Christianity and Buddhism in Comparative Perspective (Contents)
Part 1. Origins and Foundational Visions Part 2. The Making of the Scriptures: The Bible and the Tripiṭaka Part 3.…
Category: Christianity
Part 1. Origins and Foundational Visions
1. Introduction Christianity and Buddhism rank among the most influential spiritual traditions in human history. Though both respond to the…
Part 2. The Making of the Scriptures: The Bible and the Tripiṭaka
1. Introduction Sacred scripture is the heart of both Christianity and Buddhism, serving as the enduring witness to each tradition’s…
Part 3. The Nature of Ultimate Reality
1. Introduction Every religious and philosophical system begins with a fundamental question: What is ultimately real?In Christianity, ultimate reality is…
Part 4. The Human Condition
1. Introduction Every religion begins with an implicit anthropology — an understanding of what it means to be human and…
Part 5. Suffering, Evil, and Moral Order
1. Introduction No question is more universal than the problem of suffering. Every culture asks: Why do we suffer, and…
Part 6. The Path to Liberation or Salvation
1. Introduction Having examined the origins of suffering and moral disorder, we now turn to the paths of transformation. Both…
Part 7. Ethics, Love, and Compassion
1. Introduction In both Christianity and Buddhism, ethical life represents the visible expression of spiritual truth. Belief or enlightenment, if…
Part 8. Prayer, Meditation, and Spiritual Practice
1. Introduction Every religion seeks not merely to explain the world but to transform the heart. Both Christianity and Buddhism…
Part 9. The Afterlife and the Nature of Eternity
1. Introduction Death has always stood as one of humanity’s greatest mysteries. Every religion seeks to explain what, if anything,…
Part 10. The Person of Christ and the Figure of the Buddha
1. Introduction Every religion is shaped by its founding personality. In Christianity and Buddhism, the life and teaching of the…
Part 11. Truth, Knowledge, and Enlightenment
1. Introduction Every religion offers not only a path to salvation or liberation but also a theory of knowledge —…
Part 12. Community, Worship, and the Path of Discipleship
1. Introduction Religion is not lived in isolation. Both Christianity and Buddhism affirm that spiritual growth unfolds within a community…
Part 13. Convergence, Dialogue, and the Search for Universal Wisdom
1. Introduction The encounter between Christianity and Buddhism represents one of the most profound dialogues in religious and philosophical history.…
Explaining Christianity to Buddhists (Contents)
Part 1: Understanding the Buddhist Mindset Part 2: The Language Barrier – From Revelation to Realisation Part 3: Speaking of…
Part 1: Understanding the Buddhist Mindset
Bridging the Light: Explaining Christianity to Buddhists with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction Before Christians can explain their faith to…
Part 2: The Language Barrier – From Revelation to Realisation
Bridging the Light: Explaining Christianity to Buddhists with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction When Christians speak about God, sin, faith,…
Part 3: Speaking of God – Explaining a Personal Creator to a Non-Theistic Listener
Bridging the Light: Explaining Christianity to Buddhists with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction For Christians, speaking about God is natural…
Part 4: Explaining the Soul and the Self
Bridging the Light: Explaining Christianity to Buddhists with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction Among all differences between Christianity and Buddhism,…
Part 5: Grace, Karma, and Moral Cause
Bridging the Light: Explaining Christianity to Buddhists with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction For Christians, the word grace (charis) lies…
Part 6: Sin and Suffering — The Christian Meaning of Deliverance
Bridging the Light: Explaining Christianity to Buddhists with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction Every religion wrestles with the same universal…
Part 7: Jesus Christ – Saviour, Teacher, and the Living Word
Bridging the Light: Explaining Christianity to Buddhists with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction For Christians, Jesus Christ is the centre…
Part 8: Faith and Practice — The Path of Transformation
Bridging the Light: Explaining Christianity to Buddhists with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction To a Buddhist, spiritual progress depends on…
Part 9: The Church and the Sangha — Community as Spiritual Support
Bridging the Light: Explaining Christianity to Buddhists with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction Both Christianity and Buddhism recognise that spiritual…
Part 10: Dialogue and Witness — Building Bridges without Barriers
Bridging the Light: Explaining Christianity to Buddhists with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction Interfaith dialogue is not about winning arguments…
Explaining Buddhism to Christians (Contents)
Part 1: Understanding the Buddhist Worldview Part 2: The Life of the Buddha – History and Meaning Part 3: The…
Part 1: Understanding the Buddhist Worldview
Explaining Buddhism to Christians with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction Before one can explain Buddhism to Christians, it is vital…
Part 2: The Life of the Buddha – History and Meaning
