Field work project with comparision between Buddhism and Christianity - Essay Example

are closely to the Ten Commandments which have set out law for centuries: for Jews in the time of Moses, then later for disciples of Christ, and even for Christians today (Huston Smith, 1991). The Five Moral Precepts include the refraining of murder, thievery, sexual misconduct, lying, and the consumption of intoxicants. Similarly, the Ten Commandments call for abstention of killing, stealing, adultery, as well as dishonesty. Although the Ten Commandments consist of more than these immoral actions, these aspects of Christianity and Buddhism were designed based on similar beliefs.

Spiritual commonalities that exist between Buddhism and Christianity are the maintaining of religions documents and teachings, the support and trust which its followers place in the individuals who promote these teachings, as well as the central belief in a perfect redeemer. At the heart of Christianity is the belief in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Son of God, the Savior. For Buddhists, this savior is Buddha. Both religions also place a great deal of trust in documents, as well as the people who preach its contents.

Buddhists rely on a set of teachings known as the Dharma. This is similar to Christian Scriptures, the Bible, which plays an important role in the Christian faith. Finally, the Buddhists who teach the Dharma, and the history of the faith are known as the monastic community. This community is found in Christianity as well, in the form of convents and seminaries where priests and nuns reside. Lastly, another similarity between Buddhism and Christianity is their shared belief in suffering and its original cause.

Buddhists believe that suffering exists and that there is no escaping that reality (Huston Smith, 1991). The First Noble Truth explains the Buddhist belief on suffering. The Buddha identifies all major transitions in life as experiences of suffering. Birth, aging, sickness, and death produce pain for the one undergoing the change. Christians have a similar way of looking