Buddhism vs Christianity
Although Buddhism and Christianity disagree about many issues, they are similar in a plethora of ways. Most of the writing available that compares Buddhism and Christianity focuses on how and/or why they are so dissimilar. This will be slightly different. We will not only examine the differences but also the similarities shared between the two.
One fundamental problem Buddhism has with its counterpart is the Christian view of God. Most Christians believe that God exists outside the universe in heaven. This implies that God is a being, of some sort. We also believe that Jesus is his son who existed before the universe began. The Gospel of John chapter 1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Later, John tells us that the Word is Jesus. This is the same Jesus who is born of the Virgin Mary, dies for the sins of the world, rose from the dead, appeared to over 500 people, and ascended into heaven to be with the Father. “In the beginning…” Jesus already was and will continue to be after the end of time. Also, we believe in the Holy Spirit. This is the Comforter that Jesus refers to in John chapters 14, 15, and 16. We, as Christians, believe that these three make up the Holy Trinity. The standard doctrine of the Holy Trinity states that these three separate beings make up God and are one. We believe God is a “triune” God. This is explained in 1 John 5:7, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
Buddha is not some oriental god. He was a man who achieved enlightenment. The term “Buddha” is also used to describe ones enlightened mental state. Therefore, Buddhists do not “believe,” they strive to “understand.” (However, Christians can say that they do not “believe” in Jesus, but rather “understand” that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. The claim by one religion to have attained knowledge does not mean they have knowledge, per se.) Buddhism rejects any god who exists outside the universe. For a Buddhist, all life is one. There is no separation between God, man, and universe. Buddhists do not accept God as a personal existence outside universal law. For a Buddhist, God only exists as a poetical expression of universal law. Therefore, God existing outside the universe would be a contradiction, because God is the universe and the universe is God.
The phrase “it’s in God’s hands” should be familiar to westerners. We believe that God controls that which we cannot as mere humans. A Buddhist believes that he creates the world, every moment of every day. This means that he can change it to suit his own will. A Buddhist controls his own will and the Christian is subject to God’s. “Buddha concluded without [a] relationship of the world to the elements, subjective and objective, there is nothing.”
Buddhists believe that there are three parts to the mind; craving, acting, and discontent. Each results in the other creating a cycle. They believe that everything in the universe can be broken down into this process under the law of causation. For Buddhists, this is an endless chain with no creator at the center other than the human mind. “Buddhism places the center of the universe in the subjectivity of the individual mind, whereas other religions put it in the objectivity outside the individual mind.” Buddhism does not say that the individual is the “first cause” but promises you will know what the “first cause” is when you have fulfilled the requirements.
The spread of Christianity has been swift and strong. Christians have largely followed the command Jesus makes at the end of the Gospel of Mark, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.” They have taken an aggressive, and sometimes militaristic, approach to spread their belief. Missionaries have been commissioned to reach places as remote as small tribes in Africa to the major cities of America. The Bible has been mass produced in almost every language on the face of the earth and almost every dialect. In contrast, Buddhists have chosen to lead by example. They passively recruit through living out Buddhist precepts.
Though these religions disagree on many levels they are quite similar in some very important ways. Both religions are based on the life of one man who is the epitome of each of the fundamental values taught by and studied by followers today. Christianity and Buddhism have a set of written laws that each member must strive to follow. For Christians the law is exemplified by the Ten Commandments. Buddhist monks and nuns adhere to over 250 precepts. American Buddhists only follow three of the precepts: Avoid all evil thoughts and actions, attain good thoughts and right actions, and to develop Prajna (wisdom; that quality of ability to see directly into the true nature of things beyond mere intellection).
Buddhism has a Golden Rule similar to that of Christianity, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In Christianity, the principle concept that Christ taught was to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Similarly, Buddhists view the world as an extension of themselves. You wouldn’t kill your arm just because it did not agree with you. Likewise, one should not kill another because of a disagreement. Christ also prayed that believers would be one with him and, in turn, one with God. Buddhism would have no problem with accepting this oneness as we have already discussed. Buddhism embraces that which is true from any religion. Monks read and study a variety of religious texts and scriptures so as not to overlook some truth contained therein.
