Since the arrival of christian missionaries in india in the th century, followed by the arrival of buddhism in western europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, similarities were perceived between the practices of buddhism and christianity. Comparisons related to christianity are listed on this page. Comparing and contrasting buddhism with christianity. Christianity and buddhism compared essay many essays. To some people buddhism appeals because of its promises of calm and enlightenment where traditional creationist christianity has come to be intellectually regarded, by many, as having been discredited by the challenge of alternative explanations of human existence such as the darwinian theory of evolution.
I recently done a study on the similarities between christianity my old religion, and buddhism my new religion. Comparing world beliefs of buddhism, christianity, and islam. Traditional buddhism is a religion marked by individual effort, while salvation for christians focuses on gods grace. Bentley also wrote of similarities and stated that it is possible that buddhism influenced the early development of christianity and suggested attention to many parallels concerning the births, lives, doctrines, and deaths of the buddha and jesus. The popular appeal of buddhism today is one of coolness,tolerance, and nondissention. You can edit this template and create your own diagram. In the old testament, god appears as a dispenser of divine justice, this is a concept largely absent in buddhism. Even the buddha found a place on the saints calendar under the name saint josaphat. Comparing and contrasting hinduism with christianity creation. Many, especially in new mexico, are familiar with the teaching and conditions of christianity, beginning the creation of the heaven and earth, and coming to an end with the death of jesus, these teachings are taught weekly through mass.
Similarities and differences between hinduism and christianity 761 words 4 pages. Jesus came to this world as a man and fulfilled all the prophecies concerning the messiah. A persons life begins at conception and is everlasting, but not eternal. A few months ago my mother sent me a monthly newsletter that the san jose buddhist church distributes among its members. Christianity also has division within itself, the most prominent being between the roman catholic and protestant systems. Buddhism vs christianity essay example 1051 words bartleby.
One of christianitys goals is the attainment of eternal life with god. In this podcast episode, i want to talk a bit about buddhism and christianity with regards to similarities and differences. Buddhism vs christianity difference and comparison diffen. The early prophets of the buddhism religion are the buddha siddhartha gautama.
Dec 16, 2012 christianity also has division within itself, the most prominent being between the roman catholic and protestant systems. When you really break it down and look at the facts, there are several important similarities between the two that may help us to understand why these two seemingly totally contradictory theologies share much in common. One of christianity s goals is the attainment of eternal life with god. The most obvious reason is the belief of christians that there is a divine creator, whereas buddhism does not believe so. We shall do this by taking christianity as the reference and for convenience assume a knowledge of what christianity is, then identify a key tenet or feature without hav. Christianity is an offshoot of judaism and is an abrahamic religion. Creately diagrams can be exported and added to word, ppt powerpoint, excel, visio or any other document. Comparing world beliefs of buddhism, christianity, and. Given these substantial differences in doctrine the close similarity between buddhist and christian central spiritual teachings is perhaps surprising. Christianity is founded on biblical principles that are more comprehensive than buddhism archibald, 2009. Analogies have been drawn between buddhism and christianity and buddhism may have influenced early christianity. Compare and contrast christianity and islam term paper. Buddhists however, do not believe in the existence of one god but rather worship many gods.
Similarities between zoroastrianism and christianity. The forums in the christian congregations category are now open only to christian members. Compare and contrast christianity and islam in wikipedia religion is defineda religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and worldviews that relate humanity to an order of existence. Similarities between zoroastrianism and christianity although these are two different religions, they have many things in common. Posted on february 7, 2015 by star lord by juxtaposing christianity and buddhism, one can see how western religions compare and differ from eastern religions as the religions encompassing each region share some common ground, giving one a worldly view of religion. These concepts provided the basis for christian evangelism to this day. May 21, 2017 from differences between buddhism and christianity buddhism and christianity were both founded by great spiritual masters who sought to offer a path to salvation. It is unknown where hinduism was started and by whom. Christianity is a monotheistic religion and believes that christ is the son of god. In some ways, the two religions are similar, being based largely on the teachings of a single man. It then gives an account of how the good news of jesus can fulfill buddhist law, and deliver people from the drive of endless perfectionism. Buddhism is christianity, and buddhism is better than christianity, and christianity will never be itself until it is enlightened enough to become something different.
