Preview

Why Is Buddhism Better Than Traditional Christianity?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1187 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why Is Buddhism Better Than Traditional Christianity?
Introduction –
For the last fifty years, Buddhism has been gaining followers in numerous Western countries such as Australia (website). This development has progressed so far, that one could even say Buddhism is becoming completely mainstream in a sense that it is no longer confined to an Asian immigrant minority. The attractions of Buddhism are threefold and these account for its popularity. Firstly, Buddhism emphasises peace and harmony which are very desirable to modern driven men and women. Secondly, Buddhism offers a more flexible moral outlook than traditional Christianity, and this appeals to modern individualism. Thirdly, Buddhism’s emphasis on detachment is appealing to those who are dellusionised by modern western consumerism.
…show more content…
In particular, these two religions, like many other world religions of the east and west concentrate on human ethics through belief, worship, and practice. Similarities and differences are evident in both theory and practice between the two religions. Buddhism teaches that morality is something we create for ourselves based purely on what is found to be beneficial rather than objectively right or good. The Society for the Promotion of Buddhism agrees when it states that “There is no discrimination between right and wrong, but people make a distinction for their own convenience”. The Buddhist Precepts are sometimes compared to the Ten Commandments of the Abrahamic religions such as Christianity. However, the Precepts are not commandments, but principles, and it is up to Buddhists to determine how to apply these principles in their lives. Buddhism is greatly attractive because it sets humans free to take charge of their lives without fear of any powerful third party intervention. It leaves room for a range of interpretations. It gives full control of the person to conduct their life without fear of punishment or desire for reward by an external agent. It tells the person that their actions, thoughts, and speech are their own

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Relgion 133 Version 3

    • 29552 Words
    • 119 Pages

    When the continuing-education division of an American university organized a one-day Buddhist retreat, more than a hundred students signed up within a few hours. What is the appeal of Buddhism, especially Buddhist meditation, for Westerners? Why do people who still identify themselves as Christians or Jews flock to Buddhist meditation sessions? What is it that has attracted so many Hollywood celebrities to Buddhism? To attempt to answer these questions, we need to review the 2,500-year history of Buddhism, its varieties, and its spread—first throughout Asia, then throughout the world.…

    • 29552 Words
    • 119 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    4. The question of morality- Because Buddhist believe everything is sacred they follow the ”Ethical Code” instructed in the “Eightfold Path” which entails refrain from all forms of evil. The major points in the…

    • 750 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The question of morality for Buddhist is to attain a literally selfless perspective, to find the power to speak well of others, to obey Buddhist's moral commands, and to avoid making a living through an occupation that breaks the moral precepts of Buddhism. These are the three major parts of the Eightfold Path that connects morality to right speech, right action, and right livelihood (Buddhism: A Religion Profile from International Students, Inc., pg 3).…

    • 330 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Buddhism vs Christianity

    • 893 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Since the arrival of Christian missionaries in the East in the 13th century, followed by the arrival of Buddhism in Western Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, similarities were perceived between the practices of Buddhism and Christianity.[1][2] During the 20th century the differences between these two belief systems were also highlighted.[3]…

    • 893 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Buddhism is a religious group as depicted from the world’s history that began in the 6th century BCE, in today’s Northern India. Buddhism was founded by a wealthy man of Indian dysentery called Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha Gautama’s main concern was to teach people how to realize great spiritual development. These teachings focus on areas like tradition/customs, beliefs, ethics, meditation and philosophy and making people more enlightened; Buddha means ‘to awaken’. To the religious group boast of a huge following of about 300million across the world including 0.7 percent of U.S.A’s religious composition based on U.S’s Census Bureau Document (Seager, 2012).…

