Introduction
Buddhism and Christianity are two of the world's largest and most influential belief systems. Despite surface-level similarities, Buddhism and Christianity have inherent and fundamental differences at the deepest levels, beginning with monotheism's place at the core of Christianity and Buddhism's orientation towards non-theism which is the rejection of a creator deity. This article will explore some of the key differences between Buddhism and Christianity. This is a general overview of the complex belief systems of Eastern Mysticism and Christianity.
These worldviews often become eclipsed by the followers or practitioners of each. Beliefs should not be formed by assumptions, but rather, one should thoroughly examine the belief systems.
Jesus Christ or Gnosticism
Let’s start by defining terms. What is the main difference between Christianity, Buddhism, and other Eastern religions? The answer is Gnosticism.
Gnosticism is a religious movement that officially emerged in the first century AD. However, the idea behind it is called Illuminism, (the belief that man can become enlightened, or attain godhood) and it has been around much longer than the first century AD.
For more on the problematic origins of Gnosticism and how it has influenced modern society, watch my documentary: The Theory of Evolution: How Mysticism Became Science.
Gnostics believe that humans are trapped in the material world, which is evil and only brings suffering, and that they can be saved through knowledge (gnosis).
Words like ‘Agnostic’ use the root word ‘gnosis’ in the most straightforward way.
‘Agnosis’ comes from the Greek word (agnosia), which means '“ignorance", or "absence of knowledge".
Gnosticism, on the other hand, believes in salvation not through knowledge of things like science, biology, ecology, how to be a positive person and motivate others, etc. It places its salvational emphasis on knowledge and practice of the occult or the esoteric realm. This includes things like mysticism, kabbalah, astrology, theurgy, geomancy, numerology, sorcery, divination, magick, alchemy, etc.
In contrast, Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He came to Earth to save humanity from sin and death. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross, rose from the dead, and lives forever. He offers salvation to all who believe in Him. His message is very simple and there is no need for any hidden or secret knowledge to unlock the keys to salvation. Jesus offers it as a gift to all.
Some scholars, such as Edward Conze, have proposed that there are similarities between Buddhism and Gnosticism. For example, both Buddhism and Gnosticism view ignorance as the root of evil. Both also have different levels of spiritual attainment. The biggest similarity is the belief that enlightenment is only achieved through works.
For example, the only way to free the Buddha within is through works.
According to the Gnostic site Glorian,
“So you see, the Buddhata, the Essence, the consciousness, the soul, the part of Buddha, or the part of the Monad, unfortunately, is trapped within the mind. This is the reason why Buddhism emphasizes of the control of the mind in order to liberate the Buddhata, the Essence.”
The Buddhata spoken of is,
“the Human Soul that is developed by Willpower”.
The site continues by saying,
“The real Man is the one that is controlled by the Spirit, by the Buddha.”
So, the Buddha is the ‘Spirit of Man’. But, the ‘Man’ must meditate enough to free the ‘Spirit’.
This is the inverse of Christianity which says man cannot free himself, nor is he a god. There is no ‘god within’ that is trapped. Thus, the need for an external savior in Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit that is given to born-again believers is the Hebrew word “Ruach” which means spirit, breath, or wind. This is how the Bible describes God’s personal presence. The Holy Spirit transforms the human heart and empowers people to love God and others. This is the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. This is the Spirit that leads true believers to share the power of Jesus and love God and others by living according to the fruits this Holy Spirit produces such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The only meditation a true Christian engages in is prayer.
There are several key differences between Jesus Christ and Gnosticism. First, Gnostics believe that the material world is wholly evil, while Christians believe that God created the material world and that it was good, until sin came and distorted God’s original creation. Second, Gnostics believe that salvation comes through esoteric knowledge, while Christians believe that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Third, some Gnostics do not believe that Jesus was a physical person. Others believe He was an ordinary man who gained “enlightenment” or gnosis through his works and secret knowledge, while Christians believe that Jesus was fully God and fully man.
Ultimately, the differences between Jesus Christ and Gnosticism are significant.
Jesus & Buddha, What’s the Difference?
Jesus lived in the Roman-occupied region of Judea around the 1st century AD.
Buddha lived in ancient India around the 6th century BC.
