what are the simarlarities between christianity and buddhism?

Answer 1

Here is the problem.

There are similarities between some schools of Buddhism and some schools of Christianity. The similarities between Tibetan Buddhism, particularly the Gelug lineage, that of the Dalai Lama, and Roman Catholicism are amazing.

There are also several generic similarities between Buddhism and Christianity, some of which coliej420 touched on. There are also some others that some of the other posters provided links to. You can find many other examples and articles here:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism4.htm

or on Wikipedia here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_and_Buddhism

However the facts are that Buddhism and Christianity are VERY different and despite peoples wishes that the messages were the same, Buddha and Jesus had VERY different message.

It is true both wanted people to live in peace and then both believed too much wealth was counterproductive but with the exception of these and a few other surface level similarities, the teaches of these two men are worlds apart.

Jesus taught that he was the only way to the peace of heaven. Buddha said his path was a path (meaning there are others) to enlightenment.

Jesus was not to be questions. Buddha wanted people to question his teachings.

And here are a few whopper.

Jesus told people to prey to god.
Buddha taught that gods were irrelevant.

Jesus teaches that ultimate peace comes from him and from his father.
Buddha teaches that ultimate peace comes from within.

Jesus teaches that when you make mistakes (sin) you may ask god for forgiveness and through the sacrifice Jesus made, your sins will be washed away. (Understanding of course that you must be truly repentant.)
Buddha teaches that no matter how sorry you are, karma (good or bad) can not be escaped or fooled. (Except through enlightenment and that's not escaping karma it's accepting it.)

The teachings of Jesus require a belief in god, the here after and the supernatural.
Buddhist teachings do not require a belief in any of these things. Some schools of Buddhism teach about these beliefs and assume people believe them, but most schools of Buddhism do not preface this belief with it being necessary for enlightenment.

For these fundamental reasons and many others no matter what similarities there are there are too many differences to try and unite the two in ay way.

Look at it this way.

Both me and a good friend are looking to purchase new vehicles. HE is looking at the 2008 HUMMER H2 SUV Luxury edition and I am looking at a 2008 Chevy Corvette Convertible. Both vehicles have an MSRP around $62,000.00. Both have 4 wheels, engines, mufflers, exhaust systems, transmissions, breaks, air-conditioning, etc... Both are black and if you look close enough at the user manuals for each of the vehicles, there will be several similarities. (using unleaded fuel only, check oil regularly, Keep your tire pressure at the manufactures recommended level, etc...) Both vehicles can even get you from starting point A to destination point B.

But, do you REALLY think that a comparison of H2 and a Corvette will yelled any viable similarities? NO! No matter what similarities you find, you are NOT going to make a Corvette enthusiast trade in his Vette for a Hummer or vise versa. Now! Showing that the Vette gets almost twice the miles per gallon (even if that's not showing much) as the H2 or that it retains is value better or what ever technical reason you have for loving the Corvette, may persuade the H2 enthusiast, but NOT the similarities.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

truthfully. i'm a Christian who was a Zen Buddhist! What i wish human beings will comprehend that Buddhism is extra of a philosophy, a lifestyle; no longer a faith. i come across it obtainable to nonetheless adhere to a pair Buddhist techniques AND be a Christian. enable's see, Zen Buddhist techniques/tenets/precepts that tournament up with Christianity: no longer harming different residing issues, do no longer reason harm to human beings, No stealing / thievery dodge sexual immorality do no longer lie/slander/gossip don't be mean or hurtful to others whilst talking comprehend the present of the physique- do no longer pollute it (drugs, alcohol, gluttony, sloth, etc.) value of the soul, admire of existence, each individual is a distinctive guy or woman and could be respected, Meditation is substantial, transforming into in know-how is substantial, Sow goodness in all issues, stay far off from evil issues/behaviors, picking volatile natures to the self will harm the self, each action has a consequence, The golden rule (do unto others...), Be beneficiant, See the solid in others and concentration on that, do no longer factor out any "undesirable," See others as your equals, do no longer provide into anger. of path there are additionally super transformations... Peace. :)

Answer 3

The answer really depends on what you mean by christianity. If by christianity you mean the phenomenon observed by the inhabitants of the city of Antioch in the first century, that prompted them to refer to the then followers of Jesus as "Christians", then by reading the book of Acts in the new testament you will quickly discover that there is no similarity. If however, christianity for you is a religion among several others in the world, then I'm sure you will find many similarities.

