Christianity Vs Buddhism

[Snatchmasta]

This is just a ridiculous thread. I don't understand how you can compare two completely different beliefs.

Just because you smoke pot, shop at trader joes, and mediate once in a while doesn't make you a Buddhism. In fact, comparing and trying to discredit western religions is thoroughly un-Buddhist of you. Compassion, acceptance, and inner tranquility are all Buddhist principles. They're also principles of almost every other goddamn religion/belief system. Most religions are inherently peaceful, there are just violent/belligerent interpretations.

 

[Krzysiek23]

To me, they're just different fanclubs.

 

[HEHEGGG]

This is just a ridiculous thread. I don't understand how you can compare two completely different beliefs.

Just because you smoke pot, shop at trader joes, and mediate once in a while doesn't make you a Buddhism. In fact, comparing and trying to discredit western religions is thoroughly un-Buddhist of you. Compassion, acceptance, and inner tranquility are all Buddhist principles. They're also principles of almost every other goddamn religion/belief system. Most religions are inherently peaceful, there are just violent/belligerent interpretations.

First he state all over the post that he is not a Buddhist but a atheist, he also isn't implying that chirstanity is violent but trying to show what it caused because it's way of telling people what to do.
Please read the stickies before posting your "opinion"
http://sythe.org/showthread.php?t=476986

 

[holy cherrys]

Rofl, a religion vs religion thread ahaha!

 

[sooner636]

So what your saying basically is Buddhism is more beneficial than Theology. Then you go on to talk about Technology saying it has set the World back 100 years? As I recall Christianity started the United States of America. People didn't want to be controlled by the Church of England and was told what religion to follow. So they set sail and founded America. Boom, one of thew worlds biggest industrial spots in the world. The country has been run by all Presidents that have all been Christian besides one (JFK). In no way am I saying the country is running efficiente but I am saying it did. Buddhism, I agree is very peaceful and is all about Wisdom. Asia where Buddhism is mostly influenced is considered a 3rd world Country. 3rd world Country's are not very efficiente. A quote of the term 3rd World County:

The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO (which along with its allies represented the First World), or communism and the Soviet Union (which along with its allies represented the Second World). This definition provided a way of broadly categorizing the nations of the earth into three groups based on social, political, and economic divisions. Due to many of the Third World countries being extremely poor, it became a stereotype such that people commonly refer to undeveloped countries as "third world countries," often used in a pejorative way. Over the last few decades, the term 'Third World' has been used interchangeably with the Global South and Developing Countries to describe poorer countries that have struggled to attain steady economic development. Third World countries includes most of Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

This list provides The GDP Per Capitia in Asia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Asian_countries_by_GDP_per_capita

This list provides the Top 23 GDP Per Capitia Countries of the World:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_North_American_countries_by_GDP_per_capita

The Technology wise. I agree a lot of items are made somewhere in Asia, so there is more need for Technology. Doesn't mean they have it.

To say Buddhism is more beneficial than any other Western Religion and to mention saying Christianity has set the world back 100 years in technology is completely one sided. Being one sided is completely against one of your main Morals of Buddhism.

Quotes from Confucius about Equality:

So what of all these titles, names, and races? They are mere worldly conventions.

I believe I have stated nothing but Facts on this reply. Please Correct me anyone if it's not.

P.S. I am in no way saying Christianity nor The United States of America are better than anyone/anything else it was just an Example. I am not taking any sides. Just proving my point.

 

[sooner636]

Complete Factor of The Moral Code from Noble Eightfold Path:

Morality

There are three factors under Morality: Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood. Right Speech involves respect for truth and respect for the welfare for others. It means to avoid lying, to avoid backbiting or slander, to avoid harsh speech, and to avoid idle talk. We have often underestimated the power of speech and tend to use little control over our speech faculty. But we have all been hurt by someone's words at some time of our life, and similarly we have been encouraged by the words of another. It is said that a harsh word can wound more deeply than weapons, where as a gentle word can change the heart and mind of the most hardened criminal. We speak words which are truthful, brings harmony, kind and meaningful. The Buddha once said 'pleasant speech is sweet as honey, truthful speech is beautiful like a flower, and wrong speech is unwholesome like filth'.

The next factor under Morality is Right Action. Right Action entails respect for life, respect for property, and respect for personal relationships. It corresponds to the first three of the Five Precepts to be practised by every Buddhist. Hence, we should abstain from taking a life which we ourselves cannot give and we should not harm other sentient beings. Respect for property means that we should not take what is not given, by stealing, cheating, or force. Respect for personal relationship means that we should not commit adultery and avoid sexual misconduct, which is important for maintaining the love and trust of those we love as well as making our society a better place to live in.

Right Livelihood is a factor under moral conduct which refers to how we earn our living in society. It is an extension of the two other factors of Right Speech and Right Action which refer to the respect for truth, life, property and personal relationships.

