Christianity is focused on salvation whereas Buddhism is not — Ross
I don't know if you answered the central question in my thread which was that Christianity is focused on salvation whereas Buddhism is not. It focuses on overcoming suffering and achieving happiness in THIS world not some kind of eternal Bliss in another world, which Nietszche criticizes Christianity especially for, it's turning away from this life. Marx also attacks religion, (and I'm sure he had Christianity in mind) for it's false promises of happiness in the hereafter as a way of ignoring the suffering and plight of the oppressed in this life. In my opinion Buddhism differs , firstly it does not believe in a supernatural Being who grants eternal Bliss in the hereafter to those who worship Him . — Ross
practical wisdom in either Buddhism or Christianity (as in any philosophical approach to life) strives for an interactive balance between logic, quality and energy. So you won’t notice it unless you’re looking for it.
— Possibility
I'm afraid I don't understand this point. — Ross
That's because they take for granted that they will be saved.However I would argue that there are many Christians who do not have a focus on salvation. This tends to be most acute in some forms of Protestantism. — Tom Storm
You may have a point there but do consider "gutters" and prisons" metaphorically. — TheMadFool
What use is a philosophy when living by it makes you a loser?! — baker
In my opinion Buddhism differs , firstly it does not believe in a supernatural Being who grants eternal Bliss in the hereafter to those who worship Him . — Ross
What is that, if not salvation?I don't know if you answered the central question in my thread which was that Christianity is focused on salvation whereas Buddhism is not. It focuses on overcoming suffering and achieving happiness in THIS world not some kind of eternal Bliss in another world, — Ross
I don't think Buddhism has one official book like the Christian Bible. It is not an organized religion like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, but is like philosophy where anyone can make an argument for this or that, and if is liked, it gets passed on. Buddhism is not "God's truth" or "God's commandments". — Athena
But Jesus never spoke of “a supernatural Being who grants eternal Bliss in the hereafter to those who worship Him” — Possibility
That appears to me like God granting eternal Bliss to those who worship Him as I mentioned in my blog. — Ross
They're the words of Jesus himself. That appears to me like God granting eternal Bliss to those who worship Him as I mentioned in my blog. — Ross
Good point but I'm only interested in the Philosophical aspect of Buddhism not the religious part. — Ross
In John 10:27–28 Jesus states that: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life;
They're the words of Jesus himself. That appears to me like God granting eternal Bliss to those who worship Him as I mentioned in my blog. — Ross
The term minimalism is also used to describe a trend in design and architecture, wherein the subject is reduced to its necessary elements. — Wikipedia
Your motivation here seems to be throwing dirt at Christianity, not doing philosophy. I’m not here to defend Christianity as a religion, but your argument that ‘Buddhism is better than Christianity because’ just doesn’t stand up when you compare like for like. — Possibility
wonder why. The text you quote does not say "worship". It says "follow", does it not? — Apollodorus
Of course we don't really know what Jesus/Yeshua might have said, — Tom Storm
In that case then I don't see the point in christians worshipping Christ and trying to follow his teachings if what you say is correct that we don't know what Christ taught or even if Jesus existed. That makes Christianity untenable. The sermon on the mount expresses the essense of Christ's teaching , if that is called into question then Christianity doesn't make sense. An analogy might be that one claims to agree with the policies of a political party but rejects the fundamental arguments made by the leader of the party. That doesn't make any sense to me. One either believes in the teachings of the sermon on the mount or doesn't believe , in that case theyre not a Christian.Sure, some Christians think the story book is factual. But many also see the New Testament as allegorical. — Tom Storm
One either believes in the teachings of the sermon on the mount or doesn't believe , in that case theyre not a Christian. — Ross
An analogy might be that one claims to agree with the policies of a political party but rejects the fundamental arguments made by the leader of the par — Ross
You don't have to think they are the literal words of Jesus to think the sentiment is useful and spiritually sound. — Tom Storm
I think that it is not about not believing in the sermon or not. Rather it is not accepting the words of Jesus at face value but asking why?If one starts to question these in my opinion one is not really a Christian
I framed my point as a QUESTION : Christianity is a more popular religion so does that mean that more people are interested in attaining salvation through faith in Christ than living wisely in THIS world, and Buddhist philosophy does not preach faith in a supernatural Being. — Ross
By the way Jesus did say the words I mentioned and he is the son of God, God is speaking to us through Jesus. — Ross
By follow he means the same thing as worship. He just uses a different word. When christians worship Christ they are FOLLOWING his teachings . — Ross
In that case then I don't see the point in christians worshipping Christ and trying to follow his teachings if what you say is correct that we don't know what Christ taught or even if Jesus existed. That makes Christianity untenable. The sermon on the mount expresses the essense of Christ's teaching , if that is called into question then Christianity doesn't make sense. An analogy might be that one claims to agree with the policies of a political party but rejects the fundamental arguments made by the leader of the party. That doesn't make any sense to me. One either believes in the teachings of the sermon on the mount or doesn't believe , in that case theyre not a Christian. — Ross
Im not a Christian, but I was brought up a Catholic and was told that the gospels were literally the teachings of Christ. I was not brought up to believe that it was just a story or an allegory. Of course Genesis is an myth but I don't think the Catholic view is that the sermon on the mount is allegorical or just a story. It is believed to be the literal teaching of Christ, love your enemies, forgive those who hurt you etc are taken as the literal words of Jesus. If one starts to question these in my opinion one is not really a Christian , maybe they are what one calls nowadays an a la carte christian , that is they cherry pick what they want from Christ's teaching and reject what doesn't suit them. You either believe in loving your neighbour or you don't, there's no halfway . — Ross
I think that it is not about not believing in the sermon or not. Rather it is not accepting the words of Jesus at face value but asking why? — I love Chom-choms
It’s not just about loving or not loving your neighbour, for instance, but about recognising that the value we attribute to others is no indication of their potential. — Possibility
Read this story.Why would one want to question Jesus,s saying to love your neighbor. you either agree with his ethical teaching or you don't — Ross
Bro Bro Bro, how is this not a philosophical theory. I mean, Jesus is telling us how to live. IF that is not a philosophical question then I don't know what is.It's not a matter of debate. It's not a philosophical theory. without it it doesn't make sense. — Ross
Bro Bro Bro, how is this not a philosophical theory. I mean, Jesus is telling us how to live. IF that is not a philosophical question then I don't know what is. — I love Chom-choms
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