Christianity vs Buddhism

[FranklinMichaelV.3]

I am going to say a parable.

Once there was a giant who liked to kill people. The Christian decided to kill off the giant and rid the world of this evil but the Buddhist wouldn't kill the evil man and his solution was to set himself on fire in protest of the evil man's actions. Which one was better for the people of that land the Christian or the Buddhist?

I'll offer another parable:

He who lives by the sword will die by the sword.

 

[Muffled]

On the one hand, I agree with the OP. From a general and overall viewpoint, Buddhism tends to lean toward humanism, while Christianity tends to pretty much ignore humans.

BUT...one cannot ignore the fact that some people have killed in the name of Buddha, while there are those who have performed the most virtuous deeds in the name of Jesus. So, my studies have led me to Buddhism, but, to each their own. For some people, Buddhism wouldn't do squat, while a religion such as Christianity or Islam would make them to be saintly. What I think is most important, is for each individual to be honest enough with themselves to objectively evaluate their beliefs, and realize that, while they may have spent much time in a religion, or been born into a certain religion, or follow a religion because it's culturally acceptable, it may not be the best religion for them, and that there may be something else out there, that, while they may currently consider wrong, may find that it's what works best for them.

I believe this reveals a total lack of understandin of Christianity.

 

[FranklinMichaelV.3]

I believe this reveals a total lack of understandin of Christianity.

Christianity is a very wide and varying religion...there are groups of Christianity who do not care for those who they consider "unsave" and there are groups that lean towards or all fully into humanism.

 

[Muffled]

I'll offer another parable:

He who lives by the sword will die by the sword.

I don't believe you know what a parable is. your quote is just a saying not a parable.

Lets look at the scenario. The Christian wasn't living by the sword but simply doing the will of God which is to eliminate a great evil. God does the same thing and He doesn't live by the sword either.

Next what is bad about dying? In the Christian context it is whether one is good that is important not whether one is alive.

 

[FranklinMichaelV.3]

I don't believe you know what a parable is. your quote is just a saying not a parable.

Lets look at the scenario. The Christian wasn't living by the sword but simply doing the will of God which is to eliminate a great evil. God does the same thing and He doesn't live by the sword either.

Next what is bad about dying? In the Christian context it is whether one is good that is important not whether one is alive.

Parables are things that teach a lesson, there is a lesson in that he who lives by the sword will die by the sword. While that is more of a saying than a parable, i guess you can even call it a proverb, but given we know the context that it is said we can take the event as a story that is relaying a message...which is: that violence begats violence. It is just further usage of an Eye for an Eye.

When you act violent it becomes very easy to fall into the same trap as the one you are fighting and have violence visited upon you.

As the saying goes "He who fights monsters"

 

[Muffled]

Christianity is a very wide and varying religion...there are groups of Christianity who do not care for those who they consider "unsave" and there are groups that lean towards or all fully into humanism.

I don't believe this to be true. I beleive there are varying conepts about the religion whether they are correct or not but the religion stays the same.

I believe such groups would not fit under Christianity or Judaism or Islam either.

I believe being humane is not the same thing as humanism which is a belief that people can fix themselves. Buddhism is a form of humanism and Chistianity is not.

 

[FranklinMichaelV.3]

I don't believe this to be true. I beleive there are varying conepts about the religion whether they are correct or not but the religion stays the same.

I believe such groups would not fit under Christianity or Judaism or Islam either.

I believe being humane is not the same thing as humanism which is a belief that people can fix themselves. Buddhism is a form of humanism and Chistianity is not.

Humanism doesn't say that people can fix themselves...humanism says that there is value in being a human being and values the collective, individual, and overall nature of humanity. Someone who is humane, is someone who values human beings. So if you are a humanist you will help an individual "fix" themselves.

There are Christian Humanism, and Jewish Humanism as well. They actually fall as well into category with Buddhism as part of the humanism belief structure.

The religion in and of itself is just a set of actions and beliefs, they will vary, there is no one way to even come close to defend it.

Though the Religion considered Pure, or holy before God is one that seeks to help the widows and the orphans and be without fault before God. That is a form of humanism, because at the time orphans and widows had no value.

 

[crossfire]

I don't believe you know what a parable is. your quote is just a saying not a parable.

Lets look at the scenario. The Christian wasn't living by the sword but simply doing the will of God which is to eliminate a great evil. God does the same thing and He doesn't live by the sword either.

Next what is bad about dying? In the Christian context it is whether one is good that is important not whether one is alive.

The evil one must eliminate is the evil you find within yourself.

14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” [16] [f]

17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

James 1

19 My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.

22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works—this person will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone[j] thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, then his religion is useless and he deceives himself. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before our[k] God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
​

As for dealing with evil outside yourself:

Matthew 5:39
But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.


Matthew 5:44-46

44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?


Romans 12:17
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.​

 

[FranklinMichaelV.3]

The implanted word...hmmm

 

[crossfire]

The implanted word...hmmm

I had to study Buddhism before I could really understand what Christianity is all about.

 

[metis]

We should remember that the basis of Buddhism lies in the FNT and the EP, both of which are attempts to reduce suffering with all sentient beings. With that being said, life isn't quite as simple as that, therefore the application of the FNT and EP is what then hast to be worked on, and that's not always so simple either.

For example, what about trying to stop a tyrant who is hell-bent on killing people? Would it be right and proper to kill such an individual if there's no other way to stop him? On such matters you'll likely get different responses from even monks, who sometimes have themselves taken up arms, such as when the Chinese invaded Tibet and began to torture, imprison, and kill Buddhists and others. Many monks did take up arms because they undoubtedly felt the alternative would cause even more suffering.