One of the fundamental differences between Buddhism and Christianity is their understanding of the nature of reality. Buddhism teaches that the world we experience is an illusion, and that true reality is a state of emptiness or nothingness. Christianity, on the other hand, teaches that the world is real and created by God and that human beings have a purpose and destiny.
Buddhism is a nontheistic religion that does not believe in a creator god. Buddhists believe that the goal of life is to achieve enlightenment, which is a state of perfect peace and happiness.
Enlightenment is achieved by following The Eightfold Path, which includes:
Right understanding
Right thought
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration.
Christianity, on the other hand, is a monotheistic religion that believes in one God who created heaven and the earth. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross and resurrected to save humanity from sin. Salvation is achieved by accepting Jesus Christ as your savior.
Let’s contrast the two belief systems:
Divine Nature vs. Enlightenment:
Jesus is the Son of God. He is divine.
Buddha was a human being who attained enlightenment through meditation and self-realization. He is not considered divine.
Salvation vs. Nirvana:
Christianity teaches that faith in Jesus is central to salvation, and believers are promised forgiveness of sin and eternal life in heaven.
Buddhism emphasizes the attainment of Nirvana, which is liberation from the cycle of birth and death (samsara/reincarnation) through self-realization and enlightenment. (more on this later).
Sacrifice vs. Self-Discipline:
Christianity highlights the sacrificial aspect of Jesus' crucifixion for the redemption of humanity's sins.
Buddhism encourages self-discipline and inner transformation through the Noble Eightfold Path and the Four Noble Truths.
Afterlife Views:
Christians believe in the afterlife, with heaven and hell being key components.
Buddhism doesn't have a specific concept of heaven or hell; instead, it focuses on the cycle of birth and rebirth.
Prayer vs. Meditation:
Christians often engage in prayer as a means of communication with God.
Buddhists prioritize meditation (attaining the Alpha state of flatness) as a path to inner peace and enlightenment.
Followers' Roles:
In Christianity, followers are called to proclaim the gospel and share the message of Jesus.
In Buddhism, followers are encouraged to follow the teachings and attain enlightenment individually.
The Role of Suffering:
In Christianity, suffering is seen as a result of sin and can be overcome through salvation.
In Buddhism, suffering is seen as a part of life that can be overcome through enlightenment (gnosis).
The Path to Salvation:
Christianity teaches the redemption from sin and that salvation is a gift from God and that it is received through faith in Jesus Christ.
Buddhism teaches that salvation is achieved through a process of self-effort and meditation and that the goal is to achieve a state of enlightenment or Nirvana by letting go of all attachments.
Buddhists typically assert that God is too limiting and Christians can’t have any fun. However, Buddhism observes that desires result in disappointments and suffering, while Christianity teaches that desires are not inherently bad, but they can lead to sin if they are not aligned with God's will. The difference is that God gave us guidelines to live a happy and fulfilling life by steering clear of things that hurt us, or others. But life is meant to be enjoyed.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 ESV
The goal of Buddhism is total detachment, which also means detaching from things we love like family and friends. After all, there is no afterlife and no chance of being with departed loved ones. Relationships, then, are fundamentally pointless which begs the question of why bother trying to be a loving person at all? Buddhism teaches that life is fundamentally impermanent and ultimately without purpose, while Christianity teaches that human life is a blessing.
According to the idea of karma, each soul gets the life it deserves: pious behavior leads to good karma–and with that comes a rise in the social status of the next life. Impious behavior leads to bad karma and the next life could be as an insect (or a woman).
The concept of reincarnation is not found in the Bible, and it is contrary to the biblical concept of resurrection at the judgment, as Jesus Christ defeated death. The Bible never suggests that people have a second chance at life or that they can come back as different people or animals. The Bible teaches that we are created as individuals, and our identity does not change after death.
Have you noticed a pattern? The theme of true Christianity is to place God first, and Buddhism’s primary focus is the self.
Jesus’ Teachings vs Buddha’s Teachings
What did Jesus teach? And how does it differ from what Buddhism teaches?
Jesus’ teachings include:
Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Mark 12:30-31)
Love your neighbor as you love yourself. (Matthew 22:39)
Love one another, as Jesus loves you. (John 13:34)
Love your enemies. (Matthew 5:43-48) This means seeing them as fellow human beings, trying to understand them and behave toward them as you would like them to do to you.
