Christianity and Buddhism are two of the most popular religions in the world. Each religion has their separate demographic, belief systems as well as rituals. Though founded at different period of time, Christianity and Buddhism have formed cultures and have had a great influence on people with origin, customs and belief. However, focusing on core values such as humility, purity of heart and charity, Christianity and Buddhism are similar in many ways. As my research, the similarities between Christianity and Buddhism extend essentially in three aspects: the life of the founder; ethics teaching and form of worship.
Siddhartha Gautama was born about around 563 B.C. He left his life as human and suffered pain in order to seek wisdom when he was 29. After meditating for many days under a tree, finally he enlightened. In present, People had known him as the Buddha or “enlightened one”. Alike to Buddhism, Jesus of Nazareth was born in the first century C.E. The people practiced other religions envy with him because he claimed to be the son of God. Subsequently, Jesus was prosecuted for heresy and sentenced to be crucified. The biographies of Buddha and Christ have several similar features. The death of both is accompanied by great natural phenomenon. After death, the teaching of them was spread extensively in many other countries.
There are several similarities that exist between Buddhism and Christianity ethics. In particular, altruism is at the core teaching of both Buddha and Christ so it is easily to see close parallels. Buddha said that people should consider others as themself. And Jesus also recommended that people should treat others the same way they want to treat. Moreover, Buddhism’s Noble Eightfold Path has many components that are alike to comparable parts of Christianity such as: right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.
Both Christianity and Buddhism was established in its origin country and spread through worldwide. However, somehow they still have some parallel point in their form of worship. The worship in Buddhism includes monasticism, bowing, and use of rosary, ringing bells as well as erection of towers or prayers and meditation. The same to Christianity, they also follow almost all the form worship from ringing bells, use of rosary to monasticism and confession.
In conclusion, Buddhism and Christianity are very different from each other, fundamentally based emphatic on ethic, it is hardly to merge these two doctrines.
Reference:
1. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org).
2. Thien, K. (n.d.). Ethical Teachings of Christianity and Buddhism. Retrieved from cattrang.org: http://www.cattrang.org/study/ethicalteachings.htm
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