TABLE OF CONTENT
Buddhism is centered upon the life and teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who came to be known as the Buddha — the enlightened one, or one who is awake — whereas Christianity is centered on the Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ. Buddhism is a nontheistic religion or philosophy, i.e., it does not believe in a supreme creator being, a.k.a. God. Christianity is monotheistic and believes that Christ Is the Son Of God.
Buddhism, like Jainism and many other Indian traditions, are Śramaṇic traditions that originally referred to several non-Brahmanical ascetic religions parallel to but separate from the Vedic religions of India, such as Hinduism. The Śramaṇa tradition includes Jainism, Buddhism, and others such as the Ājīvika primarily.
Christianity is an offshoot of Judaism and is an Abrahamic religion.
Buddhism versus Christianity
| Buddhism | Christianity | |
| Use of statues and pictures | Common. Statues are used as meditation objects and revered as they reflect the qualities of the Buddha. | In Catholic & Orthodox Churches. |
| Place of origin | Indian subcontinent | Roman province of Judea. |
| Belief of God | Buddhists reject the idea of an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent creator. The Buddha himself refuted the theistic argument that a self-conscious, personal God created the universe. | One God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity. |
| Place of worship | Buddhist monasteries, temples, and shrines. | Church, chapel, cathedral, basilica, home bible study, personal dwellings. |
| Founder | The Buddha (born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama). | The Lord Jesus Christ. |
| Practices | Meditation, the Eightfold Path; right view, right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration | Prayer, sacraments (some branches), church worship, Bible reading, acts of charity, communion. |
| Clergy | The Buddhist Sangha comprises bhikkhus (male monks) and bhikkhunis (female nuns). Lay Buddhists support the sangha. | Priests, bishops, ministers, monks, and nuns. |
| Literal Meaning | Buddhists are those who follow the teachings of the Buddha. | Follower Of Christ. |
| Life after death | Rebirth is one of the central beliefs of Buddhism. We are in an endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth, which can only be broken by attaining nirvana. Attaining nirvana is the only way to escape suffering permanently. | Eternity in Heaven or Hell, in some cases temporal Purgatory. |
| Followers | Buddhists | Christian (followers of Christ) |
| View of the Buddha | The highest teacher and the founder of Buddhism, the all-transcending sage. | N/A. |
| Goal of religion | To attain enlightenment and be released from the cycle of rebirth and death, thus attaining Nirvana. | To love God and obey his commandments while creating a relationship with Jesus Christ and spreading the Gospel so that others may be saved. |
| Population | 500-600 million | Over two billion adherents worldwide. |
| Means of salvation | Reaching Enlightenment or Nirvana, following the Noble Eightfold Path. | Through Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. |
| Marriage | It is not a religious duty to marry. Monks and nuns do not marry and are celibate. Advice in the Discourses on how to maintain a happy and harmonious marriage. | A Holy Sacrament. |
| Geographical distribution and predominance | (Majority or strong influence) Mainly in Thailand, Cambodia, Sri lanka, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Japan, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Vietnam, China, Mongolia, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Other small minorities exist in other countries. | As the largest religion in the world, Christianity has adherents are all over the world. As a % of local population, Christians are in a majority in Europe, North and South America, and Australia and New Zealand. |
| Scriptures | Tripitaka – a vast canon composed of 3 sections: the Discourses, the Discipline and the Commentaries, and some early scriptures, such as the Gandhara texts. | The Holy Bible |
| Human Nature | Ignorance, as all sentient beings. In the Buddhist texts, it is seen that when Gautama, after his awakening, was asked whether he was a normal human being, he replied, “No”. | Man has inherited “original sin” from Adam. Mankind then is inherently evil and is in need of forgiveness of sin. By knowing right and wrong Christians choose their actions. Humans are a fallen, broken race in need of salvation and repair by God. |
| Original Language(s) | Pali(Theravada tradition) and Sanskrit(Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition) | Aramaic, Greek, and Latin. |