Note: All information on Buddhism was taken from-
Senzaki and Nyogen. Buddhism and Zen. New York. Philosophical Library. 1953
-proper citation is not used because I no longer have the book.
One fundamental problem Buddhism has with its counterpart is the Christian view of God. Most Christians believe that God exists outside the universe in heaven. This implies that God is a being, of some sort. We also believe that Jesus is his son who existed before the universe began. The Gospel of John chapter 1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Later, John tells us that the Word is Jesus. This is the same Jesus who is born of the Virgin Mary, dies for the sins of the world, rose from the dead, appeared to over 500 people, and ascended into heaven to be with the Father. “In the beginning…” Jesus already was and will continue to be after the end of time. Also, we believe in the Holy Spirit. This is the Comforter that Jesus refers to in John chapters 14, 15, and 16. We, as Christians, believe that these three make up the Holy Trinity. The standard doctrine of the Holy Trinity states that these three separate beings make up God and are one. We believe God is a “triune” God. This is explained in 1 John 5:7, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
Buddha is not some oriental god. He was a man who achieved enlightenment. The term “Buddha” is also used to describe ones enlightened mental state. Therefore, Buddhists do not “believe,” they strive to “understand.” (However, Christians can say that they do not “believe” in Jesus, but rather “understand” that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. The claim by one religion to have attained knowledge does not mean they have knowledge, per se.) Buddhism rejects any god who exists outside the universe. For a Buddhist, all life is one. There is no separation between God, man, and universe. Buddhists do not accept God as a personal existence outside universal law. For a Buddhist, God only exists as a poetical expression of universal law. Therefore, God existing outside the universe would be a contradiction, because God is the universe and the universe is God.
The phrase “it’s in God’s hands” should be familiar to westerners. We believe that God controls that which we cannot as mere humans. A Buddhist believes that he creates the world, every moment of every day. This means that he can change it to suit his own will. A Buddhist controls his own will and the Christian is subject to God’s. “Buddha concluded without [a] relationship of the world to the elements, subjective and objective, there is nothing.”
Buddhists believe that there are three parts to the mind; craving, acting, and discontent. Each results in the other creating a cycle. They believe that everything in the universe can be broken down into this process under the law of causation. For Buddhists, this is an endless chain with no creator at the center other than the human mind. “Buddhism places the center of the universe in the subjectivity of the individual mind, whereas other religions put it in the objectivity outside the individual mind.” Buddhism does not say that the individual is the “first cause” but promises you will know what the “first cause” is when you have fulfilled the requirements.
The spread of Christianity has been swift and strong. Christians have largely followed the command Jesus makes at the end of the Gospel of Mark, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.” They have taken an aggressive, and sometimes militaristic, approach to spread their belief. Missionaries have been commissioned to reach places as remote as small tribes in Africa to the major cities of America. The Bible has been mass produced in almost every language on the face of the earth and almost every dialect. In contrast, Buddhists have chosen to lead by example. They passively recruit through living out Buddhist precepts.
Though these religions disagree on many levels they are quite similar in some very important ways. Both religions are based on the life of one man who is the epitome of each of the fundamental values taught by and studied by followers today. Christianity and Buddhism have a set of written laws that each member must strive to follow. For Christians the law is exemplified by the Ten Commandments. Buddhist monks and nuns adhere to over 250 precepts. American Buddhists only follow three of the precepts: Avoid all evil thoughts and actions, attain good thoughts and right actions, and to develop Prajna (wisdom; that quality of ability to see directly into the true nature of things beyond mere intellection).
Buddhism has a Golden Rule similar to that of Christianity, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In Christianity, the principle concept that Christ taught was to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Similarly, Buddhists view the world as an extension of themselves. You wouldn’t kill your arm just because it did not agree with you. Likewise, one should not kill another because of a disagreement. Christ also prayed that believers would be one with him and, in turn, one with God. Buddhism would have no problem with accepting this oneness as we have already discussed. Buddhism embraces that which is true from any religion. Monks read and study a variety of religious texts and scriptures so as not to overlook some truth contained therein.
Note: All information on Buddhism was taken from-
Senzaki and Nyogen. Buddhism and Zen. New York. Philosophical Library. 1953
-proper citation is not used because I no longer have the book.
posted by tank at 10:41 PM
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