Buddhist2 (1)
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Dec 6, 2023
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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 declared that this world, living creatures, or human beings were
made by a God or even the Buddha. “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 throughout many
lifetimes in the cycle of rebirth called samsara” (Lopez, D. S. 2014, March 31). Buddhists think
human life is more important than any other living creature. Human life is considered more
important because humans are the only ones with the potential 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 can 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). Buddhists believe that all negative actions
cause bad karma that causes people to be reborn into a low form of life and positive actions
cause good karma resulting in the rebirth of a higher form when they die.
I read that “Buddhists 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. The teachings
of Buddhists view life and death as a continuation. Buddhists believe that consciousness resumes
after death and will be reborn.
Word count 416
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 it says in the
Bible, “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). “Buddhism
emphasizes the endless cycle of death and rebirth, with the idea of reincarnation and Christianity
teaches we have one life and one chance” (Tejvan, 2013). Buddhists follow the Buddha's
teaching, unlike Christians that follow the teachings of Jesus Christ our savior. The goal or
means of salvation for the Buddhists is to obtain enlightenment so that they can be released from
the cycle of rebirth and death which is also called a state of nirvana. We Christians have a goal to
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