Explaining Buddhism to Christians with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction To understand Buddhism, one must begin with its founder: Siddhartha…
Part 3: The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path
Explaining Buddhism to Christians with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction At the heart of Buddhism lies a simple but profound…
Part 4: Karma, Rebirth, and the Law of Cause and Effect
Explaining Buddhism to Christians with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction Few Buddhist ideas are as famous — or as often…
Part 5: The Concept of No-Self (Anattā) and Impermanence
Explaining Buddhism to Christians with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction At the very core of Buddhist philosophy lies a teaching…
Part 6: Nirvāṇa — The Buddhist Goal of Liberation
Explaining Buddhism to Christians with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction At the heart of Buddhism lies a single ultimate goal…
Part 7: Meditation, Mindfulness, and Inner Discipline
Explaining Buddhism to Christians with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction If one word captures modern interest in Buddhism, it is…
Part 8: Compassion, Wisdom, and the Bodhisattva Ideal
Explaining Buddhism to Christians with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction Buddhism, often described as a philosophy of wisdom, is equally…
Part 9: Buddhism’s View of God, Creation, and Salvation
Explaining Buddhism to Christians with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction One of the most profound differences between Buddhism and Christianity…
Part 10: Dialogue and Witness — Building Bridges Without Barriers
Explaining Buddhism to Christians with Clarity and Compassion 1. Introduction This final part concludes the series by turning understanding into…
Against the Idols and the Restoration of Wholehearted Worship in Christ (Contents)
1: What Is True Faith in Jesus? – Beyond Belief to Devotion 2: What Is Idolatry? – Statues, Systems, and…
1: What Is True Faith in Jesus? – Beyond Belief to Devotion
1. Introduction In a world where religious pluralism and cultural syncretism are widespread, many profess belief in Jesus while simultaneously…
2: What Is Idolatry? – Statues, Systems, and Substitutes for God
1. Introduction The word idolatry often evokes images of carved statues and ancient temples, but the biblical concept of idolatry…
3: Can I Believe in Jesus and Still Bow to Idols? – Theological Contradictions
1. Introduction A pressing question for many believers—especially in culturally pluralistic societies—is whether one can claim faith in Jesus while…
4: Old Testament Warnings – God’s Jealousy and Covenant Loyalty
1. Introduction The Old Testament offers a compelling portrait of God’s covenant relationship with His people—a relationship that is exclusive,…
5: Jesus and the First Commandment – Worship the Lord Only
1. Introduction Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did not nullify the commandments of God—He fulfilled them and reaffirmed their…
6: New Testament Idolatry – Greed, Image, Power, and False Religion
1. Introduction While the Old Testament often portrays idolatry in overt, physical forms—statues, shrines, and rituals—the New Testament unveils a…
7: Idolatry in the Church Today – Cultural and Religious Blending
1. Introduction While ancient idols were often visible—wood, stone, gold—the idolatry of today is often invisible, subtle, and even cloaked…
8: The Cost of Divided Worship – Judgment, Discipline, and Loss
1. Introduction Worship is not merely a spiritual activity—it is a covenantal allegiance. The Bible consistently warns that divided worship,…
9: Repentance and Renewal – Returning to Christ with a Whole Heart
1. Introduction After exposing the sin of idolatry and the dangers of divided worship, Scripture always extends a hopeful call:…
10: Walking in Purity – How to Guard Your Heart from Idols
1. Introduction Turning from idols is not a one-time event but the beginning of a lifelong walk of spiritual vigilance…
11: Idolatry and the Trinity – Worshipping God in Wholeness
1. Introduction The battle against idolatry is not merely moral or behavioural—it is profoundly theological. At its core, idolatry is…
Augustine of Hippo – Grace, Original Sin, and the City of God
Top Christian Theologians by Theme and Denomination 1. Introduction Augustine of Hippo (354–430 CE) stands as a towering figure in…
Thomas Aquinas – Faith, Reason, and Natural Theology
Top Christian Theologians by Theme and Denomination 1. Introduction Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274), Dominican friar and scholastic philosopher, is widely considered…
Martin Luther – Justification, Scripture, and the Reformation
Top Christian Theologians by Theme and Denomination 1. Introduction Martin Luther (1483–1546) was the principal figure of the Protestant Reformation,…
John Calvin – Sovereignty, Predestination, and the Reformed Tradition
Top Christian Theologians by Theme and Denomination 1. Introduction John Calvin (1509–1564), a French theologian and reformer based primarily in…
Karl Barth – Revelation, Christocentrism, and Neo-Orthodoxy
Top Christian Theologians by Theme and Denomination 1. Introduction Karl Barth (1886–1968) is widely regarded as the most important Protestant…
Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Discipleship, Ethics, and Resistance
