Buddhist
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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. The Nature of Ultimate Reality Part 4. The Human Condition Part 5. Suffering, Evil, and Moral Order Part 6. The Path to Liberation or Salvation Part 7. Ethics, Love, and…
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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 universal experience of suffering and the longing for liberation, they arise from markedly different historical settings and metaphysical assumptions. Christianity proclaims divine revelation through the person of Jesus of Nazareth,…
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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 founder embody the path to truth. Both figures exemplify moral purity, compassion, and spiritual authority. Yet they differ radically in nature and self-understanding: one is divine Saviour, the other enlightened…
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Explaining Christianity to Buddhists (Contents)
Part 1: Understanding the Buddhist Mindset Part 2: The Language Barrier – From Revelation to Realisation Part 3: Speaking of God – Explaining a Personal Creator to a Non-Theistic Listener Part 4: Explaining the Soul and the Self Part 5: Grace, Karma, and Moral Cause Part 6: Sin and Suffering…
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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 Buddhists, they must first learn to think as listeners, not lecturers. Buddhism is not merely another religion with different rituals — it is a distinct worldview, a way of seeing…
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Explaining Buddhism to Christians (Contents)
Part 1: Understanding the Buddhist Worldview Part 2: The Life of the Buddha – History and Meaning Part 3: The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path Part 4: Karma, Rebirth, and the Law of Cause and Effect Part 5: The Concept of No-Self (Anattā) and Impermanence Part 6: Nirvāṇa…
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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 to begin with understanding — not judgment, not debate, but clarity rooted in compassion.Many Christians hear of Buddhism only through fragments: meditation, karma, peace, or reincarnation. Yet beneath these surface…
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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 Gautama, known as the Buddha — meaning “the Awakened One.”His life story functions for Buddhists much as the life of Jesus does for Christians: it provides the model, the meaning,…
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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 framework known as the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.These form the foundation of all Buddhist teaching, comparable to the Sermon on the Mount in Christianity — concise,…
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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 misunderstood — as karma and rebirth.In popular culture, karma is reduced to “what goes around comes around,” but in Buddhist philosophy, it is a complex moral law governing existence across…
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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 that most challenges Western and Christian thought: the doctrine of no-self (anattā) and impermanence (anicca). To many Christians, the idea that there is no enduring self sounds nihilistic or hopeless.…
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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 — Nirvāṇa (Nibbāna in Pāli), often translated as “enlightenment,” “liberation,” or “awakening.”For Buddhists, Nirvāṇa represents the end of suffering, craving, and rebirth, the final peace that transcends all dualities of…
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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 meditation.Across the world, Buddhist practices such as mindfulness, Zen, and Vipassanā are used in healthcare, education, and even Christian spirituality. Yet the purpose and foundation of Buddhist meditation are often…
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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 a religion of compassion.The Buddha’s enlightenment was not an escape from the world but an awakening to universal empathy — the understanding that all beings suffer and deserve liberation. This…
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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 lies in how they understand God, creation, and salvation. While Christianity begins with the declaration, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1),Buddhism begins with no…
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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 relationship.Knowledge without compassion divides; wisdom expressed through love unites. Buddhists and Christians share many virtues — peace, compassion, discipline, mindfulness, and moral integrity — yet differ profoundly in worldview and…
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11: Comparative Analysis – Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism on Human Nature
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction Human nature—what constitutes a person and what happens after death—is a foundational question across all religious traditions. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism each offer distinct perspectives on the composition of the human being, including views on the body, soul, spirit, and eternity.…
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What Are the Major World Religions?
Comparative Religion Questions 1. Introduction The term “major world religions” refers to religious traditions with substantial global influence, historical depth, and significant numbers of adherents. These religions have shaped civilisations, cultural identities, and moral systems across history. This analysis outlines: 2. Criteria for “Major World Religions” 2.1 Demographic Size Religions…
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What Are the Core Beliefs of Eastern Religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism)?
Comparative Religion Questions 1. Introduction Eastern religions encompass diverse traditions with complex philosophies and practices. This analysis summarises the core beliefs of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism, highlighting their metaphysical, ethical, and soteriological frameworks. 2. Hinduism 2.1 Overview Hinduism is a pluralistic tradition rooted in Vedic, Upanishadic, and later philosophical and…
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Buddhist-Majority Countries
Buddhist Denominational Groups, Population, Countries, and Nuclear Capabilities: An Academic Analysis 1. Introduction Buddhism, with approximately 520 million adherents, represents about 7% of the global population and is a major world religion with significant influence in Asia (Pew Research Center, 2015). This report examines Buddhism through four key dimensions: (1)…
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Comparative Analysis of Hindu and Buddhist Countries
Denominational Groups, Population, Countries, and Nuclear Capabilities 1. Introduction Hinduism and Buddhism, with approximately 1.2 billion and 520 million adherents respectively, are two of the world’s major spiritual traditions, originating in South Asia and exerting significant cultural and geopolitical influence (Pew Research Center, 2015). This report compares Hinduism and Buddhism…
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Comparative Analysis of Christian-Majority and Buddhist-Majority Countries
Denominational Groups, Population, Countries, and Nuclear Capabilities 1. Introduction Christianity and Buddhism, with approximately 2.4 billion and 520 million adherents respectively, are two of the world’s major spiritual traditions, shaping cultural and geopolitical landscapes across diverse regions (Pew Research Center, 2015). This report compares Christian-majority countries and Buddhist-majority countries across…
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Comparative Analysis of Muslim-Majority and Buddhist-Majority Countries
Sectarian/Denominational Groups, Population, Countries, and Nuclear Capabilities 1. Introduction Islam and Buddhism, with approximately 1.9 billion and 520 million adherents respectively, are major world religions with significant cultural and geopolitical influence, particularly in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East for Islam, and Asia for Buddhism (Pew Research Center, 2015). This…