Love God, others, and yourself through your actions, thoughts, and words. (Matthew 5)
Recognizing our need for a savior and turning from sin toward Jesus Christ. (Acts 17:30)
Buddha’s teachings include:
The Noble Eightfold Path
In Buddhism, the attainment of Enlightenment (Bodhi/Truth) is realized through the understanding that the 'self' is a composite of constantly changing factors and inherently devoid of inherent essence.
The difference is that in Buddhism, once you realize you are nothing, mean nothing, have no purpose, and have no future you receive Truth.
The complete opposite is true in Christianity. With the understanding that Jesus is God, you realize you were created in the image of God with a purpose and plan for your life. You were so valuable that God sent Jesus as a perfect sacrifice to redeem us, and your future is guaranteed with Christ and all those who love Him.
The Origins of Suffering
Buddhism does not have teachings concerning the origins of suffering, other than it believes suffering to be the result of lack of knowledge (agnosis) and desires. No doubt, then, by Buddhism’s standards, the world is truly filled with suffering. A rational, thinking mind is the tool by which suffering is experienced. But, when there is no cause to the effect, there is no hope of solving the root issue of suffering. It’s a perpetual cycle with no end. To Buddhists, the only way to escape the never-ending cycle of suffering is to achieve ‘nirvana’ through gnosis.
In contrast, Christianity traces the root of all suffering to one decision born from a lie.
God created humans in the Garden of Eden. In the garden were two trees, the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. According to the Bible, Satan (an angel) tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden by questioning God's truthfulness and denying God's warning about the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan was the first to sow seeds of doubt when he told Eve that she could gain enlightenment (gnosis) if she followed him, instead of trusting God.
“He [Satan] said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:1-6 ESV
The KJV version translates verse 5 as “ye shall be as gods”.
Instead of trusting God, she and Adam used their free will to sin and disobey the only rule God set for them. Eve proved that she did not trust that God knew best and that He wanted to protect them as a Father protects his children. The irony is that the liar was not God, but Satan. The saddest part is that Satan was selling her something she already had: immortality. The incident known as the "fall of man" is the result of the first sin, when death came into the world.
Satan’s overall motivation is worship. He wants to be like God, and to be worshipped as if he were God. The best way for Satan to hurt God is to hurt His creation. To usurp the place of God in the hearts of humanity is Satan’s ultimate goal. This is why we see the attainment of secret knowledge to gain enlightenment as a common theme in false religions. They all go back to the first lie in the book. This is the origin of all Gnostic thought. From this lie, from this fallen angel, we get over 4,000 different world religions. If you take a look at the gnostic Kabbalisitic ‘tree of life’, it actually symbolizes the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, as the entire philosophy is based upon gaining enlightenment through secret knowledge.
In certain gnostic belief systems, they claim God only created mindless lumps of clay, but Satan gave humans ‘life’. From the Kabbalah come most religions and philosophies such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
Adam and Eve chose to place Satan above God and trust him instead. This is mirrored in the decisions each of us makes in our own lives to either choose God and trust Him, or trust in lies disguised as truth that ultimately lead to death.
This first sin is the reason for the moral corruption and suffering we all experience as a result. It created a separation between humans and God, as a holy God cannot coexist with sinful man.
“Holiness” is commonly defined as being separate or set apart. God is holy in that He is set apart from everything that is not God, and God's people must be holy by being set apart from sin. But Adam and Eve sinned and this is the point when pain, violence, scarcity, and death entered the world and remain problems today. Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit is the reason we needed a savior.
So while Buddhism offers no solution to the problem of suffering, Christianity offers the ultimate solution: Jesus Christ.
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die”. John 11:25-26 ESV
God did not invent goodness. He is goodness. It’s His nature. He did not invent right and wrong, He is the standard of that which is right. Jesus was the example of living a perfect, sinless life. He taught His followers how to pray, how to treat others, how to treat themselves, and explained the meaning of life. Jesus gives an example of how He responded to being treated poorly:
Buddhism: Part of the Mystery Religions
Another key difference between Buddhism and Christianity is their understanding of God. Christianity teaches that God is a personal being who created the world and desires a relationship with humans.
