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Essay / Buddhism versus Christianity - 1047
Religion is a fundamental element of human society. It is what binds a country, a society or a group of individuals together. However, in some cases it destroys the unity between them. Religion is a belief in a superhuman entity(ies) that controls the universe. Every religion has its differences, but most aspire to a righteous life and good morals. The three major groups are the primary regions made up of African, Aboriginal, and Native American religions, the Asians made up of the religions of Southeast Asia, and the Abrahamic religions made up of the religions of the Middle East. This essay focuses on the differences between the Abrahamic religion, Christianity and Buddhism of the Asian region, as well as the reference to the Islamic religion. It is beliefs or ideologies as well as traditions that separate and help us differentiate religions. The main concept of Christianity is that God the Father sent his son Jesus as a man to save humanity and open the gates of heaven on earth. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done – Our Father.” Buddhism is based on individual effort, the idea of balance, where one lives in harmony with one's environment. "True understanding lies between the extremes of asceticism and luxury, a middle way p.92" In the Christian faith, when someone dies, after walking the earth for 40 days, they ascend to heaven where they will be judged by the Holy Father. If a person seeks eternal damnation, he is sent to hell and if he wants to be saved and live for eternity in Heaven with God, he must atone for his sins by waiting in purgatory, after which he will have access to Heaven. Faithfully following the Christian religion is the shortcut to Heaven since Jesus showed us ...... middle of paper ...... righteousness and being a good person. These also reflect the Buddhist religion. The Buddhist religion originated in the Himalayan Mountains and spread east to Asian countries where it spread as far as China, Japan and Thailand. The Buddhist religion appeals to a small minority of people, particularly in North America, who find it a better alternative to more dominant Christian beliefs. Religion plays a major role in many people's lives and dictates how a person acts and faces daily obstacles. . Even though there are many similar concepts, there is still a major difference between the two. The Christian faith appeals to many people and its morals and ethics are what many people in Australia desire or subscribe to. Although religions may be different, the ultimate goal/vocation is to live a life that is just and kind to others.Charbel Tarabay