Compare and Contrast Two Religions, Essay Example

Buddhism is one the primary religions in the Asian population. Theorigins of Nepal India date back to the 6^thwhile reaching the country of China and the rest of the world. The teachings of Buddhism are based on teachings of a man named Siddhartha Gautama, who named “The Budda. The “Budda spent over 35 years learning, teaching and finding enlightenment at the seasoned age of 35 years old.(Violatti 2). There are some similarities and some concerns of both Christianity and Buddhism. Both religions had great teachers and their births were celebrated. In addition, they were both involved with dealing with the devil early in their lives. One the most astonishing similarities are how the both miraculously feed hundreds of people. They we both celebrated in death as great phenomena’s. Both religions are concerned with enlightenment from their own God. This is a concern because Christians want to ensure the believers understand what it means to be a Christian.

The primary concern is others following Christianity being influence by false teachings. The Christians and Buddhism fear separation while others making their own interpretations because they are not following the doctrines that have been set forth for both religions.

Thistype of separation can cause a segregation monastery to split because the teachings have been misinterpreted. The primary concern of the Buddhist that they understand the teachings of Buddha while staying enlightens to not follow similar religions like Taoism, which is different from Buddhism.

Buddhism is concerned with the individual being enlighten being released from the cycle of rebirth but achieving the ultimate Nirvana. Christianity is also concerned with enlightenment from the scriptures of the Bible based on Jesus Christ. The Buddhist explains this experience of enlightenment as an awakening. During this awakening, they receive spiritual insight form Buddha on the way to a better understanding of life and self. According to About Buddhism (2007), through meditation we attain concentration clearing our minds of worldly thoughts while pulling away the veils of ignorance. The ultimate goal is to reach a full enlighten human being. Another concern of Buddhism primary concern is to ensure the world eliminates suffering while finding a positive solution to human suffering and existence. The Buddha made sure that the doctrine documented the concern about the human experience, which was considered to the first step in spiritual personal development. The personal development is in five stages, which the Buddha believes to the foundation of human existence. The stages are physical form, which is the body, sensation thatconsists of the five senses. Buddha believes the senses are an organ. Third, is perception, fourth impulses. Fifth is awareness.

In comparison, Christianity is concerned with enlightenment as well. Christian utilizes prayer to reach that next level of enlightenment, which allows a Christian to receive knowledge, understand, and direction from God. The Christian believes in saving souls with the truth and enlightenment of being born again. The goal is to enlighten the non-Christian that Jesus is the one who died for our sins and by accepting him, as your savior will save your soul.

The Christianity teachings and Buddhism have some overlaps such as establishing a religions Law and doctrines. The Buddha teachings the Dharma and Christianity existed teaching the bible. The both believe in dismissing or confessing sins or bad deeds. In Buddhism, they believe that one should strive hard to dismiss the bad deeds with doing more good deeds in life. Christians repent to God their sins to forgive for the things that have done wrong that go against the biblical words of God. Another overlap is the belief that human beings should not strive for material things they should be striving to get closer to understand themselves in relation to God. Buddhist does not take on lavish material things, which is not confused with the beautiful monasteryof being materialistic. These statues do not belong to the Buddhist. The exquisite building and arts are an expression of love and respect for Buddha not for material things in life. In comparison, Christianity teaches that Jesus did not live for the material things in life and good Christians are not seeking wealth but they are seeking salvations. Both religions overlap in teaching that followers should distrust intellect because those that think they are smarter than Buddha or Jesus teachings can change the interpretation. The intellect makes their goal of being more intelligent than all others versus trying to help that person reach Nirvana or be reborn again. Both religions stress yearning for the word of Buddha or God. They considered those with this type of yearning  is a wise man that has listen, learned and accepted these words of wisdom as gospel.

There are many ways the Christianity and Buddhism faith disagree. The Buddhist practices the three levels of practice as morality. Morality is more important to Buddhism because it guides the person to a new understanding in life. Concentration allows the Buddhist to receive the wisdom and enlightenment. Finally, wisdom is the key to full understanding and practices of Buddhism. The Christianitybelieves in prayer and worship the way to praise God. Another disagreement is human nature. Buddhism believes humans already possess these characteristics such as sin, anger, greed, and ignorance. These are men who not following the path of Buddhism. However, Christianitydoes not believe in those characteristics, they believe man inherited original sin from Adam and Eve. Humans are by nature evil and have fallen from the grace of God, so we are in need of salvation. Buddhism has statuses that are symbolic of Buddha; however, Christianity forbids praise or worshipping idols or statues. In addition, Christians believe anyone that is worshiping an idol does not believe in God as our savior. Buddhism follows the teachings of Dharma,whiles the Christianityreligion theChristianity belief of Christ as the Son, the Holy Trinity, and walked the earth in the form of God.

The concept of God is different for both religions. Christianity believes that there is nothing being only God as the omnipresent. Also made was made in the image of God who all in all things in heaven in earth was created by God. The oneness with God is our goal in life to be life God seeking no materialistic things but looking for salvation. The only way to God is through Jesus and the messages from the Bible. In contrast, Buddhism believes there is no external God. Everything that exist if God such as flowers, trees, earth, rain, sun and nature. They do not believe in Jesus Christ nor do they believe the Jesus died for our sins. Buddhism believes the concept of God as one in enlighten of self from within not an omnipresent deity externally. They believe in the awakening, which is known as “Nirvana” the search for one’s self. The Buddhist believe the bible does not take into account that God has already done his deed by giving the world light, darkness, water, freedom of choice, sky, earth, sun, happiness, and the only species on this earth that has the freedom to make a choice. Buddhism believes that our goal is to seek God in our selves not searching in omnipresent blank space but to look within to find the key to life that God has already put inside. Buddhism indicates we should spend a lifetime to find the secrets of one’s self for reach higher plains that connect us nature. Buddhism believe in the oneness of self not the oneness of God from an external source that we can never reach out and touch. Buddha indicates looking within is a great reward that looking for something on the outside that may never be explained. Buddha believes pursing happiness and wisdom instead of pursing an omnipresent God.

This suggest that humans can live together with different thoughts, believe, backgrounds and creeds. Both religions have contrasting and similar traits that suggests that all religion may have derived from one original origin. Humanity has adopted these beliefs for hundreds of years causing some holy wars but in reality, the world has live in prosperity with the existence of both religions. Humans have found a way with endurance and wisdom to allow both religions to maintain a certain balance allowing others to choose what they believe in their region. The overlapping and differences is what make both religions interesting to people. In addition, the overlapping bring some of the beliefs of others closer together because they are not far apart in what human beings believe to be true. However, no one can deny that both religions have taught both religions how to live in this world in peace and during war. The human race has spent many decades fighting the religious war losing millions of live in the name of religion. However, the world has maintain a great balance and endurance while we tolerate and allow others to choose their own worship. In some parts of the country, they have no choice but to accept the religion of that land. There is some argument that many of the origins of religion such as Christianity and Buddhism were forced on a population because of the spoils of war. In truth, humans respond well to prosocial behavior, which brings good outcomes of life in the world. Human’s behavior is a response to what religions they have belief. Humans being have the attitude that religion is the way to raise a family, live with others in peace and war and develop a respect for our fellow man regardless of the walk in life. The Christianity faith and Buddhism speaks volume about who we are and how we live. There are many that see the world on the brink of destruction; however, it is quite the opposite. This is the first time in centuries that Buddhism and Christianity exist in harmony.

Works Cited

About Buddha. (2014).Life of Buddha-Attaining enlightnment. Retrieved October 27, 2014 from http://www.aboutbuddha.org/english/life-of-buddha-4.htm/