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) was a German pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident whose life…
Jonathan Edwards – Revival, Theological Aesthetics, and the Great Awakening
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) stands as the most prominent theologian and philosopher in colonial…
John Wesley – Holiness, Free Grace, and the Methodist Movement
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction John Wesley (1703–1791), Anglican priest and founder of the Methodist movement, is one…
Origen of Alexandria – Allegorical Interpretation and the Spiritual Senses of Scripture
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Origen of Alexandria (c. 184–253 AD) was one of the earliest and most…
Athanasius of Alexandria – The Incarnation and Defence of Nicene Orthodoxy
1. Introduction Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296–373 AD) is one of the most significant figures in early Christian theology, best…
ComparisonDoctrinal Themes and Denominational TraditionsDoctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions
Comparative Analysis of 10 Christian Theologians
Name Era & Tradition Key Theme Similarities Differences Conflicts/Tensions 1. Augustine 4th–5th c., Latin (Catholic & Protestant) Grace, Original Sin,…
Irenaeus of Lyons – Recapitulation and the Fight Against Gnosticism
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202 AD) was a pivotal theologian of the early…
Gregory of Nazianzus – The Trinity and the Theological Oration
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329–390 AD), also known as Gregory the Theologian, is…
Anselm of Canterbury – Faith Seeking Understanding and the Atonement
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Anselm of Canterbury (c. 1033–1109) was a Benedictine monk, Archbishop of Canterbury, and…
Cyril of Alexandria – Theotokos and the Unity of Christ
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444 AD) was a central figure in the development…
Maximus the Confessor – Two Wills of Christ and the Spiritual Journey to Deification
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Maximus the Confessor (c. 580–662 AD) was a Byzantine monk, mystic, and theological…
Blaise Pascal – Faith, Reason, and the God of the Heart
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Blaise Pascal (1623–1662) was a French mathematician, physicist, and theologian whose religious writings…
Friedrich Schleiermacher – Feeling, Consciousness, and the Birth of Liberal Theology
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768–1834) is widely regarded as the father of modern liberal theology.…
Hans Urs von Balthasar – Beauty, Christ, and the Drama of Salvation
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905–1988) stands among the most influential Roman Catholic theologians…
Gustavo Gutiérrez – Liberation, the Poor, and Theology from Below
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Gustavo Gutiérrez (b. 1928) is a Peruvian Catholic priest and theologian best known…
Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church
Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church (Contents)
1. Paul’s Proof of Jesus as the Christ: Scriptural, Historical, and Theological Foundations 2. The Divine and Human Messiah: Incarnation…
Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church
1. Paul’s Proof of Jesus as the Christ: Scriptural, Historical, and Theological Foundations
Introduction Understanding how the Apostle Paul proves that Jesus is the Christ—the promised Messiah—is foundational to grasping Pauline theology and…
Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church
2. The Divine and Human Messiah: Incarnation and Exaltation in Paul’s Thought
Introduction Paul’s Christology profoundly embraces both the full humanity and full divinity of Jesus as the Messiah. This article explores…
Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church
3. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection: The Centrepiece of Pauline Christology
Introduction The death and resurrection of Jesus stand at the heart of Paul’s proclamation that Jesus is the Christ. This…
Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church
4. Ethics as Participation in Christ’s New Life: The Teaching of Romans
Introduction Paul’s letter to the Romans not only presents Jesus as the Messiah but also calls believers to live ethically…
Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church
5. Freedom and Spirit-Led Living: Ethical Living in Galatians
Introduction Paul’s letter to the Galatians strongly emphasizes Christian freedom rooted in faith in Christ the Messiah, contrasting it with…
Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church
6. Imitating Christ’s Humility and Exaltation: Ethical Exhortations in Philippians
Introduction In Philippians, Paul presents Jesus as the humble yet exalted Messiah and calls believers to imitate this model. This…
Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church
7. The Church as the Body of Christ: Identity and Unity in Romans and 1 Corinthians
Introduction Paul’s ecclesiology is deeply rooted in his Christology. In Romans and 1 Corinthians, he describes the church as the…
Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church
8. The New Covenant People: Equality and Freedom in the Church (Galatians)
