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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 claimed that the earth, moon, sun, nights or days were created by
Buddha or even by a powerful God. “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 over the course
of many lifetimes in the cycle of rebirth called samsara” (Lopez, D. S. 2014, March 31).
Buddhists think animal life is sacred, but human life is considered more important. Human life is
considered more important because humans are the only one’s with the capacity 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 have the possibility to 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). It is believed that all positive actions and
thoughts cause good karma and direct one into being reborn into a higher form and negative
actions and thoughts direct one into being reborn into a lower form.
I read that, “Buddhist 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. Generally,
Buddhist teaching’s view life and death as a continuum, believing that consciousness continues
after death and may be reborn.
Word count 499
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 in the
Bible it says, “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). Christianity
is centered on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ and Buddhism on the other hand is centered
upon the teachings and life of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha. Christians follow
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teachings of Jesus Christ and Buddhists follow teachings of Buddha. The goal or means of
salvation for the Buddhist is to obtain enlightenment so that they can be released from the cycle
of death and rebirth which is also called a state of nirvana. We Christians have a goal to 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. Buddhists believe in an endless
cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that can only be broken by attaining nirvana. The conception of
nirvana is averse to the Bible’s teaching of heaven. In the Bible scripture says there is no way to
work out our own path to heaven. 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 enlightenment, self-denial, 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. In Christianity the scripture teaches that heaven is a genuine
place, not a state of mind, in which we inhibit resurrected bodies and retain our personal
identities. Christians enjoy our most basic desire to fellowship with God. “You will fill me with
joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalms 16:11).
Word count 498
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