Answer 4

Ways of life - things like treating others fairly, not being an idiot, things to that nature. Things that deal with life and respecting others - it's called 'practice' which is what Buddhism focuses on. Christianity has too much focus on a bunch of "belief" where Buddhism has "0" belief.

All religions have similarities

Answer 5

They are total opposites on the big question of God and our relationship to him. The similarities would have to do with behaviors and interactions between people. They both have the "golden rule" and espouse generosity and kindness.

Answer 6

Some of the sayings of Jesus can be paralleled to those of Buddha, who was very enlightened and who said them first. Some who have researched the historical Jesus believe he studied with some Buddhists.

But otherwise, they are really very different overall.

Answer 7

Comparison of Buddhism with Christianity:
Since about 75% of American adults identify themselves as Christian and only 0.5% view themselves as Buddhist, it may be useful to compare Buddhism with the U.S.'s dominant religion.

We define as "Christian" any person or group who thoughtfully, sincerely, prayerfully regard themselves as Christian. This is the definition that pollsters and the census offices of many countries use. It includes as Christians the full range of faith groups who consider themselves to be Christians, including Assemblies of God members, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, United Church members, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, etc. Many Christians have a much less inclusive definition of the term "Christian."

Beliefs not shared: Buddhists do not share most of the core beliefs of historical Christianity and many of the less critical beliefs accepted by some Christians. These include: An original golden era in the Garden of Eden, and a subsequent fall of humanity.
Original sin shared by all present-day humans, derived from Adam and Eve.
A world-wide flood in the time of Noah, causing the greatest human genocide in history.
The need for a sinless personal savior whose execution enabled individual salvation through atonement.
A god-man savior who was born of a virgin, executed, resurrected and ascended to heaven.
Salvation achieved through good works, specific beliefs and/or sacraments.
Eternal life spent in either a heaven or hell after death.
Return of the savior to earth at some time in the future.
An end of the world as we know it in the near future.

Some shared beliefs: Buddhism and Christianity share some features: Ethic of Reciprocity: Buddhism, Christianity and all of the other major world religions share a basic rule of behavior which governs how they are to treat others. Two quotations from Buddhist texts which reflect this Ethic are: "...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353.
Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18.
This compares closely to Christianity's Golden Rule, which is seen in: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Matthew 7:12.
"...and don't do what you hate..." Gospel of Thomas 6.

Life after death: Almost all religions teach that a person's personality continues after death. In fact, many religious historians believe that this belief was the prime reason that motivated people to originally create religions. Christianity and Buddhism are no exception. However, they conceive of life after death in very different forms: Buddhism teaches that humans are trapped in a repetitive cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. One's goal is to escape from this cycle and reach Nirvana. Once this is attained, the mind experiences complete freedom, liberation and non-attachment. Suffering ends because desire and craving -- the causes of suffering -- are no more.
Christianity has historically taught that everyone has only a single life on earth. After death, an eternal life awaits everyone: either in Heaven or Hell. There is no suffering in Heaven; only joy. Torture is eternal without any hope of cessation for the inhabitants of Hell.

Themes of morality, justice, love: These themes are found through both the Buddha's teaching and the Hebrew and Christian Bible.

