Introduction
Christianity is a more pragmatic religion than Buddhism, moreover, it applies to the texts of holy scriptures. The basic truths of Christianity formulate more mundane goals and aspects, such as love for one’s neighbor and respect for elders and others. Buddhism is characterized by subtle and spiritual practices and terms such as nirvana, the true self, and the nature of reality. According to the texts, the saints described in the scriptures are real people. Christianity inherits the tradition of monotheism, that is, the worship of one God. Finally, Christianity strives for the harmony of matter and spirit, that is, the person and the surrounding world, without denying the various spheres of life.
Christianity vs. Buddhism
One may notice that the basic principles of Christianity are more accessible to a wide range of people. It is formulated by humility and philanthropy as the main driving forces for the salvation of humankind (Jacobsen, 2021). In Buddhism, the achievement of nirvana is the main exalted goal of a person. Nirvana characterizes the state of absolute awareness of oneself and the world around (Wright, 2021). The manifestation of love for humanity, forgiveness, philanthropy, and empathy are practices available to any individual, thus, it articulates more realistic practices and goals. By realistic, one means the more common emotions a person can feel. In addition, they are more understandable and closer to the individual in the aspect of everyday life.
The persons described in the sacred writings of Christianity are real people who have reached a state of holiness. It includes Jesus Christ, who was the savior of humanity and articulated humanity, compassion, and kindness. The main novelty of Christianity is the undeniable historicity of Jesus Christ as the son of God. Besides, there is a lot of evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ, holy persons, and events that took place in the era described in the scriptures. These include excavations, archives, texts, frescoes, and other material objects. The form, context, and place of finding of these objects, in some cases, confirm the truth of the events that took place in that era.
Further, the main principle of Christianity is monotheism, that is, the worship of one God. In terms of rationalism, it is more realistic than some aspects of Buddhism. It includes the Four Truths as the basis of Buddhism and their practical application, namely the attainment of nirvana through restraint and meditation (Cozort & Shields, 2018). Belief in one God contributes to the grouping of all the important concepts and principles necessary for understanding and awareness. The fundamental truth is that Jesus Christ saved humanity, and one can save oneself if one becomes the same.
Christianity does not deny the various spheres of life and strives for the person’s harmony with the environment, that is, spirit and matter. It correlates with some physical laws and principles pertaining to matter and life. However, according to Christian canons, the task of one is to fill the spheres of life and matter with grace. In turn, it can be achieved by demonstrating the basic precepts and teachings of the scriptures. As already indicated, these involve humanity, humility, forgiveness, love for all and neighbors, honesty, justice, and lack of partiality.
Conclusion
To conclude, Christianity is a more pragmatic religion than Buddhism. Primarily, it is due to more realistic principles and practices. In addition, Christianity is based on real historical events, which are supported by archaeological finds, archives, and other objects. Moreover, such discoveries continue today, adding to the many other important archaeological finds from other areas. Finally, monotheism, as the basic principle of Christianity, promotes the grouping of ideas and principles.
References
Cozort, D., & Shields, J. M. (2018). The oxford handbook of Buddhist ethics. Oxford University Press.
Jacobsen, D. (2021). What is Christianity? John Wiley & Sons.
Wright, D. (2020). Buddhism: What everyone needs to know. Oxford University Press.