    • 913 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Buddhism can be defined as a religion, originated in India by Buddha, focusing on compassion. The main teaching of Buddhism is that desire causes life’s suffering. To end this suffering one must go through enlightenment. Support for these teachings are the Four Noble Truths. The first truth is that suffering is inevitable. Secondly, suffering is caused by desire and ignorance. Thirdly, is the belief that we can end suffering by eliminating our cravings and desires achieving Nirvana. Finally, the fourth truth is that one must develop understanding, positive intentions, skillful speech, action, livelihood, good effort, mindfulness, and skillful meditation for Buddhist success.…

    • 783 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Eth Week 4 Day 5

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages

    If we look at the movies that are being released and the music on the radio we can hear some of the contributions of the Buddhist religion. Plots that involve reincarnation, some of the clothing, the instruments used in some songs here lately, all lead back to Buddhist ideals and the stereotyped ideals of the general population.…

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Origin - Buddhists do not believe in a divine entity; therefore, their teaching on the origin of man greatly differs from that of Christianity. Buddhists seem to take a more philosophical view when it comes to explaining that man was a product of millions of years of evolution. In contrast, the origin of life according to a Biblical worldview centers on the creation of the heaven, earth, and all organisms by creator God (Gen 1:1).…

    • 281 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Some believe Buddhism is the most peaceful religion around. This may be because Buddhists believe every human is full of great worth but also contains evil habits. This religion teaches that every man is responsible for his own actions, and each individual can guide their own destiny. Although bad decisions are usually followed by consequence in most religious situations, Buddhism is slightly different.…

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Buddhism Funeral Rituals

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Buddhism is one of the most popular religions practised extensively across the globe. The basic principles of the religion are based on the teachings of Lord Buddha. Buddhism teaches compassion and universal love for mankind and awareness of the Ultimate Truth.…

    • 357 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Critical Thinking Paper

    • 577 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Buddhists believe that moral behavior comes naturally to a person when they have mastered their ego and desires buy attaining metta (loving kindness) and karuna (compassion). Buddhists follow a group of principles called the Precepts. Precepts are used by Buddhists to determine how they make decisions in life and how to apply them in every aspect of life.…

    • 577 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Buddhism In America

    • 1632 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Recently in Western societies, there has been a movement of Jews toward the practice of Buddhism. Those practicing are commonly known as Buddhist-Jews, Jewish-Buddhists, or “JUBUs.” In the last decade or so, the phenomenon of multiple religious belonging has surfaced (Rose D 248 P). In fact, roughly 25% of the Buddhist population in America were formally people of the Jewish religion (bud in west). This has been credited to the fact that, in general, “Jewish Americans are well educated, financially comfortable, and most definitely at the high end of the socio-economic scale (BudinWest). The notion of multiple religious identities,…

    • 1632 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Buddhist practices have flourished throughout Asia for thousands of years. These practices didn’t reach the Western culture until the late 19th century. However, over the past decade Buddhist teachings seemed to have an attraction within our rapidly changing culture. Unlike many religions, which focus only within their institutions, the Buddhist focus point is to achieve inner peace within one’s self, in which can have a profound rippling effect. The manifestation of Buddhism throughout the western culture has slowly been increasing and has become more accepted within our political society.…

    • 2260 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The religion of Buddhism originated in the country of India, however it is now practiced in many different parts of the world. Buddhism is becoming a vastly popular religion throughout the western continents. Buddhist follow a number of beliefs which are outlined in a number of different doctrines out into motion by the Buddha who lived more than 2,500 years ago. The instructions provided in this doctrine illustrate a life of selfless consciousness, void of negative actions. Although, Buddhism encompasses similar religious principles, the foundation of this religion is unlike any other. Through discussion with practicing Buddhists, it is possible to understand…

    • 2061 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Ten Commandments, which, according to the Holy Bible, are inscribed on two stone tablets and presented to Moses by God on Mount Sinai, are the most prominent biblical principle adhered by believers of Judaism and Christianity. Not too far around the globe, Buddhism, a religion that originated in India, also upholds its own disciplines, the most fundamental of which is commonly known as “the Five Precepts”, namely to abstain from harming living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication.…

    • 1174 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics