Buddhism and Christianity, Not So Different

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of the worshiper. They both are trying to leave the material world by attaining this spiritual perfection and true happiness can only come from achieving it. There is a monastic component to each of the religions.

There are many similarities to compare the two religions, but there many aspects contrast as well. In Buddhism there is not a single figure that represents a God, the spiritual perfection is to better in person and reach enlightenment within. On the other hand, Christianity fully supports that there is a God and active prayer is conducted to worship Him. The way that worship is conducted in each of the religions has its own flare. Buddhists meditate and practice mindfulness as their way of worship, whereas Christianity stresses prayer. In the document, The Buddha, Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Law, which is a reconstructed version of the sermon that Buddha gave after he found the path to Enlightenment, discusses the way that he was able to find the Middle Path by following the Eightfold Path. He says, “This, O Bhikkhus, is the Noble Truth of the Path which leads to the cessation of suffering: that Holy Eightfold Path, that is to say, Right Belief, Right Aspiration, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Means of Livelihood, Right Endeavor, Right Memory, Right Meditation…” meaning that by following these rights is the Path to Enlightenment. Christianity has no such path to follow to reach Salvation, to get to there it is believed that there must be complete devotion to Christ. In the document Saint Paul, Epistle to the Romans, written by Saint Paul to help center the belief on Jesus as Lord and Savior, he writes, “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart the God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” This shows that there is an obvious difference in the worshiping practiced used in both religions, Buddhism promotes self realization and Christianly promotes belief in Jesus. The way that the after life is viewed contrasts significantly as well. Buddhism believes in reincarnation and the endless cycle of brith and rebirth. In the Christian religion it is taught that there is only one life and one chance. Once the spiritual perfection has been reached, there are two endings that further separate the religions; salvation and liberation. Salvation can only be reached if Jesus Christ is excepted as the savior and have complete faith in Him in order to gain eternal life in heaven. In Buddhism, every individual has to work to reach personal liberation from the birth and rebirth cycle and this can take many life cycles because believing in Buddha is not enough to reach nirvana.

Based on the information laid out above, it is clear to say that the similarities between Buddhism and Christianity are stronger. The general premise behind the two religions instantly makes them seem more different from each other than they truly are. Buddhism and Christianity have very similar opinions on how a person should conduct themselves with other people and when they are finding their inner faith in them self. A large portion of that philosophy is to overcome all the hate in the world with love by loving yourself and loving the people that are around you including the less fortunate. Both religions have one creator that initially practiced these principles and the people that practice these religions in modern times and though out history have a deep sense of devotion for Christ and Buddha. All of these major similarities make Buddhism and Christianity more similar than they

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