Buddhism, in contrast, does not posit the existence of a personal God, but rather teaches that the ultimate reality is impersonal and unknowable. This is the same idea shared by the Mystic Kabbalah, of a God so outside of understanding and revelation that it is essentially a limitless no-thing; the Ain Soph. This concept appears in all New Age beliefs as “the Universe” and the idea we are all connected and are somehow pieces of “Source”. In Hinduism, the word ‘Namaste’ carries the belief that "the divine and self is same in you and me". This would also refer to the ‘Buddhata’ god-within we addressed earlier.
According to Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry, pg 11,
“Humanity in toto is the only Personal God; the Christos is the realization, or perfection of this Divine Persona, in Individual conscious experience. When this perfection is realized, the state is called Christos, with the Greeks, and Buddha with the Hindoos…Know you not that they who Follow the Buddha follow the same Christ as you under but another name.”
So ‘Buddha’ is just another name for what the New Age calls ‘Christ consciousness’. ‘Christ consciousness’ sees figures like Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, etc as symbolic archetypes representing higher human potential. The theory is that anyone is capable of attaining ‘Christ consciousness’ or becoming a Christ. (Ye shall be as gods, anyone?) The New Age calls this group of ‘enlightened Christ’s’ Ascended Masters.
The problem with this Freemasonic and occult teaching is that Jesus claimed to be God. However, Buddhists do not believe in God.
“Buddhists do not believe in any kind of deity or god, although there are supernatural figures who can help or hinder people on the path towards enlightenment.” (Source)
Buddhism does not need to believe in a god when they believe themselves to be god (but that god is simply trapped and must be set free through acquiring gnosis).
The Modern-Day Buddha
The Dali-Lama is considered to be Buddha reincarnated. If Buddha and Christ are interchangeable, do you think Jesus would be calling for a new world order?
Well, the 14th Dali-Lama does:
The 5th paragraph on his official website (complete with typos) calls for a universal brother/sisterhood as a secure foundation for the new world order.
Most of us have heard of this New World Order. But what does it mean? The phrase "New World Order" refers to an alleged worldwide trans-generational strategy of centralized political and economic control orchestrated by a small group of very powerful and influential individuals. This group is said to include many of the world's wealthiest people, top political leaders, corporate executives, and European nobility. The phrase, “new world order” dates back to at least 1912 with Karl Marx.
Zionist banker James Paul Warburg of Kuhn, Loeb & Co. told the U.S. Senate that we were going to get a one-world-government whether we liked it or not. The only question is whether world government will be achieved by conquest or consent. (February 17, 1950, as he testified before the US Senate).
A one-world government and economic system is only part of a New World Order. A single-world religion is another. It would not consist of a newly created religion, but rather an amalgamation of them all. The New Age is actually about as ancient as it gets, dating back to Nimrod in Babylon. Entire books could be written about the interweaving of religious ideas between Egypt, Greece, Rome, Babylon, and India.
A 3-part video series of mine that has been removed from YouTube called MINGAME highlights the common thread found throughout all world religions and how it traces back to the first lie in the Garden of Eden and argues that Jesus Christ is the only truth. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
The Dharma wheel is the symbol that represents the core concepts of Buddhism.
Similar symbols are found in Jainism and Hinduism, and it is likely the dharma chakra symbol in Buddhism evolved out of Hinduism. The 8 spokes on this wheel, which is typically gold and may symbolize the sun, represent The Eightfold Path.
The 8-pointed star of the pagan Babylonian goddess Ishtar, also called Isis, Inanna, Astaroth, etc looks identical to the one found in Buddhism.
This wheel is also the symbol of Chaos Magick.
The world is far more connected than it appears at face value. The beliefs in Jewish philosophy, like the Zohar or Kabbalah, mirror those found in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and many other religions. Theosophy encompasses all of these.
The term Theosophy comes from the original Greek term Theo-sophia, meaning "Divine Wisdom," or "Wisdom of the gods". The Gnostic philosophy of Theosophy originated by blending Hinduism and Buddhism with Jewish Mysticism. Gandhi met Helena Blavatsky (who co-founded the Theosophical Society in 1875) in London and later said that it was her book, The Key to Theosophy, which helped him to realize the ‘greatness’ of his own Hindu religion and which saved him from “being converted by the Christian missionaries in India”.