Introduction In Galatians, Paul presents the church as the new covenant community established through faith in Christ, the Messiah. This…
Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church
9. The Church Called to Imitate Christ: Humility and Mission in Philippians
Introduction Paul’s letter to the Philippians emphasizes the church’s calling to imitate the Messiah’s humility and exaltation. This article examines…
Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church
10. Interconnection of Christology, Ethics, and Ecclesiology in Pauline Theology
Introduction Paul’s theology is a unified whole where Christology, ethics, and ecclesiology are deeply interconnected. This article explores how Paul’s…
Paul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and ChurchPaul’s Christology, Ethics, and Church
11. Applying Pauline Theology in Today’s Church and Christian Life
Introduction Paul’s integrated theology of Christology, ethics, and ecclesiology offers timeless guidance for contemporary Christian communities and individual believers. This…
72 – Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing: Enduring Joy Amid Deepest Pain
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 6: Christian Experience Paradoxes 1. Introduction In 2 Corinthians 6:10, the apostle…
73 – Persecuted, Yet Not Abandoned: Divine Presence in Human Rejection
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 6: Christian Experience Paradoxes 1. Introduction In 2 Corinthians 4:9, the apostle…
74 – Poor, Yet Making Many Rich: The Wealth of Grace in a Life of Sacrifice
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 6: Christian Experience Paradoxes 1. Introduction In 2 Corinthians 6:10, Paul describes…
75 – Having Nothing, Yet Possessing Everything: True Riches in the Midst of Poverty
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 6: Christian Experience Paradoxes Entry 1. Introduction In 2 Corinthians 6:10, the…
76 – Content in All Circumstances, Yet Pressing On: Restful Ambition in the Christian Life
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 6: Christian Experience Paradoxes Entry 1. Introduction The apostle Paul declares in…
77 – Rejoice in Trials: Joy Amid Hardship
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 6: Christian Experience Paradoxes 1. Introduction James 1:2 opens with a remarkable…
78 – Peace That Surpasses Understanding: Rest Amid Chaos
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 6: Christian Experience Paradoxes 1. Introduction In Philippians 4:7, Paul describes a…
79 – Boast in Weakness: Glory Through Dependence
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 6: Christian Experience Paradoxes 1. Introduction The apostle Paul declares in 2…
80 – Grieve with Hope: Sorrow and Assurance in Christian Mourning
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 6: Christian Experience Paradoxes 1. Introduction The apostle Paul writes to the…
81 – Living Sacrifices: Dying Daily Yet Fully Alive in Christ
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 6: Christian Experience Paradoxes 1. Introduction In Romans 12:1, believers are urged…
Article 1: The Divine Architecture of Blessing – How God Built the Universe to Bear Fruit
1. Introduction The concept of blessing—whether spiritual, material, emotional, or relational—features prominently throughout the Bible. While Christians often focus on…
Article 2: The Power of the Tongue – Why Speech Can Bless Whether or Not You Believe
1. Introduction Speech is one of the most powerful faculties given to human beings. From the earliest chapters of Genesis,…
Article 3: Blessing from the Heart – Goodwill, Intent, and Human Flourishing in God’s Order
1. Introduction While much attention is rightly given to actions and speech in discussions of moral and spiritual blessing, the…
Article 4: Unbelievers Who Bless Others – God Honours Natural Goodness with Real Fruit
1. Introduction Throughout Scripture, God’s redemptive plan is revealed primarily through His covenant people—Israel in the Old Testament and the…
Article 5: When the Unbelieving Bless Each Other – Uncovenanted Goodness and Its Real-World Results
1. Introduction The Bible primarily focuses on God’s covenantal relationship with His people—yet it also records remarkable instances where blessing…
Article 6: Why God Honours Honour – The Law Written on the Heart of All Peoples
1. Introduction One of the profound insights of biblical theology is that moral truth is not restricted to the religiously…
Article 7: Common Grace and Natural Law – Blessing That Flows from Creation Itself
1. Introduction While saving grace through Jesus Christ is central to Christian faith, the Bible also affirms a broader concept…
Article 8: Covenantal Blessing – What Happens When Faith Activates Divine Power
1. Introduction While common grace and natural law offer blessings accessible to all, covenantal blessings represent a deeper, more powerful…
Article 9: Two Streams, One Design – How Universal Law and Covenant Grace Coexist in God’s Economy
1. Introduction Within the biblical worldview, it is possible to distinguish between two major channels through which blessings flow: the…
Article 10: Recognising Blessing Outside the Church – Why Christians Should Affirm Goodness in All People
1. Introduction While Scripture makes it clear that salvation is found in Christ alone, it equally affirms that God’s goodness…