of conflict, the
Buddha and Christ are two men who have greatly influenced the world with their lives and teachings. Many believe they had similar beliefs and morals, while others consider Christianity to be the antithesis of Buddhism. Both these important figures in religion came at a time in history that religious and political oppression was rampant in their regions. Jesus and Buddha lead their followers on a path that sought change and understanding of their world as well as their spiritual liberation. At first glance one might believe Buddhism and Christianity have very little in common, however, with a deeper inspection they mirror and complement each other with examples of many moral parallels. The teachings of Jesus and Buddha reformed their parent religions of Hinduism and Judaism. Their principle lessons were to spread love and light in this world and espouse altruism.
So, Christianity has an almighty God and Buddhism has an omnipresent "father-figure" who they look to for guidance on their religious journey. Thus, Christianity is monotheistic and Buddhism has no personal God, However, both religions believe their religious figures are omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent, in which they ultimately have unlimited power. Meanwhile, the struggle with humanity regarding Christianity is reaching Heaven and avoiding temptation and subjecting to sin. The struggle with Buddhism is reaching enlightenment and nirvana and end suffering and ignorance. This problem with humanity can be fixed!
Their belief in a higher spirit is one of the many similarities that Christianity and Buddhism hold together. Christianity’s origin came from a long-standing belief in the coming of a Messiah in which they believed was Jesus of Nazareth, the incarnate Son of God. Jesus was considered a Jewish prophet and a teacher who was said to have worked many miracles, especially healing the sick. They are essentially monotheistic in that it professes faith in one, supreme, personal God (Gwynne, 2018). In the fifth century, the origin of Buddha points to one
Compassion is basically considered to be one of the most virtues in almost all religious traditions such as Buddhism and Christianity. Buddhism and Christianity are two different religions but both of them are interrelated. Both religions have hope of life after death, hope of reincarnation of Buddhists, eternal life of Christians, but live consciously. Both Buddhism and Christianity were founded by spiritual leaders and masters who tried to prove a way of salvation. Based on religious writings, this paper explores the way Buddhism and Christianity are different and in what ways they similar from the point of salvation, life after death, and love.