Comparing Sin And Salvation In Buddhism And Christianity

515 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Christianity vs Buddhism

Sin and Salvation
“However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act on upon them?” -Siddhartha Gautama (Gautama Buddha) Founding figure in Buddhism
Sin and Salvation in Buddhism and Christianity What is sin? Broadly speaking, sin involves actions that violate moral or divine law. Although sin is a concept of all religions in one way or another; each religion views sin differently. In some faith traditions like Buddhism, sin is tied to karma and these actions can include thoughts or intentions that will have an effect on how the soul is reincarnated in the next life. In Abrahamic religions like Christianity, sin often results in separation from God and the individual must seek redemption to be saved. Sin varies by religion, yet nearly all religions teach that sinners face negative consequences without salvation. In Buddhism, this would be revealed in a sinner's inability to achieve eventually enlightenment or nirvana; whereas in Christianity unrepentant sinners are destined for hell. In Christianity sin functions as humans exercise their free will and deviate from God's plan for humanity. For Christians, there are two sources of sin: Original Sin, which is …show more content…

Believers of each religion are encouraged to avoid committing sin and provide a path for atonement. In Christian doctrine, Jesus Christ is the mediator for humans and the way of salvation and such is achieved when an individual receives a blessing from God. Without this blessing, no amount of right action can save one's soul from damnation. As the Book of Luke in the New Testament states: "Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Whereas with Buddhism, salvation can only be achieved on an individual level by the thorough execution practice of certain

Show More
Related

  • A Portrait of Hell: Vignettes from Various Mythologies regarding the Darker Side of Death

    1111 Words  | 3 Pages

    In all religions key elements exist, cornerstones of their belief system, upon which everything else builds (Wilkins 22). These elements explain the world around us, from the fabrication of the universe to the meaning of life, imparting knowledge of the social mores and customs of the times (Wilkins 3). These myths testify to the moral and ethical code of the society that first conceived them (Wilkins 5). As with all systems of rule, an attempt to force the peoples governed by them into obedience creates possibilities for positive and negative reinforcement via religious beliefs (Wilkins 12). Good and bad, or in more common terms, heaven and hell. Punishment on earth is often short lived and quickly forgotten, but a threat of eternal punishment is well, eternal. From ancient Egyptians to current Judeo-Christian religion, there is always an eternal punishment for infractions of the religious law though the punishments and crimes may vary.

    Read More

  • Compare and Contrast the Lives of Buddha and Jesus

    3762 Words  | 8 Pages

    It is said that history is shaped by the lives of great men.  Great men are leaders.  They bring about change; they improve the lives of others; they introduce new ideas, models, and theories to society.  Most of the world's religions were founded, developed, or discovered by great men.  Two particular religions - Christianity and Buddhism - developed in different parts of the world, under different circumstances, and in different social atmospheres.  But each religion is based upon the teachings of a great man.  When one compares the life of Buddha with the life of Jesus, one finds that the two share many things in common.  This essay aims to compare and contrast the lives of Buddha1 and Jesus in two key areas:  conception and birth.  In these two areas, one finds that the Buddha and Jesus share many similarities.

    Read More

  • Siddhartha's Journey To Enlightenment

    694 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.” (“Quotes by Buddha”) The Buddha went through many trials and tribulations to reach enlightenment. But, he persevered and once he reached this state, he shared his spiritual knowledge with countless others (Editors of Biography.com).

    Read More

  • Comparing Christianity and Buddhism

    2061 Words  | 5 Pages

    This paper is a comparison between two very different religions. Specifically Christianity and Buddhism. Coming from opposite sides of the globe these two religions could not be any farther apart in any aspect. I will discuss who Christ is for Christians and who Buddha is for Buddhists. I will also get into the aspects of charity, love, and compassion in both religions and I will be looking at the individual self and how christians see resurrection where the buddhists feel about the afterlife. One thing to keep in mind is that the two religions are very different but they seem to have a very similar underlying pattern. Both believe that there was a savior of their people, Buddha and Christ, and both believe that there is something good that happens to us when our time is done here on earth. This is a very generalized summarization but in order to go in to depth I need to explain the two religions more to fully convey this theory.

    Read More

  • Buddhism and Christianity in the same light

    663 Words  | 2 Pages

    While Nirvana is the ultimate spiritual attainment, most ordinary Buddhists show their commitment to the Buddha through several religious practices. The basic motives behind Buddhist practices mirror with those behind the Catholic tradition (Seay (2001,p.58). Both traditions aim to create togetherness within their community by developing a sense of communion with all present through a group activity. Some of these activities include group prayer/meditation and group singing/chanting. Another motive behind some Buddhist and Catholic practices is the principle of suffering, a significant element of religious tradition. This principle was formed on the basis of the suffering endured by Saddartha Gutama and Jesus Christ and is put into practice through traditions like achieving Nirvana and Le...

    Read More

  • The Ways of Sin

    743 Words  | 2 Pages

    Theology and different religions, all contain information about sin. Sin is recognized as an unholy thing to possess, therefore, sin is not taken lightly. In Roman Catholicism, if one’s sins are serious enough, one may not receive eternal life with God, in Heaven. Severe punishments may occur, if one sins. Sin is thought to have been caused by mankind. The perception of sin continues to evolve as the analysis of texts continues.