Pdf comparing christianity and buddhism gideon kombe. It is written by a hindu who has knowledge of christianity, some concepts may not have been explained in christianity in the same way as i will do now, bear with the small differences. The buddhist religion is unique in itself were buddhists do not worship any gods or god. Zen buddhist vs christianity or zen buddhist christian. Now that i am teaching theological students in southeast asia on a regular basis, my. View and share this diagram and more in your device or register via your computer. The terminology they used was often quite different. There are however, despite obvious differences, some very interesting similarities between buddhism and christianity, especially regarding prayer and worship, which fall into the ritual dimension of ninian smarts. Compare and contrast buddhism and christianity by quang. Many people believe there is a gap between the teachings of hinduism and christianity.
Christianity is clear that a personal god exists but he is to be the only object of worship. Jun, 20 brother philip jenkins, in his book the lost history of christianity noted often the way that believers went into asian lands and contexualized the gospel within tao and buddist terms that the locals could readily understand discussed here, here, and here at the lost history of christianity. Christianity postulates that there exists one true and supreme god who created everything in existence. Buddhist and christian beliefs christian research institute. From differences between buddhism and christianity buddhism and christianity were both founded by great spiritual masters who sought to offer a path to salvation. Others have noted the significant differences between the two religions beginning with monotheisms place at the core of. Christianity and buddhism are two of the most popular religions in the world. Buddha siddhartha gautama never claimed to be divine, and buddhists reject the notion of any supernatural power. Comparison between buddhism and christianity comparison. It was started by a prince named siddhartha gautama prince siddhartha gautama was the prophet of buddhism buddhist people worship in the buddhist temples called wats.
Differences between buddhism and christianity biography online. The christian church became the intermediary between god and the faithful by assuring entry into paradise through the act of faith and participation in services such as baptism and communion where christs sacrifice is re. Its a belief system that many feel can help them detach, maintain neutrality, and find peace in a world of injustice and suffering. Christian members please remember to read the statement of purpose threads for each forum within christian congregations before posting in the forum. Differences between buddhism and christianity biography. We define as christian any person or group who thoughtfully, sincerely, prayerfully regard themselves as christian.
Meditation and mindfulness are at the heart of buddhism. Personal mortality is followed by judgement by god. Apr 07, 2009 a few months ago my mother sent me a monthly newsletter that the san jose buddhist church distributes among its members. This gives both a touchstone to which followers can return, a fleshandblood example to whom they can look for guidance. Buddhism is not a commonly know, again, especially in new mexico. Buddhism and christianity society of gilbert keith.
Christianity on the other hand has firm beliefs of sins that are punishable by separation from god the creator. However, as you suggest, the fact that buddhism has no gods or god renders it more of a way of living, or a psychology of a healthy life, whereas, christianity espouses a deity, which means that. For catholics, both faith and ones ongoing works, or actions, are important for salvation. On the other hand, nichiren buddhism considers the ultimate truth as myoho, life of the universe having both aspects. Christianity and islam are part of the major significant religion. The beliefs of the hindus is very different then that of christians. Buddhism and christianity society of gilbert keith chesterton. Buddhism is a philosophy of life preached by gautama buddha buddha means enlightened one, who lived and taught in northern india in the 6th century b. Use pdf export for high quality prints and svg export for large sharp images or embed your diagrams anywhere with the creately viewer. Christianity the foundation of buddhism is based upon personal mental anguish and guilt if committing a wrongdoing. Despite surface level nonscholarly analogies, buddhism and. Hinduism stands for the faith and the way of life of most people who live in india. The comparative study between hinduism and buddhism.
A reward that is seen as being only available to those who have faith in jesus christ, and are made righteous by him. The new testament covenant, created within christianity, teaches that, depending on a persons belief in jesus as the savior of humanity, one would be consigned to heaven or hell. Buddhism is centered upon the life and teachings of gautama buddha, whereas christianity is centered on the life and teachings of jesus christ. The buddhist karmic law and christian moral code however are very comparable in values and beliefs but.