It is also a little-known fact that his first introduction to the Bhagavad Gita, which became his favorite Hindu scripture, was through Blavatsky’s associates and colleagues in London. He wrote that “Theosophy is Hinduism at its best.” On the other hand, the Zen Buddhist scholar D.T. Suzuki described the teachings of Blavatsky as “the real Mahayana Buddhism.”
Buddhism is Gnosticism at its core.
Theosophist John H. Dewey wrote in 1888,
“It is not proposed, be it observed, to replace Christianity by Buddhism, nor Buddhism by Mohammedanism, nor both by Judaism, nor yet all three by Spiritism, but to bring each of the old religions back to its esoteric origin, meaning and purity, and if they are found to be in essence one, shall we not have found the true religion of humanity?”
That is the goal of the New World Order that the Dali-Lama proposed. All religions must coexist with one another. The problem with the ‘coexist’ mindset is that all religions cannot be true at the same time. Jesus did not come to start a religion. He came to share the love of God and call sinners to repentance and give eternal life to all who believe in Him. He reversed the death curse imposed on us in the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve’s disobedience. All religions are seeking some type of immortality. Jesus is the only God who died for us and truly came back to life to prove He is God and promises eternal life in Heaven.
Buddha shares no such thing since Buddhism is atheistic. According to Islam Jesus cannot be God, since Jesus was simply a great prophet, but not the Son of God. In the same way, Mormonism, SDA, Christian Science, and Catholicism, do not worship the same Jesus revealed in the Bible. Salvation is a matter of works in those religions, and not by grace through faith.
While other religions, leaders, gurus, and gods had to accommodate Jesus and include Him in their teachings or writings as a ‘great prophet’, ‘enlightened one’, or ‘moral teacher’, they had to make room for Him.
Jesus never once accommodated them. He didn’t mention any pagan gods, (but instead condemned them) because they could not save humanity, nor could any of them lay down their lives to save the souls of the world.
Jesus did not make room for other religions or alternative paths to salvation. Christians believe there is one path that leads to salvation and it’s only through Jesus.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (ESV)
This leads to the conclusion that all the other paths are false.
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (ESV)
Even Gnosticism itself confesses Jesus Christ is not welcome in their religion:
“Esoteric philosophy reconciles all religions, strips every one of its outward, human garments, and shows the root of each to be identical with that of every other great religion. It proves the necessity of an absolute Divine Principle in nature. It denies Deity no more than it does the Sun. Esoteric philosophy has never rejected God in Nature, nor Deity as the absolute and abstract Ens. It only refuses to accept any of the gods of the so-called monotheistic religions, gods created by man in his own image and likeness, a blasphemous and sorry caricature of the Ever Unknowable.”
— H.P. Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine Vol. 1, p. Xx”
As we have seen, based upon their own primary sources, Jesus Christ cannot be a simple ‘reincarnation’ or another name for the Buddha when their belief systems and missions are diametrically opposed. The two can never coexist.
Blavatsky explained the fact that Eastern philosophies, like Buddhism, only acknowledge an unknowable source, and reject Jesus because He is knowable.
This is the reason Buddhism is both atheistic and open to the unseen realm and things like reincarnation, and nirvana. Their ‘god’ is an abstract concept that can only be accessed through the devotee gaining gnosis of esoteric things in order to achieve that godhood themselves.
In contrast, God is referred to as a Father who desires to have a relationship with His children. Due to the exclusivity of Christianity, it makes no room for the Gnostic beliefs because they deny the core truths that make up who God is.
Buddhism is dualistic - it has what is called the right-hand path as well as the left-hand path. Both paths are equally problematic and lacking in truth. The left-hand path of Tibetan tantric Buddhism is the real version of what the church of satan was attempting to be. Vamachara is a tantric term meaning “left-hand path”. One of their practices is engaging in ‘yab yum’ (a combination of meditation and sexual intercourse) on the top of a dead person’s corpse.
Origins of Lamaism and Mistreatment of Women
Unfortunately, many people have believed in Dali-Lama’s philosophy on “peace” and “non-violence”, however, he is not someone with a kind or loving heart.