Right Livelihood means that we should earn a living without violating these principles of a moral conduct. Buddhists are discouraged from being engaged in the following five kinds of livelihood: trading in human beings, trading in weapons, trading in flesh, trading in intoxicating drinks and drugs, and trading in poison. Some people may say that they have to do such a business for their living and, therefore, it is not wrong for them to do so. But this argument is entirely baseless. If it were valid, then thieves, murderers, gangsters, thugs, smugglers and swindlers can also just as easily say that they are also doing such unrighteous acts only for their living and, therefore, there is nothing wrong with their way of life.

Some people believe that fishing and hunting animals for pleasure and slaughtering animals for food are not against the Buddhist precepts. This is another misconception that arises owing to a lack of knowledge in Dhamma. All these are not decent actions and bring suffering to other beings. But in all these actions, the one who is harmed most of all is the one who performs these unwholesome actions. Maintaining a life through wrong means is not in accordance with the Buddha's teaching.

AKA what Buddhism says about being One Sided ^

 

[sooner636]

1 last thing. Religion and believes have nothing to do with technology. Some of the greatest minds in the world where atheiest or agnostic. Steven Hokins and Albert Enstien where both agnostic and have invented and overseen some of the greatest things ever build.

 

[Jimmy]

As I recall Christianity started the United States of America. People didn't want to be controlled by the Church of England and was told what religion to follow. So they set sail and founded America. Boom, one of thew worlds biggest industrial spots in the world.

Religious freedom != Religion

The country has been run by all Presidents that have all been Christian besides one (JFK).

Kennedy was a Catholic (a type of Christian), but others accepted less orthodox theological systems (Jefferson, for example, was something of a deist). The United States is also not run by anybody; the President is merely the head of the executive branch of the Federal government.

Asia where Buddhism is mostly influenced is considered a 3rd world Country.

Oh dear.

Quotes from Confucius about Equality:

Confucius wasn't a Buddhist.

 

[Sumskills]

Buddhism isn't necessarily a religion, it's closer to a way of life.

The whole idea of Buddhism is to understand the truth and nature of suffering, and through inner reflection, the accrual of insight and wisdom and the following of the dharma remove suffering from your life entirely. By continuation you then continue to aid others in removing suffering from their lives through compassion.

Furthermore, Buddhists don't actually intrude upon other people's beliefs. The only time a proper Buddhist will ever teach you is if you ask them to. This is actually how it has always been. Western religions did have their crusades, however Buddhist monks were only known by their robes. They impressed people with their demeanor and kindness and that caused people to ask about Buddhism. Keep in mind that this was in ancient India, so it was probably fascinating to the laymen. Very few branches of Buddhism advertise themselves majorly like Christianity etc. does. In fact, I only know of one branch that exists within Japan most prominently that does.

That being said, if you're going to compare and contrast Christianity and Buddhism, don't. You're comparing apples and oranges, and furthermore only really trying to argue a single minded view. Buddhism and Christianity aren't actually mutually exclusive; they can co-exist within a single person depending on what kind of each (Mahayana Buddhism as opposed to Therevada monastic Buddhism). Buddhists don't impress themselves upon Christians, so don't try to do it for them. If you feel compelled to impress Buddhism upon anyone, the Buddhist way would be to simply show compassion to Christians, not argue about them.

you said that you know a branch that advertise themselves? Can you tell me what it is called?

 

[Divine_God]

This is just a ridiculous thread. I don't understand how you can compare two completely different beliefs.

Just because you smoke pot, shop at trader joes, and mediate once in a while doesn't make you a Buddhism. In fact, comparing and trying to discredit western religions is thoroughly un-Buddhist of you. Compassion, acceptance, and inner tranquility are all Buddhist principles. They're also principles of almost every other goddamn religion/belief system. Most religions are inherently peaceful, there are just violent/belligerent interpretations.

First, I think comparing beliefs to one another is an essential process people must take in order to develop their values and culture. As I stated earlier, I said that i personally felt that Buddhism was philosophically superior to Christianity. I even then continued to state that I felt Christianity had held back technological advancement DUE to its set of beliefs.

If you think this thread is stupid then you don't have to post in/read it.

I also in my first post and in others throughout the thread, have shown that I am an atheist and am no representative for bhuddism.

 

[Emperor Nero]

I even then continued to state that I felt Christianity had held back technological advancement DUE to its set of beliefs.

Just wanted to address this in the fact that you're making a sweeping generalization. Not all Christians are technologically backwards. There are many scientists that are Christians or are what has been coined as a Christian Atheist. Comparing any two religions to decide which is 'better' will be a fruitless study, as they're all different branches of the same tree. Mathematician and Philosopher as well as originator of the Incompleteness Theorem Kurt Godel was a devout Christian until the day he died, as well as another great Philosopher Saint Thomas Aquinas. Christianity spurred many crucial inventions including probably the most important the Printing Press.

Arguing over which is better, as I have stated, is stupid. It is all subjective and one can say with any certainty which is better. It is like trying to decide which shade of blue is prettier.

 

[tummim]

There will be no fighting between Christianity and Buddhism or like enemy comparing.
I other words, the Christianity and Buddhism its a just a levels of one school. The Buddhism is a high school and the Christianity is a university.
The main hint is that the God is inside us.

 

[Fre5h]

No matter how long we are on this planet there will always be people searching for why we are here. Religion will always have a part in daily life.