    Read More

  • The Morality Of Christianity: The Nature Of God And Christianity

    1811 Words  | 4 Pages

    One might ask, What exactly are sins and where did they come from? According to Oxford Dictionary, a sin is an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. Sin is what started the fall of humanity that is still manifested in today’s time. Adam was the first of God’s human creation. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen. 2:16–17). Sin entered the world when Adam disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. “God gave to man the power of contrary choice. Man of his own will, by no external compulsion or determination, used that power in the commission of sin… ” (Reddit 10). The effects of Adam’s sin are profound and and they affect everyone. A few things that stand out in Reddit’s explanation of it is that “sin is lawless, universal and results in satanic bond”. Sin is lawless because its is breaking God’s divine law. “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (1John 3:4). Sin is universal because, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” and the evil one who is Satan. An objection could be that

    Read More

  • Eastern Orthodox Church

    1514 Words  | 4 Pages

    As the developments in Eastern Christianity were happening independent of Western Christianity, the differences in approaches grew to a serious estrangement between the two (Ware 23-24). As Ware suggests, some of the more prominent differences between the eastern and western Christianity are in the approach of religious truth, the perception of sin and salvation, and the view of the Holy Spirit. For Orthodox Christians, truth must be experienced personally (Ware 132). There is thus less focus on the exact definition of religious truth and more on the practical and personal experience of truth in the life of the individual and the church. This emphasis on personal experience of truth flows into the actual definition of the word Orthodox, which essentially means the correct theological observance of religion (“orthodox”). In the Western churches sin and salvation are seen primarily in legal terms. God gave humans freedom, and if they misuse it and brake God's commandments, they deserve punishment. God's grace results in forgiveness of the transgression and freedom from bondage and punishment. The Eastern churches see the matter in a different way. For Orthodox theologians, humans were created in the image of God and made to participate fully in the divine life. The full communion with God that Adam and Eve enjoyed meant complete freedom and true humanity, because humans are most human when they are completely united with God.

    Read More

  • Christian Theology And Religious Beliefs

    874 Words  | 2 Pages

    consequences of sin. Paul confirms this in Romans 3:10, “There is none righteous, no not one.”

    Read More

  • Summary Of Living Buddha, Living Christ By Thích Nh At Hanh

    808 Words  | 2 Pages

    He also makes reference to the long history of religious intolerance and persecution within the Christian tradition, brought about by greed, mistrust, and ignorance. He emphasizes the need for continuous practice, prayer, meditation, mindfulness, and personal growth within individual religious traditions and cultures. We must make the spirit of the Buddha and the spirit of Christ part of our everyday lives. He explores the “Five Wonderful Percepts of Buddhism”: reverence for life, generosity, responsible sexual behavior, speaking and listening deeply, and ingesting only wholesome substances; comparing them to the teachings of Christ. These precepts are without a doubt, very similar to the principles thought by Christ and his apostles. Each precept or teaching works with the next, interconnecting and building upon each other toward the same goal to end suffering, bring about personal and worldly understanding, world peace, and spiritual

    Read More

  • Original sin

    1597 Words  | 4 Pages

    Doctrines are used as a foundation to Christian beliefs. They serve to many churches as fundamentals in the direction their members chose to live their lives. It is important to understand the historical backgrounds of the doctrines that pertain to one’s particular beliefs. I will be discussing this very information for the doctrine of original sin. The doctrine of original sin mostly pertains to the Roman Catholic religion. I will be covering when, where, and why the doctrine was originated. Original sin is the theory that every man is born into sin because our mother and father have sinned. The definition given by the Catholic Encyclopedia is: “(1) the sin that Adam committed; (2) a consequence of this first sin, the hereditary stain with which we are born on account of our origin or descent from Adam.”# Saint Augustine was the fundamental theologian in the formulation of this doctrine, which states that the essentially graceless nature of humanity requires redemption to save it. The purpose of Baptism is to wash away original sin and to restore the individual to an innocent state, although even after baptism a tendency to sin remains as a result of original sin.

    Read More

  • An Indepth Look at Subjectivity and Panopticism.

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    If we look at the beliefs of Christianity, its subjects believe that God will see something that is frowned upon thus closing their chance at heaven upon becoming deceased, or even lead to certain consequences in the near future known as karma. Though it is not proven that there is a heaven or God, many hold strong to their beliefs on the subject, though they cannot see said upper hand.. Due to the belief that God is watching, his believers know that committing sin (such as adultery and wrath) is such a move that could potentially be “frowned upon.” However, they also have the choice of going to confe...

    Read More

  • The Bible: The Concept Of Righteousness In The Bible

    1308 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sin is treason against a perfectly pure Sovereign. It is an act of supreme ingratitude toward the One to whom we owe everything, to the One who has given us life itself. Have you ever considered the deeper implications of the slightest sin, of the most minute peccadillo? What are we saying to our Creator when we disobey Him at the slightest point? We are saying no to the righteousness of God. We are saying, “God, your law is not good. My judgement is better than Yours. Your authority does not apply to me. I am above and beyond Your jurisdiction. I have the right to do what I want to do, not what You command me to

    Read More

  • Comparing Christianity And Buddhism Salvation

    979 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is essential to commence with the following two quotes which respectively define the Christian and Buddhist’s fundamental notion of salvation, and displays aspects of the two opposing worldviews. Firstly, Jesus said "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, NIV). Secondly, Buddha spoke "The long road of transmigration is a road of pain for the traveller: let him rest by the road and be free" (The Dhammapada, translated by Juan Mascaro 1973, v. 302). The first quote assumes a lineal event-filled theocentric view of time, a world-loving empathetic view of suffering, and salvation being Christocentric. In general, Christianity’s means of salvation is also defined through Christ's death and resurrection, by grace, through faith, not by works lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:9). The second quote however, Buddha assume...

    Read More

  • A Reflection upon Creation: Hinduism and Buddhism

    1129 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sayings of the Buddha: A selection of suttas from the Pali Nikayas. Gethin, Rupert. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print.

    Read More

More about Comparing Sin And Salvation In Buddhism And Christianity

Open Document