The first Tibetan king, Songsten-Gampo, established a unified feudal system in Tibet, around 650 A.D. He married princesses from China and Nepal in order to learn from them the practices used outside Tibet to carry out feudalism. These princesses brought Tantric Buddhism to Tibet, where it was merged with earlier animist beliefs to create a new religion, Lamaism, which was imposed on the people through violence for the next century and a half by the ruling class.
Did you know, that in the class society in Old Tibet, the Tibetan (kiemen) word for “woman”, meant “inferior birth”? Women were told to pray, “May I reject a feminine body and be reborn a male one.” To be reincarnated as a woman was seen as a punishment. Lamaist superstition associated women with evil and sin. While many today view monks as having great discipline and self-sacrifice in forgoing a traditional relationship and remaining celibate, that is not the lens their belief system views this through. Monks of the major sects of Tibetan Buddhism rejected sexual intimacy (or even contact) with women, as part of their plan to be holy. Before the revolution, no woman had ever set foot in most monasteries or the palaces of the Dalai Lama.
The current Dalai Lama made these comments regarding who might succeed him after his death:
“If female Dalai Lama comes, then (she) should be more attractive,” he said with a laugh. He then made a distorted face, according to the BBC, and said that if a female Dalai Lama looked a certain way, “then people, I think, prefer not to see … that face.”
The Dalai Lama made similar comments in 2015 when he told the BBC that a future Dalai Lama certainly could be a woman but would have to be good-looking or would be “not much use.”
He has also apologized recently for being chastised over kissing a young boy and asking him to “suck my tongue”.
In 2018, the Dalai Lama was paid $2 million by NXIVM to speak at their event in Albany, New York.
But he wasn’t alone. In the same year, Tenzin Dhonden, a Tibetan monk who described himself as the Dalai Lama’s “personal emissary for peace,” was removed from his senior role in the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama due to his connections with the NXIVM sex cult. (Source)
Jesus Christ could not be bought. Even when tempted with all of the kingdoms of the world. He responded to Satan tempting him by saying,
“Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Matthew 4:10 ESV
Jesus’ View of Women
The life and teachings of Jesus Christ are in stark contrast to Lamaism. Jesus treated women with respect and dignity, recognizing their intrinsic value. Jesus's approach to women was revolutionary for his era. He measured men and women by the same standards, the inner qualities of character. Jesus included women where Jewish piety largely excluded them, and he talked openly with women in public, which was against the social norms of the time. Jesus also encouraged women to be his disciples, and he taught women about Scripture. He kept nothing hidden, or held back, strictly for the ‘enlightened few’, He set out to teach anyone and everyone about God.
Jesus thought so highly of women that He allowed them to be the first witnesses to His resurrection. According to the Gospels, three women went to the tomb where Jesus was buried and found it empty. They were the first to see the proof of Jesus's resurrection. An angel appeared to them and told them that Jesus had risen from the dead and instructed them to go tell the disciples. When they did, the disciples were skeptical at first, but they ran to the tomb and saw proof of the woman's statement. The fact that women were the first to see and proclaim the empty tomb builds credibility for the authenticity of the resurrection. If the disciples were lying when they wrote the Gospels, they wouldn't have invented women as witnesses.
As for making disciples and sharing the gospel, there was no violence or force ever employed by Jesus or his followers. This was later invented by corrupt religious institutions.
The book of Acts shows how the gospel was spread from Jerusalem to the rest of the Roman Empire, and how the church grew and transformed into an empire-wide movement of people who had committed their lives to Jesus Christ. The religious leaders of the day were furious and tried to stop this at all costs by arresting, and even killing those trying to tell others about Jesus and His miracles. Instead of His message being spread with violence, it was actually the opposite. Violence was the main force used to attempt to stop the spread of the gospel.
Why did it spread so rapidly that the threatened rulers had to scurry to attempt to stamp it out at all costs? The simplicity of it. You did not need to devote years of your life to ritual and practice, solitude and meditation, etc. It was a simple decision to follow Jesus and required no secret knowledge or gnosis. It was available to all, men and women.
When Did God Die?