| Symbols | The conch, endless knot, fish, lotus, parasol, vase, dharmachakra (Wheel of Dharma), and victory banner. | Cross, ichthys (“Jesus fish”), Mary and baby Jesus. |
| Confessing sins | Sin is not a Buddhist concept. | Protestants confess straight to God, Catholic confess mortal sins to a Priest, and venial sins straight to God (Orthodox have similar practice) Anglicans confess to Priests but considered optional. God always forgives sins in Jesus. |
| Religious Law | The Dharma. | Varies among denominations. Has existed among Catholics in the form of canon law. |
| View of other Dharmic religions | Since the word Dharma means doctrine, law, way, teaching, or discipline, other Dharmas are rejected. | N/A |
| Holy days/Official Holidays | Vesak day in which the birth, the awakening, and the parinirvana of the Buddha is celebrated. | The Lord’s Day; Advent, Christmas; New Year, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, every day is dedicated to a Saint. |
| Status of Vedas | The Buddha rejected the 5 Vedas, according to the dialogues seen in the nikayas. | N/A. |
| Authority of Dalai Lama | Dalai Lamas are tulkus of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. They are cultural figures and are independent of the doctrinal basis of Buddhism. | N/A. |
| Goal of Philosophy | To eliminate mental suffering. | Objective reality. Worship of God who created life, the universe, and is eternal. Christianity has its own philosophy, found in the Bible. That philosophy is Salvation from sin, through the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| Religion which atheists may still be adherents of | Yes. | No. |
| Place and Time of origin | The origin of Buddhism points to one man, Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, who was born in Lumbini (in present-day Nepal). He became enlightened at Bodhgaya, India and delivered his first set of teachings at a deer park in Sarnath, India. | Jerusalem, approx. 33 AD. |
| Concept of Deity | n/a. According to some interpretations, there are beings in heaven realms but they are also bound by “samsara”. They may have less suffering but have not yet achieved salvation (nibbana) | 1 God, in 3 Divine Persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. |
| No. of Gods and Godesses | Numerous deities. No supreme creator. | 1 God |
| View of other Abrahamic religions | N/A. | Judaism is regarded as a True religion but incomplete (without Gospel, and Messiah) Islam is regarded as a false religion, Christianity does not accept the Qur’an as true. |
| Belief of deities | Numerous non-creator deities. | One God three forms: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. |
| Authority of Pope | N/A. | Leader and overseer of the Catholic Church. his authority is completely rejected by Protestants, and is viewed by Orthodox as first among equals. Orthodox and Protestants reject Papal infallibility and Papal supremacy. |
| Most Common Sects | Mahayana, Theravada, Vajyana. Zen is the most well-known Mahayana sect. Tibetan is the most well-known Vajyana sect. | Catholics, Protestants, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Mormons (LDS). |
| Spiritual Beings | Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Devas, & gods & goddesses. | Angels, demons, spirits. |
| Founders and Early Leaders | Buddha & his disciples. | Jesus, Peter, Paul, and the Apostles. |
| Views about other religions | See no contradiction in following more than 1 religion. | No other religion leads to God. Judaism being a unique exception, Jews viewed as ignorant of the Messiah. |
| Virtues in which religion is based upon | Compassion. | Love, charity, and mercy. |
| Three Jewels/Trinity | The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. | The Blessed Trinity: In the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit |
| What is it? | Buddhism is the religion founded by Buddha, to which he is central to. | Christianity is the religion founded by Christ, to which He is central to. |
| On Atheism | Varies. It is possible for a Buddhist to be atheist. | Varies. Some believe atheists will go to hell because they do not believe in God; others believe God does not operate that way. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile…” —Psalm 14:1 |
| On Other Religions | Buddhists usually see no contradiction in following more than 1 religion. | Many Christians believe all other religions are false. Moderates may or may not believe this. “Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.” —Exodus 23:13 |
| On Afterlife | Reincarnation, Hell, or ultimate Nirvana. | Eternal life in heaven (paradise) or hell (torment). Some Catholics believe in purgatory (limbo, temporary punishment). |