 

[George-ananda]

Christianity or Buddhism, which is "better" for the individual and/or for mankind. Based on teachings, and the actual end results each ideology has manifested. Keeping in mind what Jesus once said: "By their fruits ye shall know them."

My thoughts:

I think Christianity breeds irresponsible people, at least emotionally and intellectually irresponsible. Because when a Christian has done something wrong such as burn heathens, burn Salem Witches, murder rival cults, abuse children, and so on, they can always pray and ask for forgiveness.

But in Buddhism, there is no escaping your own stupid actions due to karma, aka the law of cause and effect. This breeds a people who are at least emotionally and intellectually responsible.

I also believe that Christianity makes people careless in the long term. Meaning that because Christianity teaches that Jesus will return "one day soon," why would "we" put in any effort to keeping nature clean from pollution, over exploitation, and so on when Jesus will just fix everything soon?

I also think Christianity breeds hateful people, and a people who believe that have the only "Truth," and therefore everyone else are not as good as them... not "saved."

As far as end results, during the past 2000 years Christianity as a world phenomenon has given rise to sectarian wars, slaughtered millions, burn books, stifled free thinking, etc.

I'd say that Buddhism is the better of the two.

Sorry, this all sounds like a slanted attempt to describe Christianity in a terrible light. I'll think a little deeper, thank you.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Christianity or Buddhism, which is "better" for the individual and/or for mankind. Based on teachings, and the actual end results each ideology has manifested. Keeping in mind what Jesus once said: "By their fruits ye shall know them."

My thoughts:

I think Christianity breeds irresponsible people, at least emotionally and intellectually irresponsible. Because when a Christian has done something wrong such as burn heathens, burn Salem Witches, murder rival cults, abuse children, and so on, they can always pray and ask for forgiveness.

But in Buddhism, there is no escaping your own stupid actions due to karma, aka the law of cause and effect. This breeds a people who are at least emotionally and intellectually responsible.

I also believe that Christianity makes people careless in the long term. Meaning that because Christianity teaches that Jesus will return "one day soon," why would "we" put in any effort to keeping nature clean from pollution, over exploitation, and so on when Jesus will just fix everything soon?

I also think Christianity breeds hateful people, and a people who believe that have the only "Truth," and therefore everyone else are not as good as them... not "saved."

As far as end results, during the past 2000 years Christianity as a world phenomenon has given rise to sectarian wars, slaughtered millions, burn books, stifled free thinking, etc.

I'd say that Buddhism is the better of the two.

I don't think either "breeds" better people than the other. I think either actually has very little impact on the actual deeds and behaviors of adherents in their day-to-day life. I suspect that good/loving/involved parenting, learning a sense of community, education, sense of purpose, and positive life lessons are far more important for "breeding" good people than religion ever could be.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I felt Christianity was self serving in comparison with Buddhism by way of implementation. There is a tendency found in Christianity to do things in hopes of being saved, as opposed to compassionate actions with no expectation of rewards or any type of salvation.

 

[nash8]

I don't think either "breeds" better people than the other. I think either actually has very little impact on the actual deeds and behaviors of adherents in their day-to-day life. I suspect that good/loving/involved parenting, learning a sense of community, education, sense of purpose, and positive life lessons are far more important for "breeding" good people than religion ever could be.

Indeed.

I felt Christianity was self serving in comparison with Buddhism by way of implementation. There is a tendency found in Christianity to do things in hopes of being saved, as opposed to compassionate actions with no expectation of rewards or any type of salvation.

Actually, Christianity, traditionally, lends itself more that you are saved by Jesus and/or God alone, and not by acts.

So by doing good acts in Christianity your are reaping rewards in heaven, and in doing good deeds in Buddhism it is one of the paths to attaining Nirvana (heaven by any other name). So essentially the acts of good deeds are self serving in the end in both religions from my perspective.

And from a neurochemical standpoint, being compassionate towards others is the definition of self serving in my opinion.
Understanding LOVE

 

[payak]

both followed correctly will make you a fine upstanding member of the community.

That is why there are good and bad in both.

 

[ChristineES]

both followed correctly will make you a fine upstanding member of the community.

That is why there are good and bad in both.

I don't think there is "bad" in either religion- It's just that people are not perfect and their imperfections get into them. Both religions appear to be about bettering oneself- the methods, or some of the methods are not the same but it appears the premise is.

 

[Monk Of Reason]

Where do you get 60 million, I have heard it was 11-16 million total.

Stalin, on the other hand, scored a 60 million.

Although Mao (a socialist and I believe a Buddhist) could have been a near 70 million.

That is the estimated death toll for all of WWII. Not the holocaust or just any one nation's death tolls. Its a lot.

Either way it doesn't really matter. No one is killing in the name of Atheism or usnig atheism as an excuse to kill. Its like saying because Hitler was a Vegetarian he killed all those people.

 

[ChristineES]

Any excuse is just that, an excuse. I once heard of a man who killed his wife because she made pork chops and he was sick of pork chops. Another man killed his wife because she interrupted the Super bowl. They used pork chops and sports as a reason to kill, but no one blames the pork chops and Super bowl for the killings. They blame the ones who did it. The same with people who use their religion as an excuse.

 

[Monk Of Reason]

Any excuse is just that, an excuse. I once heard of a man who killed his wife because she made pork chops and he was sick of pork chops. Another man killed his wife because she interrupted the Super bowl. They used pork chops and sports as a reason to kill, but no one blames the pork chops and Super bowl for the killings. They blame the ones who did it. The same with people who use their religion as an excuse.

I agree. However it becomes a problem that needs to be corrected when people start to agree with that reasoning. For example the man who killed his wife over the superbowl was let go because people assumed it was a viable reason and thought it was justified. If that happened then we need to do something. Agreed?