WorldView Chart
Christianityand Buddhism
Thecategory I have chosen from the completed is theorigin of all things. I have selected this category because thesubject of the source of the universe and humanity continuouslyoccasion heated discussions across different religions. I canrecollect many situations where I have been stunned by the diversetheories posited by different civilizations to explain the origin ofeverything. According to Hick (1988), human beings have always beenin constant search of the real origin of the universe. Therefore,humanity has employed different avenues in trying to find answers toour origin and existence, which include religious, scientific, andphilosophical approaches.
Inthis essay, we will shed light on the spiritual approach to theexplanation of the origin of everything from a Christian`s andBuddhist`s point of perspective. The category I have selected is ofsignificant importance across Christianity and Buddhism because thesetwo religions view differently, the origin of humankind whichsubsequently affects the religious beliefs and practices of theirmillions of followers. I would argue that these religions interpretin a different way, the beginning of humanity a notion we willproceed to simplify.
Accordingto Hick (1988), the guiding principles that form the foundation ofthe Doctrines of Christianity are found in the Bible. In the Bible,some books evidently document the fact that the universe was createdby a supreme being. In the first twelve chapters of Genesis, there isa creation narrative enlightening Christians how God createdeverything in six days and relaxed on the seventh. It is the opinionof Pardillo (2016) that the first seven chapters of Genesis documenthow Adam and Eve were created in the mirror image of God, and becauseof this unique connection, were placed in paradise (The Garden ofEden) by God to take care of it. Hence, in agreement with the Bible,the universe and everything in it is as a result of the interventionof a supreme being.
Itis the opinion of Sj (2010) that unlike most religions of the world,Buddhism does not acknowledge the existence of a supreme being.Atheists believe that everything, including human beings, came intoexistence as a result of natural causes. According to Buddhists, theearth`s formation was natural not an act of the intervention of aGod. Pardillo (2016) notes that to prove the non-existence of aBuddhist creation story, there is a historic narrative of Lord Buddhashunning down a series of questions from his followers regarding theorigin of everything. After being asked several questions regardingwhere humanity came from, Lord Buddha answered by saying: "thepast and the future are inconsequential in trying to presentlyliberate oneself from misery" (ibid).
Hick(1988) notes that the Buddhist stories of the natural creation of theuniverse are documented in the AgannaSutta.On the word of the AgannaSutta,the universe was formed after a series of devastations andre-evolutions to its present state. In addition to the naturalformation of the universe, the AgannaSuttaalso documents how humanity evolved from rubbles of dust and dirt.Therefore, the teachings of Buddhism provide a series of historicalactivities that span over millions of years, until the universeeventually attained an equilibrium point (ibid). Therefore, itbecomes apparent that both Christianity and Buddhism viewdifferently, the origin of the universe and humanity.
Ihave seen the manifestation of such religious beliefs in my socialcircle. In class, I have a very close friend who happens to be aninternational student. She hails from South East Asia and iscurrently in the United States as an exchange student. It goeswithout mentioning that since that she comes from Asia, wheremajorities of the people are faithful to Buddhism, she is a StaunchBuddhist. Despite the fact that we are very close friends, we oftenfind ourselves on different planes when it comes to matters ofreligion stemming from the origin of the universe. Earlier thisyear, Christians celebrated Easter. Learning institutions went onrecess, while many others journeyed to be with their loved ones.
Myfriend, a staunch Buddhist, was questioning why Christians celebratethe death and resurrection of a son of the “creator” of theuniverse when there is no "God." To back the society ofChristians, I insisted that there is a God, whose son`s death awardedhumanity with a second chance to redeem their lost glory with hisFather God. I produced the Bible, and she also tabled the AgannaSuttato bulwark her conflicting religious views regarding the existence ofa God, and Jesus. Since Easter, we have had countless of othersimilar arguments. By my faith, I believe that human beings came intoexistence as a result of God`s intervention as documented in theBible. Buddhists, according to their religious beliefs, there is noGod and humanity came into existence as a result of natural causes.Therefore, it is apparent that these two religions have contradictoryopinions regarding the existential questions, a factor that affectsthe religious traditions across both faiths.
References
Hick,J. (1988). The Thomist-Catholic View of Faith. Faithand Knowledge,11-31. Doi: 10.1007/978-1-349-19036-2_2
Inhis paper, Hick expounds on how Jesus Christ redeems the lives ofthose scathed by transgression and sin. Additionally, Hick discussesthe varied elements of Catholicism as a religion.
Pardillo,U. (2016). Christianity and Hinduism on Human Existence. RetrievedJune 02, 2016, fromhttp://www.academia.edu/9022229/CHRISTIANITY_AND_HINDUISM_ON_HUMAN_EXISTENCE
Inthis page, Pardillo is comparatively delving into the differences andsimilarities of Buddhism (Hinduism) and Christianity (Catholicism)with specific regard for the existence of humans, the meaning oflife, and the afterlife.
Sj,A. P. (2010). Spirituality as Mindfulness: Biblical and BuddhistApproaches. Spiritus:A Journal of Christian Spirituality,10(1),38-51. doi:10.1353/scs.0.0082
Inthis composition, Sj explains the doctrines that form the elementalpractices of the Buddhists, with close comparison to Biblicalteachings.