Philosophy: Differences between Buddhism, Islam and Christianity
Introduction
Religion o faith has been one of the most important aspects of human’s life. It serves as a guideline or principle for many people in order for them to do their daily responsibility and continue their lifestyles. Religion can be defined as the collective beliefs and practices that had helped to shape the moral identity of the society as a whole (Durkheim 2001, p. vii). It also has a strong connection or relation to the society because it pertains to the communal ways of life, values and practices of different traditions of communities and it serves as a social force that links or connects its members together (Durkheim 2001, p. vii).
As of now, there have been many religious groups that had already existed and their numbers are continuing to grow. In 1998, The Christian Science Monitor listed their Top 10 Organized Religions in the World. The first five are: Christianity (1.9 billion); Islam (1.1 billion); Hinduism (781 million); Buddhism (324 million); and Sikhism (19 million) (cited in Adherents.com n.d.). In 2005, Adherents.com released their study about the ranking of different major religions in the world (see appendix A for the details). The top six are the: Christianity (2.1 billion); Islam (1.5 billion); Secular/ Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist (1.1 billion); Hinduism (900 million); Chinese Traditional Religion (394 million); and Buddhism (376 million) (cited in Adherents.com 2005).
Based on the result of the study, together with the number and statistics, it is visible that the number of the members of different religious groups is continuing to grow as the population of the world grows also. Different religions have their different beliefs and traditions.
Buddhism, Islam and Christianity
The purpose of this paper is to focus its study about the three of the most populated religions in the world, which are the Buddhism, Islam and Christianity, together with their differences.
Christianity was established by Jesus Christ, the said religion believes on their primary faith about the relationship of man with God, who they believe as the Creator of all things. Islam believes on their five pillars that they considered as the most essential elements of their religion. All of the said five pillars are practiced by Muslims in their daily life. The third religion is the Buddhism, it was considered as a philosophy of life that was preached and introduce by Gautama Buddha. Buddha has a meaning of the enlightened one. It was taught during the 6th century B.C. in India (Yutopian 2000).
This paper will tackle the differences between the three religions in three most significant and controversial issue and beliefs about their: God, Salvation and the Eternal life.
God
One of the primary differences between the three religions is their belief or their representation of their Gods. Christianity primarily focuses on their belief to Jesus Christ as well as the other aspects of the Holy Trinity or the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Christian also believes to their only one true God, who referred Himself as I am who I am (Yutopian 2000). On the other hand, Islam also focuses their belief on their one and only God, but their God has an entirely different name, which is Allah (Yutopian 2000).
In the God aspect, Buddhism can be considered as different from the two first said religions. This is due to the fact that early Buddhism stands out by its unambiguous and open rejection and denial to become involved in metaphysical declaration about ultimate reality or God. The said religion is considered as non-theistic in its history; it is strangely striking to different religious minds about non-assertive, anti-metaphysical point of view and influence by focusing solely and completely on the way to freedom (Hebblethwaite 1988, p. 117). Godly figures were also introduced later by the said religion (Yutopian 2000).
Salvation
The primary reason for joining a religion is the beliefs of the people regarding salvation or the peacefulness of their soul after their physical death. In general, Christianity believes to the fact that Jesus Christ is the Salvation. In addition to that, salvation can be cannot be considered as based on the works or deeds of a person but as a free gift for those who would learned to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, with all their hearts, body and soul (Yutopian 2000).
In this aspect, Islam and Buddhism has the common denominator, it opposes the belief of Christianity about salvation. Both of the religion believes that salvation can be achieved by the works or deeds of a person. Islam believes that salvation can be achieved by practicing the five pillars in life or the: Shahadah or the belief about Allah as one and only God and Muhammad as his messenger; Salah, the practice of praying 5 times a day; Zakah or charity; Sawm or pasting; and the Hajj or the pilgrimage to Mecca.
On the other hand, the main difference of Buddhism from the two is that both of the first said religion has its standard rule or guidelines about salvation, while Buddhism believes in the philosophy that man has their own fate and freedom, thus, they are about to blame for any bad things or good things that they have done (Yutopian 2000). In general, Buddhism believes on the principle of Karma, what goes around comes around and what goes up must come down.
Eternal Life
In terms of eternal life, the belief of Islam and Christianity are somewhat the same than that of the Buddhism. Christianity sees eternal life as more than the mere continuation of existence. According to the book of John (10:10), it is a qualitative in nature as well as in duration (cited in Moreau & Netland 2000, p. 317). In addition to that it is a divine life which is at hand of God together with Christ and granted as a gift upon the believer and advocate in the course of the Holy Spirit (Moreau & Netland 2000, p. 317). In other words, Christianity pushes the philosophy of eternal life as a life in heaven, together with Jesus Christ and the said heaven or paradise is promised to all of those who accepted the said gift of salvation (Yutopian 2000). The said belief is entirely different from the belief of the Islam regarding the eternal life or the eternal bliss in Hereafter. Islam sees death not as a penalty for sin, but the expected termination of life. It s to be followed by their so called the Resurrection Day by judgment that results to the admittance to the paradise or transfer to hell and it will be based on the works or deeds that a person had done in his life. On the other hand, it is the will of Allah to decide the eternal destiny of a person. In other words, Muslims have no guarantee about their definitive salvation (Moreau & Netland 2000, p. 317).
Buddhism sees eternal life as a continue living under different circumstances, characteristics and personality. It is called the reincarnation or rebirth. It has a connection to the karma, where in a person will be unsure about his or next life because it will be depending on what he or she has done on his or her present life. The said religion believes that there are four types of reincarnation: first is to move from one life to another; second is the intentional rebirth; third is the spiritual rebirth; and the moment-to-moment rebirth (Mack 2002, p. 70). It is belief that if someone had been very good in his or her present life, there is a big possibility that he or she will be reborn in a form of wealthy and powerful man, on the other hand, if a person had been very bad in his or her present life, there is a big possibility for him or her to be reborn in a form of a poor man or worst, an animal.
References
Comparing Buddhism, Christianity and Islam 2000, Yutopian, viewed 5 March 2008, < http://www.yutopian.com/religion/compare/ >
Durkheim, E 2001, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life, Oxford University Press
Hebblethwaite, B 1988, The Ocean of Truth: A Defence of Objective Theism, Cambridge University Press
Mack, J 2002, Karma 101: What Goes Around Comes Around – and What You Can Do About it, Fair Winds
Major Religious of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents 2005, Adherents.com, viewed 5 March 2008, <http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.htm l>
Moreau, S, Netland, H, van Engen, C E & Burnett, D 2000, Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions, Baker Book House Company
Top 10 Organized Religions in the World, Adherents.com, viewed 5 March 2008, <http:/ /w ww .adherents.com/misc/rel_by_adh_CSM.html>
Adapted from: (Adherents.com 2005)
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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