Buddhist2 (1)
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Critical Thinking Research Paper Assignment
By: Andrea Gibson
Liberty University
RLGN104: Christian Life and Biblical Worldview
Professor Edwards
Due: October 3, 2022
When it comes to the question of origin, Buddhists do not believe a God created this
world. Buddhism has never declared that this world, living creatures, or human beings were
made by a God or even the Buddha. “Buddhists believe that the world was not created once upon
a time, but that the world has been created millions of times and will continue to do so by itself”
(Venerable, K. 2011, April 4).
When it comes to the question of identity, I read that “The Buddha taught that human
existence is characterized by various forms of suffering, which are experienced throughout many
lifetimes in the cycle of rebirth called samsara” (Lopez, D. S. 2014, March 31). Buddhists think
human life is more important than any other living creature. Human life is considered more
important because humans are the only ones with the potential to reach nirvana. “Buddhists
believe that the human life is one of suffering, and that good behavior, physical labor, and
meditation are the ways to achieve enlightenment or nirvana” (Brown, 2022).
The question of purpose for a Buddhist is practicing meditation while fostering a lifestyle
advised by the Buddha, they believe that humans can become free from suffering. “Since it is
believed that life is suffering, the ultimate goal in Buddhism is to end the cycle of suffering, the
cycle of repeated death and rebirth. The achievement of this goal is called nirvana” (Brown, W.
December 2022). Nirvana is the most common goal of purpose for a Buddhist. The term nirvana
has referred to a blissful or heavenly state that all Buddhist humanity wants to reach in life.
When it comes to the question of morality, “The Buddhists motto is to depend only on
oneself, karma (cause and consequence) controls everything, do good and one receives good, do
evil and one receives evil” (Smith, A. 2019, June 27). Buddhists believe that all negative actions
cause bad karma that causes people to be reborn into a low form of life and positive actions
cause good karma resulting in the rebirth of a higher form when they die.
I read that “Buddhists believe they are reincarnated or reborn when they die into a new
form that could be a human, deity, animal, some lower creature, or an inhabitant of hell” (Brown
W. December 2022). Buddhist believe life continues after death in another form. The teachings
of Buddhists view life and death as a continuation. Buddhists believe that consciousness resumes
after death and will be reborn.
Word count 416
While researching I found it would be impossible to find two religions more different than
Christianity and Buddhism. Amazingly, Buddhism and Christianity have few similarities, but
they differ in many ways. They differ in the afterlife, their approach to God, and how one obtains
liberation and salvation. The two religions are similar because Buddhism and Christianity believe
the best way to overcome suffering and hate is to show compassion and love. Like it says in the
Bible, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Buddhism
and Christianity both put great emphasis on behaving with respect and decency. Buddhism and
Christianity share the same belief that kindness and love will change the world. Unlike
Christians, I found that Buddhism has no God they worship. Buddhism has no supreme creator,
unlike Christians that believe Jesus Christ is the son of God. “And lo a voice from heaven,
saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mathew 3:17). “Buddhism
emphasizes the endless cycle of death and rebirth, with the idea of reincarnation and Christianity
teaches we have one life and one chance” (Tejvan, 2013). Buddhists follow the Buddha's
teaching, unlike Christians that follow the teachings of Jesus Christ our savior. The goal or
means of salvation for the Buddhists is to obtain enlightenment so that they can be released from
the cycle of rebirth and death which is also called a state of nirvana. We Christians have a goal to
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love God and create a relationship with Him while obeying His commandments. Like in the
Bible Jesus says, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept
my Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:10). The first and great
commandment is to, “Love the Lord God with all your heart, and with all thy soul, and with all
thy mind” (Matthew 22:37). Unlike Buddhist, Christians believe in heaven and hell. Birth, death,
and rebirth is the endless cycle that Buddhists believe in that only can be broken by achieving
nirvana. The Bible’s teaching of heaven is a lot different than a Buddhist perception of nirvana.
In the Bible, it says, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight since
through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). For Christians no amount of good
works or meditation can make one righteous before God. “Buddhism also teaches that a person
who arrives at the state of nirvana loses all desire, identity, and even her or his body” (Lopez, D.
S. 2014, March 31). In Christianity heaven is not a state of mind, it is a genuine place. In heaven,
we retain our personal identities. Christians enjoy our most basic desire and that is to have a
relationship with God. “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your
right hand” (Psalms 16:11).
Word count 489
References:
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/
Brown, W. (December 2022) FSI | SPICE - Introduction to Buddhism. Spice. https://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/introduction_to_buddhism
Venerable, K. (2011, April 4). What Buddhists Believe - The Origin of the World. Budsas. https://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/297.htm Smith, A. (2019, June 27). Understanding the Buddhist Worldview - OMF (U.S.). Omf. https://omf.org/us/understanding-the-buddhist-worldview
Lopez, D. S. (2014, March 31). nirvana. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/nirvana-religion Brown, T. (2022, May 20). Buddhism | National Geographic Society. Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/buddhism Tejvan, P. (2013, January 8). Differences between Buddhism and Christianity | Biography
Online. Biography online. https://www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/buddhism/differences-
buddhism-christianity.html
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