Some argue that the story of Jesus shares similarities with myths about gods and heroes in other ancient religions, like those of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. There are profound differences between Jesus and pagan gods when examined closely. Claims that Jesus is a rebranding of these myths are not supported by evidence.
Christianity has several unique beliefs that are not found in other religions. For example, Jesus is the only savior who died for sinners. Most scholars agree that no "dying and rising gods" existed before Christ, which means that the resurrection of Jesus could not be a copy of ancient pagan myths.
There are several differences between Christ and the so-called savior-gods. Here are just a few:
No other ‘gods’ died for humanity. Jesus is the only one who died for sinners. The other gods simply died in battle or some other cataclysmic event.
Jesus died one time for all of humanity, present and future. Mystery ‘gods’ (like the sun gods) repeatedly die and come back annually to match the seasons and cycles of nature.
Jesus’ death and resurrection was an actual event in history. Pagan cults tell mythical stories without historical evidence.
Jesus’ death was voluntary. He willingly laid down His life. Jesus suffered and died but was not defeated. He triumphed over death through his physical one-time resurrection without the aid of anyone. Pagan gods die, and even in attempts at resurrection always rely on other characters, and still only manage to become disembodied gods of the underworld (the Osiris myth, for example).
The Gospels lack indicators of mythic genre common in pagan stories, instead showing marks of historical writing like identifiable locations, time frames, rulers, and contextual history. Additionally, the idea of an incarnate monotheistic God differed radically from Greek polytheism, which early Christians opposed despite persecution. Furthermore, competing ‘divine man’ claims arose well after Christianity, often containing political or financial motivations. The multiple, eyewitness-based Gospels originated mere decades after Jesus's life, too soon for myths to eclipse their historical core. This contrasts with pagan ‘divine man’ accounts originating long after their figures' deaths. In summary, the Gospels' early authorship in a historical style, monotheistic theology, and contextual setting argue for an authentic account of Jesus's life.
Some claims include Zoroastrianism predating Christianity, which is true, however, while other religions do predate the organized religion called Christianity, they do not predate the Creator. Jesus and God did not begin with organized Christianity.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:1-3 KJV
Jesus Christ is the Word of God. The Creator predates creation.
Let’s examine one popular myth: “Jesus is just a rebranding of the Babylonian Tammuz”.
The myth states that Nimrod, the ruler of Babylon died and his sister and wife Semeramis, a temple prostitute, sometimes depicted as a woman with fish tails for legs (yes, like the Starbucks logo), was miraculously impregnated by the rays of the sun and gave birth to a son named Tammuz whom she believed to be the reincarnation of her dead husband.
In some versions, Tammuz is a real child, while most versions have him depicted as a tree stump or a full-grown evergreen tree. Upon a cursory glance, one may see a similarity between Jesus’ miraculous conception by a virgin and the prostitute Sameramis’ claim of miraculous conception. Her story is hard to believe, and the people of Babylon likely did not believe her either based on the fact she was known as the goddess of fertility and sexual rituals.
Some may also draw similarities between Tammuz representing the reincarnation of Nimrod the sun god through his supposed miraculous birth and Jesus being the Son of God through a miraculous birth. The difference is that the Christian God never died like Nimrod did. There is no soul to ‘reincarnate’ because God is, was, and always will be, and Jesus was fully God and fully man. He is not a ‘reincarnation’ of anything.
The Road Not Traveled
Buddhism and Christianity differ in their understanding of the role of Jesus and the concept of salvation. Buddhism does not recognize Jesus as a savior or divine being, but rather, sees him as a wise teacher while salvation is works-based and achieved by following the Eightfold Path to enlightenment.
Christianity, on the other hand, teaches that Jesus is the Son of God, who came to earth to die for the sins of humanity and through his death and resurrection, offer them eternal life. Salvation is achieved by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior.
Most Buddhists acknowledge and respect the fact that Jesus lived a self-sacrificial life and had compassion for those who were in spiritual need. This kind of compassion is seen by Buddhists to be the key to happiness and enlightenment. For this reason, many Buddhists refer to Jesus simply as an “enlightened man”, ‘Christos’, and a wise teacher.
However, Buddhists do not recognize Jesus as the Son of God or the Savior of mankind. Their teachings diverge significantly when it comes to concepts of God, life, salvation, and the afterlife.