Comparing and contrasting hinduism with christianity. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading from buddha to jesus. My mother thought the major article in the newsletter would prove what she had been saying for nearly 30 years that the differences between buddhism and christianity are insignificant compared to what they. The similarities and differences between these religions is interesting, but what really fascinates me is whether or not buddhism at all influenced early christianity. Buddhism is centered upon the life and teachings of siddhartha gautama, who came to be known as the buddha the enlightened one, or one who is awake whereas christianity is centered on the life and teachings of jesus christ. Both buddhism and christianity began with an individual founder. Here im trying to see how many teachings have parallels in each religion.
But this mere logomachy does not alter the essentials of the opinion, which most of us have seen in one form or another for a great many years past. Buddhism was founded by a buddha named siddhartha gautama. Rod plummer senior pastor of jesus lifehouse tokyo. When i teach workshops about buddhism, its almost inevitable that someone will come up to me after and ask me about what the major differences or similarities are. The creation story also indicates a definite ending to this created order.
The entire christian conception of sin, is irrelevant to buddhism. Buddhism is an offshoot of hinduism and is a dharmic religion. Protestant christianity simply offers eternity in heaven or hell, depending on ones choice for jesus in this life. Comparison christianity and buddhism what are the differences. Compare and contrast buddhism and christianity by quang tran. Aug 14, 2017 hello you are listening to the secular buddhism podcast. Christianity considers the spiritual aspect of life as the ultimate truth god whose existence is independent of the universe or that he had existed already before the universe. God created man in his image with a human spirit, personality and will. A prince in india, siddartha gautama, started buddhism. Christians believe that god is the creator of the universe, the earth, and everything in it, and he did this in seven days genesis 1. Since the arrival of christian missionaries in the east in the th century, followed by the arrival of buddhism in western europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, similarities were perceived between the practices of buddhism and christianity. The question of origin buddhism and christianity differ completely when asked the question of origin. Some of the significant differences between buddhism and christianity god.
There are approximately more than four thousand religion in the world. During the 20th century the differences between these two belief systems were also highlighted. Buddhist missionaries were sent by emperor ashoka of india to syria, egypt and greece beginning in 250 bce and may have helped prepare for the ethics of christ. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Essay about comparing the religions of christianity and. But some more recent researches date zoroastrianism to around 1200 b. Suffering in buddhism does not equate to sin but rather impermanence. Comparison between buddhism and christianity comparison essay sample samples comparison comparison between buddhism and christianity buddhism and christianity are different religions with numerous similarities as well as differences that one might find really interesting to look at in details.
Others have noted the significant differences between the two religions beginning with monotheisms place at the core of christianity, and buddhisms orientation towards nontheism the lack of relevancy of the existence of a creator deity which runs counter to teachings about god in christianity. Differences and comparisons in category christianity there are 57 articles in this category. Several books have been written on the subject that the teachings and lives of the buddha and jesus christ are remarkably similar. You asked what are the key differences between christianity and buddhism. Hinduism is the only religion i have learned about outside of christianity making the study of it much more interesting. The buddha was not a god and the philosophy of buddhism does not entail any theistic worldview until after it was introduced into china. The following that these two religions command underscores the need for information regarding the core beliefs that they are made of. Buddhism is a nontheistic religion or philosophy, i.
Christianity offers its followers an explicit account of the creation of the world and of human beings. From buddha to jesus is a clear exposition of both buddhas search for truth and the foundations of buddhist culture. Dom bedes analysis makes it relatively easy for the westerner to obtain a preliminary understanding of a very complicated systemor complex of systemsof religious thought and practice. What are the key differences between christianity and. Buddha could not reconcile the existence of suffering with an allpowerful, loving god and so rejected the teachings of hinduism. Since so many american adults are converting from christianity to buddhism, it may be useful to compare the two. Since the arrival of christian missionaries in the east in the th century, followed by the arrival of buddhism in western europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, similarities were perceived between the practices of buddhism and christianity quotes. Shwedagon pagoda, yangon, myanmar since first interviewing buddhist monks in 2007, i have become increasingly aware of the contributions of buddhist philosophy and practice, not only for buddhists but also for christians. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, following christianity and islam. As mentioned before, we shall find out what is the difference between buddhism and christianity.