Beliefs shared by some Buddhist traditions and Christianity: In its original forms, Buddhism did not teach of the existence of transcendent, immanent, or any other type of God, Gods, Goddess, and/or Goddesses. However, many Buddhists -- particularly in Japan -- do believe in a pantheon of deities.
Some traditions within Buddhism believe in the power of prayer; others do not.
Some Buddhists believe in Miroku, the "future Buddha." They expect Buddha to be reborn in our future and spread Buddhism further.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism4.htm

Answer 8

Check this site out...you may find it useful:

http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/buddhism/buddhism_christianity.html

Answer 9

Both Buddha and Jesus came to the nations, India and Israel, which were practicing Hinduism and Judaism for over a thousand years. Both were "rebels" against the abuse of rituals, rules and authority of their respective religions.

1. The biographies of Buddha and Christ show many similar features.
- Both were born in a miraculous way.
- Soon after their birth, their future greatness is proclaimed by a sage (Asita, Simeon).
- Both astonish their teachers through the knowledge they possess, though still in their early childhood.
- Both are tempted by the devil before they start upon their public career.
- Both walk over the water (//Jataka//, 190; //Matth.//, 14, 26).
- Both feed 500 and 5,000 persons, respectively (//Jataka//, 78; //Mark//, 14, 16ff.) by multiplying miraculously the food available.
- The parables ascribed to them show some similarities as, for instance, the story of the sower (//Samyutta//, 42, 7; //Matth.// 13,3), of the prodigal son (//Lotus of the Good Law//, Chap. IV; //Lk.//, 14), of the widow's mite (//Kalpanamanditika//; //Mark// 12).

2. Both Buddha and Jesus based their ethics on the "Golden Rule."
Buddha told the Brahmins and householders of a certain village as follows: "A lay-follower reflects thus: How can I inflict upon others what is unpleasant to me?' On account of that reflection, he does not do any evil to others, and he also does not cause others to do so" (//Samyutta// 55, 7). And Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount: "Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets" (//Matth.// 7, 12; //Lk.// 6, 31) -- this being, by the way, a teaching which, in negative formulation, was already known to the Jewish religion (//Tob.// 15, 4).
Also the principle "Love they neighbor like unto yourself" (//Lk.// 10,27) which, in connection with //Lev.// 19,18, was raised by Jesus to a maxim of ethical doctrine, is likewise found in Buddhism where it was given a philosophical foundation mainly by the thinkers of //Mahayana// (Santideva, beginning of Siksasamuccaya). As to the injunction that love should also be extended to the enemy there is also a parallel statement by the Buddha. According to the //Majjhima Nikaya//, No. 21, he said: "If, O monks, robbers or highwaymen should with a double-handled saw cut your limbs and joints, whoso gave way to anger thereat would not be following my advice.
A practical proof of the love of enemies was given, as the report goes by the Buddhist sage, Aryadeva. After a philosophical disputation, a fanatical adversary attacked him in his cell with a sword, and Aryadeva was fatally wounded. In spite of that, he is said to have helped his murderer to escape by disguising him with his own monk's robe.

3. Also the historical development of both religions presents several parallels:
- Both, setting out from the countries of their origin, have spread over large parts of the world, but in their original homelands they have scarcely any followers left. The number of Christians in Palestine is very small today, and on the whole continent of India proper, there are at present not even half a million Buddhists.
- It is also significant that today the overwhelming majority of the followers of Buddhism and Christianity belong to a race and linguistic group different from those of their founders. Buddha was an Indo-Aryan; but, with a few exceptions, most of his devotees are found today among yellow races. Jesus and the Apostles were Jews, but the main contingent of Christians is made up of Europeans, Americans, Africans... This holds true also in the case of Islam, since those of the prophet's race, the Semites, are in a minority compared with the Muslims of Turkish, Persian, Indian, Malayan and African extraction

4- Cult and forms of worship.
I mention here only: monasticism, tonsure of the clergy, confession, the images, relic worship, ringing of bells, use of rosary and incense, and the erection of towers.

Answer 10

Try reading these articles:
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0505fea1sb.asp
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0505fea1.asp