Christians and Buddhists?

Question

I'm a Christian that bases his faith on the uniqueness of it. I find that the lack of rules in Christianity and forgiveness of the thief on the cro9ss beside Jesus is very unique. However, I have found much doubt in the parallels between Christianity and Buddhism. I suppose I don't know much about Buddhism, but I know Jesus and Buddha were both people who rebelled against their former religion by accepting the poor, and, at the same time, kept the old teachings of the religion. I was wondering, what makes the religions different. (If you are a Buddhist and feel that helping me faith wise would almost be hypocrytical, I understand ;) )

PS Buddha was reincarnated and had an after life, to my understanding. Jesus rose from death too, but in a different way.

sybil_the_soothsay, thank you.
Sophie, you made a good point that I didn't know about.
Theophilus, if you don't face doubt, how do you propose to find the truth?

Answer 1

Buddhism feels we must take responsibility for ourselves and therefore, there is no outside salvation. As you stated, Christianity is the opposite of that. That is the basic difference.

Answer 2

Buddhism and Christianity have very similar foundations and (moral) beliefs, but for opposite reasons. Buddhism says that you should be good to people, good to yourself, unselfish, caring, merciful, should not desire wealth or power or fame, you should not be prideful or quick to anger or desiring to do wrong things. Christianity says the same things, but Buddhism says you should do them because self is all there is and, by achieving personal perfection, Nirvana (a rough equivalent of Heaven) will be attained.

Christianity says that no person under his or her own power can be perfect, that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Christianity says that you should do good things and not bad things because God (a higher power that most Buddhists don't believe in, per se) said so and He is just and right in commanding it.

Also, to follow strict Christian doctrine, Christ is the only way (*the* way, *the* truth and *the* life), while Buddhists believe that any religion or spiritual faith can be a path to Nirvana, as long as you achieve enlightenment.

Answer 3

Hi! I study buddhism and I come from a Catholic background. You are right in pointing the similarities amond Jesus and Buddha's teachings, but there is a major difference between the two faiths: In Buddhism the figure of God is not relevant, that is, we look for enlightment by our own means, and not through salvation by a higher being.
"Enlightment" actually means "seen things as they are" (as I understand), and not reaching some sort of heaven. People can reach enlightment and still lead a human, normal life, and yes, die when the time comes.
And then comes the re-birth and Samsara issues which are long to explain (many members of this forum are better suited than me to elaborate on this). Hope to be of a little help to you.
And thanks for being curious! So nice we can have a dialog on these issues!

Answer 4

You sound like a Jesuit, did you go to Loyola or Marquette or Georgetown? You may be aware that the Jesuits have had a bit of a run-in with the Pope over this matter. To over simplify the Jesuits said that since neither Obama nor McCain completely agree with Catholic teaching (Obama is pro abortion and McCain is pro war and pro death penalty) then Catholics are left with a dilemma. Can a Catholic vote in good conscious to end the war in Iraq and for abortion? Can a Catholic vote in good conscious for the war and against abortion? The Jesuits say these are legitimate topics for debate. The Pope, and most of the Catholic hierarchy, says that the abortion issue trumps all others. The Jesuits counter that the Pope should then issue an infallible teaching. Absent an infallible teaching it is an open question. As you might imagine, that argument did not go over well with His Holiness. The Jesuit-run news magazine America now has a new editor in chief. Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam

Answer 5

I recommend the book Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh. While I have not personally read it, it comes highly recommended and think it answers your question to a T.

Here is a summary:

If you have always assumed that Christianity and Buddhism are as far apart philosophically as their respective founders were geographically, you may be in for a bit of a surprise. In this national bestseller, Zen monk and social activist Thich Nhat Hanh draws parallels between these two traditions that have them walking, hand in hand, down the same path to salvation. In Christianity, he finds mindfulness in the Holy Spirit as an agent of healing. In Buddhism, he finds unqualified love in the form of compassion for all living things. And in both he finds an emphasis on living practice and community spirit.
The thread that binds the book is the same theme that draws many Christians toward Buddhism: mindfulness. Through anecdotes, scripture references, and teachings from both traditions, Nhat Hanh points out that mindfulness is an integral part of all religious practice and teaches us how to cultivate it in our own lives. Nhat Hanh has no desire to downplay the venerable theological and ritual teachings that distinguish Buddhism and Christianity, but he does cause one to consider that beyond the letter of doctrine lies a unity of truth.

Answer 6

There's no right religion... I was born Buddhist and later converted into a Catholic.

Most religions have the same idea, they only want what's best for an individual and society.

Religion is simply an interpretation of faith.

Answer 7

I don't think that either of them 'rebelled' in the sense of basing their stand in opposition to authorities (thereby letting the authorites to be the defining factor) so much as they peacefully and powerfully followed their own paths. What makes them different? A gross oversimplication would be that Buddhism says "It is what it is" and Christianity says "It is this"

Answer 8

There is a book that you should read, called "The Lotus and the Cross", by Ravi Zacharias. Whether you read this from a Buddhist viewpoint or a Christian one, it will challenge and instruct.

Answer 9

Buddah was a man. Jesus was God in the flesh. There may be similarities between the religions, but I think the whole diety issues sets them apart. Buddah said there is no god.

Answer 10

Both parties are comparson and forgiven to one who did wrong for you. Christian forgives the one who did wrong for you ; is christian obey Christ to forgive and feel everyone will did wrong. Buhhaist forgiven one did wrong to him; is feeling ourself in the past previous karmas did wrong to him, forgive the one and ashame of bad karmas in the past previous life. As budaist will think we are both sinner and now I understand you did wrong and I forgive you and asking for forgiven me from prevoius life I did you wrong too. The later one is looking for ourself whether we did wrong and will not commit again and help the one to lead him to the right way.