Research Background
This study examines the similarities and differences between the central tenets of Buddhism and Christianity, as well as the effects each has had on people and communities. Promoting interfaith discussion and a better knowledge of the world’s main faiths, I will examine their core principles, ceremonies, moral precepts, and views on salvation. After reviewing the relevant academic literature, I provide a complete evaluation.
The purpose of the research is to give insight into how religious beliefs affect people’s outlooks, moral compasses, and reactions to adversity. Such a theme seems relevant, as there are many associated controversies in this area today. Unfortunately, they lead to conflicts that may have drastic consequences for the global community. Religious dialogue should be smooth, understandable, and peaceful, and continuous research in this direction is likely to help. By comparing and contrasting Buddhist and Christian philosophies, I want to encourage a more accepting and welcoming society that cherishes religious variety.
Annotated Bibliography
Mahadev, N. (2018). Economies of conversion and ontologies of religious difference: Buddhism, Christianity, and adversarial political perception in Sri Lanka. Current Anthropology, 59(6), 665–690. Web.
I opted for Mahadev’s (2018) research because it sheds light on the tensions that have arisen as a result of Buddhists and Christians in Sri Lanka converting to one another. I want to utilize it to investigate the roots of the animosity between Buddhists and Christians in Sri Lanka and to learn from the differences in the two faiths’ approaches to evangelism and conversion. My thesis will make use of these data to investigate the dynamics of conversion and how they apply to Buddhism and Christianity via the lens of a specific case.
The study expands the understanding of the challenges of conversion to Christianity by examining the viewpoints of Buddhist nationalists and their concerns about the material components of God’s favor. It gives context to the charges levied against a Sinhalese Christian convert and offers insights into the arguments for and against conversion. The author is an Assistant Professor in Anthropology at Yale–NUS College, which speaks in favor of the publication’s credibility. (pp. 680–684)
Yang, X., & Wu, W. (2022). Reflections of the relationship between Buddhism and Christianity during the Early Modern Era in the Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal. Beyond Indigenization: Christianity and Chinese History in a Global Context, 339–360. Web.
Yang and Wu (2018) examine the role of The Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal in shaping the evolution of Buddhist–Christian dialogue in China. By analyzing the journal’s coverage of Buddhism between the end of the Qing dynasty and the start of the Republican period, I want to better understand the shift from antagonism to acceptance that occurred during that time. I intend to use this information to investigate the changing perspectives of Christian missionaries on Buddhism, as shown in The Chinese Recorder.
In this paper, I will examine the journal’s internal discussions and arguments to show how missionaries’ perspectives on Buddhism range from seeing it as a competing religion to viewing it as a stepping stone to Christianity. The authors have many peer-reviewed publications dedicated to the religious dimensions, and they are cited regularly, which indicates their excellent competency in the field. (pp. 345–349)
Largen, K. J. (2019). Women’s bodies, rebirth, and Shin Buddhism: Insights and challenges for Christianity. Dialog, 58(3), 225–231. Web.
Largen’s (2019) research caught my attention because it provides a fresh angle on the connections between Shin teachings on women’s bodies and rebirth in Amida’s Pure Land and their possible implications for Christian beliefs on women. It will be a tool for me to investigate how Shin Buddhist doctrines provide light on the reincarnation of female bodies.
The paper’s goal is to analyze the similarities and differences between Shin and Christian teachings on the subject of women’s bodies. This study adds to our knowledge of how many faiths see women and the body by exploring the topics highlighted and potential avenues for additional research proposed by the author. The scholar is a representative of United Lutheran Seminary and has been published numerous times – this shows his expertise in the area. (pp. 226–229)
Lewis, H. M. E., & Hill, P. (2019). Meaning-making, suffering, and religion: A worldview conception. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 22(5), 467–479. Web.
Research by Lewis & Hill (2019) appealed to me because it looks at how people use their faith to make sense of difficult situations like grief. Previous studies on meaning-making, the study concedes, paid little attention to religious content. This research will help me as I investigate how religious beliefs affect the formation of meaning, especially in the face of adversity. This section of my article serves to highlight the value of taking religious views into account while exploring the meaning-making process.
This research sheds light on how various belief systems impact people’s perceptions and reactions to trying circumstances by exploring the divergent worldviews of Buddhism, Christianity, and atheism. The authors represent the scholarly community of Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University, which shows their significant reputation in the field. (pp. 467–475)
Walser, J. (2018). When did Buddhism become anti-Brahmanical? The case of the missing soul. Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 86(1), 94–125. Web.
The reason I decided to take on the investigation by Walser (2018) is that it rationally argues that contrary to popular belief, Buddhism does not teach the nonexistence of an everlasting self or soul. In order to investigate this claim, the author uses statistical analysis of 5,126 suttas or discourses from the Pali canon, an early Buddhist source. Using the results from the Pali canon, I will conduct a critical analysis of the theory of soullessness in Buddhism and investigate the nature of the link between the two religions.
This source is included in my thesis to provide a different take on the debate between Buddhism and Hinduism about the existence of an immortal soul. The incorporation of the findings of this research enriches our knowledge of the historical evolution and doctrinal differences between these two faiths. The author currently represents the Department of Religion, Tufts University, which indicates his credibility within the given scope. (pp. 96–105)
Xiong, J. J., Isgandarova, N., & Panton, A. E. (2020). COVID-19 Demands theological reflection: Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian perspectives on the present pandemic. International Journal of Practical Theology, 24(1), 5–28. Web.
I selected the publication by Xiong et al. (2020) as it investigates the theological and practical implications of the coronavirus epidemic from the perspectives of Buddhists, Muslims, and Christians. Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian perspectives on the worldwide suffering caused by the epidemic are presented in this research. My goal in doing this research is to better understand how various faiths deal with the theological implications of the epidemic and provide helpful insights on how to meet the issues it raises.
The material I’ve included in my article is to draw attention to the many Buddhist, Islamic, and Christian perspectives on how to deal with the epidemic from a theological and practical perspective. The incorporation of this research deepens our understanding of the relationship between religious convictions, theological viewpoints, and practical solutions to global challenges. The authors are respected scholars from Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto, which justifies the study’s credibility. (pp. 6–10)
Zagonari, F. (2020). Comparing religious environmental ethics to support efforts to achieve local and global sustainability: Empirical insights based on a theoretical framework. Sustainability, 12(7), 2590. Web.
Using the religious and environmental ethics of a number of major faiths, this research by Zagonari (2020) gives a theoretical framework for evaluating the viability of solutions to environmental sustainability. The study looks at the environmental ethics of several religions, including Hinduism (such as Jainism), Buddhism (which involves Confucianism and Daoism), Judaism, Christianity (including Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism), and Islam. This research will help me learn how other faiths see consumerism, community participation, and environmental issues, as well as the relative relevance of each.
My research will use this source to evaluate the viability and efficiency of religiously informed approaches to environmental sustainability. The investigation will add to the awareness of the significance of religion in resolving environmental issues by examining the divergent ethics of various faiths. Zagonari is a scholar with numerous cross-cited publications in the religious dimension, which speaks in favor of the piece’s credibility (pp. 1–5).