Don’t be afraid; just believe. (Mark 5:36) Christianity, a religion based on believing in the unknown revolves around deep controversial roots. Roots that are complicatedly tied to Buddhism, a way of life founded on the state of compassion. Buddhists come to the conclusion that every individual is responsible for the suffering that they feel. Christians believe that Christ died on the cross to save the human race from suffering, yet Buddhists believe that they themselves are the cause of their pain. Buddha once said, ‘Believe nothing no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and common sense.’ The ultimate question stands, can you fully commit to participating in a certain way of life or religion if you lack belief? Buddhism and Christianity are different because they were founded on divergent beliefs and their response to suffering is in contrast.
Buddhism was founded by Buddha, formerly known as Siddhartha Gautama in present day Nepal. He was a prince who dwelt in a lavish lifestyle until he realized that his expensive tastes couldn’t give him eternal happiness, especially while those around him suffered. He searched for a simpler way of live in a more realistic mind set, which he found and called the middle way. The middle way is an idea that encourages Buddhists to question and challenge their daily lives through the wisdom of Buddha himself. This helps relieve people’s suffering and pain. His experiences and discoveries formed a sacred book which led to the formation of Buddhism. A simpler way of life for one became the sacred way for many.
Christianity was formed by Christ, although many say Simon played a crucial role in the vast spread of the religion. Christianity originated in Jerusalem and spread quickly because it opened up the teachings of Christ for people to individually interpret and accept. Both Christ and Simon founded Judaism and did not abandon it, but instead added on the spiritual missions of Christ to form Christianity. Unlike Buddhism, Christianity was created by a collection of stories in the Bible. These stories are told from many perspectives. In contrast, Buddhism was created centered on the beliefs and experiences of one man, Buddha.
Buddhists believe in a collection of passages known as The Teachings of Buddha. There are three core beliefs or jewels that are highly regarded in this religion. They are the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. The Buddha or Awakened One is blessed with true knowledge. The Dharma is applied to the teachings, consisting of the Eightfold Path and Four Truths. Lastly, the Sangha is the community of Buddha’s disciples also known as the order of the monks. Together these three beliefs along with many other experiences make up the teachings of Buddha, which all true Buddhists must follow and agree with.
In Christianity, the Bible is the central source of all information. The Bible is a collection of fables, stories, and teachings told from many points of views. Often times in the Bible, time periods can become blurry as well as the difference between the truths and myths. So what is the main difference between the Bible and The Teachings of Buddha? Well, Christians believe that the Bible is completely true and that anything that contradicts it must be false and Buddhism contradicts the truths of the Bible in many ways. For example, the Bible teaches that there is only one true God, but in Buddhism it is unclear, stating that the belief in many gods or no gods at all is possible.
Buddhists believe that Buddhism is a mind trip, while Christians believe that the pathway to Christ is one of heart and spirit. Buddhists also believe that truth lies within, while Christians believe that Jesus is the truth. In Buddhism suffering is believed to be caused by humans individually. They believe that everything that makes you sad is your own fault. For example, when people die and you feel pain, it’s caused by your own selfishness. On the opposite end of the stick, Christians believe that Christ saves us from our suffering on a daily basis. Lastly, Buddhists believe that Buddhism is a method or way of life attaining enlightenment, but Christians believe that Christianity is solely a personal relationship with God.
Christians participate in many rituals, such as going to mass, which is an ongoing celebration of Christ’s sacrifice and love for humans. In contrast, Buddhists exercise their faith in rituals such as altar offerings and the lighting of incense. During altar offerings, one presents fresh fruits and flowers on an altar. This represents vegetarianism, due to the fact that Buddhists do not kill animals for food. Christians also commit to small daily rituals, such as prayer. Prayer is a time of adoration, confession, and petition to Christ. Prayer also symbolizes commitment and a strong relationship. In contrast, Buddhists do not pray, but meditate, bow, and chant. Meditation purifies the mind and body through breathing and is a technique used to guide people to the pursuit of true spiritual understanding. Bowing is a sign of respect, wisdom, and compassion and chanting is used as a form of speaking Buddha’s teachings. Chanting is also the repetition of perseverance, self-discipline, and charity.
Finally, I’ve come to the conclusion that from a universal perspective, many say that all religions are similar, but from a personal perspective I believe that all religions are completely different in every way possible. Sure most religions consist of a book of beliefs, a leader or praised figure, and the goal to strive for an ultimate destination, but the details are what separate these beliefs. Religions spread at different paces- Christianity rapidly and Buddhism slowly. Religions also have different core beliefs and place value on different subjects and stories. It’s unknown if one religion is the right religion. It’s even unknown if every religion is based upon facts or just twisted fables. What makes a religion the right one is a personal decision. Just like politics, I believe that you don’t have to agree with everything on just one side of the argument.
Wars against religions often have to do with something in addition to religious issues such as land or the government because religious issues alone don’t wage wars. I don’t know if there is a heaven and God, but I believe there is. I only know what I am told by others who tell me what they are told. I’d rather believe in something that doesn’t exist, than not believe and suffer eternally, but sometimes it can be hard. I often ask myself if my faith is solely based upon a never ending game of telephone. I question why I am here, but so does everyone else. I guess I’m a part of every religion, because no religion is really wrong. On the same note, not every religion is right either. Growing up as a kid you are told what to believe in. Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy are all figures that I thought were real. Then, one day people expect you to understand that it’s all just made up. I’m still waiting to be told that all I’ve learned about Christianity is wrong. That everything I believe in is just not true. That’s how history is made after all, isn’t it?
All religions were created because people wanted answers. Answers to the unknown. Often times Christians pray to God for a sign and when they don’t get one, they think that’s a sign. I believe that until God comes again and judges us all for a second time that humans will remain in a state of the unknown. It makes me wonder, maybe it’s humans that have it all wrong. Maybe the answers are right in front us. What if one religion is true and all others wrong?
I don’t have a solution on how to stop religious wars, and I don’t have an answer as to why I am so confused in what to believe in. If anything I’ve only made myself question my beliefs more, but I do know that Buddhism and Christianity are different because they were founded on divergent beliefs and their response to suffering is in contrast. So the ultimate questions still stand. Can you fully commit to participating in a certain way of life or religion if you lack belief? Do you believe that I can make you laugh after reading another long paper? Well you should, because I will right now. Q: What did the Buddhist say when he walked up to the hot dog stand? A: Make me one with everything!
Works Cited
- ‘The Birth and Spread of Buddhism.’ Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web 07 May 2017.
- A Basic Buddhism Guide: Differences From Other Religions. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2017.
- ‘Buddhism Rituals.’ Description for Image 6. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2017.
- ‘Truth For The World.’ Buddhism and the Bible. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2017.
