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Buddhist Worldview Christian Worldview Founder

Gautama Buddha (born as Prince Siddhartha)

Jesus

About

Following the teachings of the Buddha

Sin was introduced into the world to all man-kind after Adam & Eve sinned. The world was a perfect paradise prior to man’s sin. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Concept of Deity / God

god is not directly emphasized mentioned. God is our Heavenly Father. Believe in Trinity (one God, made up of three unique persons – Father, Son & Holy Spirit).

Jesus

N/A Jesus is son of living God and Savior of the world. Virgin Birth, through God. Jesus is fully God & Fully man.

Death of Jesus

Not relevant to Buddhism

Death by crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven. Jesus will return again.

Second coming of Jesus

Irrelevant to Buddhism. Pure Buddhism perfectly rejects such kinds of irrelevant concepts or ideas.

Affirmed, no one knows the date of His return, not even Jesus – only God the father.

Means of Salvation

Buddhism has nothing to do with "salvation". The only goal in Buddhism is to attain Nirvana. To do this, we should let go of our desires, cravings and attachments, and try to dispel our ignorance.

Mankind cannot save themselves. Only God is good and therefore only God is able to save. Salvation is through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Salvation is by grace through faith & not by works.

Principle

This life is suffering, and the only way to escape from this suffering is to dispel one's cravings and ignorance by practising the Eightfold Path.

God created man, man sinned & fell under curse of sin. God offers redemption to sinful man through blood of Christ, but each person must choose to accept it.

Confession of Sin

Not a part of Buddhism. The Buddha told followers they should strive hard to dismiss the

Confession straight to God through prayer.

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bad deeds we have already done. Place of Origin

Nepal, India

Jerusalem

Practices Practices of the Threefold Training: Morality, Concentration, and Wisdom.

Prayer, Sacraments (baptism, communion), worship in congregational setting, worship privately, reading / studying Bible, Tithing.

Literal Meaning

Buddhists mean those who follow the teachings of the Buddha

Christ means “anointed” or “messiah”. A Christian is a believer / follower of Christ.

Uses of Statues and Pictures

Common

Not used for religious practices

Clergy

Monks and Nuns, who unitedly and exactly follow the teachings of the Buddha under the name 'Sangha'.

Pastors

Scriptures

Tripitaka - a vast volume of 3 main sections: the Discourses, the Discipline and the Absolute Doctrine - which appeared only after the death of the Buddha, thanks to the monks who collected all the teachings of the Buddha.

The Holy Bible, a collection of canonical books (considered to be authoritative) in two parts: Old & New Testaments.

Life after Death

Until one has not attained Nirvana, he or she will be reborn into any of the 31 planes of existence over and over again, due to his/her karma.

Man is appointed to die once & face judgment. Those who believe in Jesus and follow him live on for eternity in heaven. Those who do not believe and have rejected God will suffer in Hell.

Goal of religion

To attain enlightenment and be released from the cycle of rebirth and death, thus attaining Nirvana.

To love God and obey his commandments through a relationship with Jesus Christ and to spread the good news / Gospel to others so they

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too may be saved.

Angels No angels accepted.

Angels are servants of God: messengers, guardians & warriors of humanity (angels are not human beings).

Human Nature

Ordinary human beings possess greed, anger, delusion, igorance, cravings, etc. and they were compared by the Buddha as 'the fools' and 'the blind'. (those who haven't walked or are not walking the Eightfold Path.)

Man has inherited “original sin” from Adam & Eve. Each person is in need of forgiveness of sin (which has been offered to everyone through the death of Jesus Christ).

Marriage

Seen as a social convention and mainly a personal and individual concern, not a religious duty. Advice in the Discourses are on how to maintain a happy and harmonious marriage. Faithfulness and monogamy was encouraged.

Monogamistic, between one man & woman (Matt 19:3-9).

Symbols Wheel.

The Cross

Virtue Compassion

Love