Do you see the major issue here?
If Jesus was so enlightened and reached ‘Christos’ or ‘Buddha’ level enlightenment….why don’t Buddhists follow Him as their example of how to escape the reincarnation cycle and finally attain ‘nirvana’? After all, that is exactly what He did for humanity.
Jesus defeated death. In the view of a Buddhist, this would mean He defeated the ‘reincarnation cycle’ and instead of ‘nirvana’ being a state of nothingness and total loss of identity and being, He promises an end to suffering as well as eternal life with a loving God and friends and family who also accepted Jesus’ free gift of salvation. By not following His example, they prove they do not want answers to the questions of suffering and enlightenment, but instead retain the core hatred of the one true God that all esoteric philosophies have in common.
There is a big gap between how Christians act, and how Jesus expected His followers to act. But, that’s not an excuse not to look into Jesus’ actual teachings yourself and make up your own mind.
True Christianity teaches the principles of how to love and serve others before yourself. Whereas the Eastern religions focus on how you can enlighten yourself and focus your energy inward. Christianity shows us how to foster what’s called the Fruits of the Spirit in order to serve and love others. The Fruits of the Spirit displayed in a true Christian are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, as Galatians 5:22-23 says.
There is very little importance placed on the self in Christianity, instead, the focus is on how to follow Jesus’ example. He shared the love of God with all He encountered; rich or poor, old or young, religious or pagan, male or female, with gentleness and compassion.
Though Eastern religions glorify self-denial, the root reason is very different. The point of self-denial, or the self-inflicted suffering of the monks, is all to serve the self, to gain enlightenment. It doesn’t do anyone else, or the world, much good. To deny oneself each day in Christianity is to flee from things that lead to sin. Why? Because the effects of sin cause harm to God and others. It causes suffering.
We are not to take advantage of others, or even treat animals and nature poorly, it is all God’s creation.
Buddhism is Death Worship
One of the basic concepts of Eastern thought is the concept of ‘material illusion’ called ‘maya’ in Hinduism. Because the material world is seen as nothing but an illusion, all suffering is essentially illusory, thus removing personal responsibility from the equation. Buddhism offers freedom from suffering through death.
This freedom does not come simply from reaching old age and passing away, which would lead to ‘reincarnation’, but a purposeful effort during one’s life to become ‘nothing’ and achieve the enlightenment of absolute extinction. Buddhists believe that human life is a cycle of suffering and rebirth, but that if one achieves a state of enlightenment (nirvana), it is possible to escape this cycle forever.
Nirvana comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “becoming extinguished” or “blowing out”, like a candle flame. The goal of Buddhism is to die and never come back. To be extinguished.
Nirvana is not heaven or a wonderful place, it’s simply to cease to exist. It is the same fate believed by secular humanism. Beyond death, there is nothing.
In the belief system of reincarnation, the point of Buddhism is to never be born again.
Conversely, when you’re born again in Jesus, there is no more death. He literally took the curse of death from us when He showed His power over death by resurrecting. He gave us the gift of eternal life and an end to suffering.
Did you know that God addressed this mentality of death worship":
“And now, O sons, listen to me:
blessed are those who keep my ways.
Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord,
but he who fails to find me injures himself;
all who hate me love death.”
Instead, this is the promise to those who follow Jesus:
“But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined,what God has prepared for those who love him”.”
Christianity offers an honest and complete explanation of the human condition and the meaning of life. Christianity explains why we suffer and how we can be saved. It also offers the path to eternal life, which is something that Buddhism does not offer.
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the only one who can give us eternal life. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
If you accept Jesus as your Savior, you will have forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and the assurance of eternal life. Not only that, but you will have a solid foundation by which to live.
Christians have the power to do something wonderful for others that Buddhism, or any other ‘path’ can not offer. The only thing we can bring with us to heaven is other people who also love and follow Jesus. Let’s all use the time we were given on earth wisely and be an example to others. Turn from the path that leads to destruction and towards the path that leads to everlasting life. And by our example, may we be able to reach others and help them choose to follow the same God that defeated death and opened the doors to everlasting life through Jesus Christ.
Thank you for reading,
Alexandra
Re: Gandhi...later said that it was her [Helena Blavatsky] book, The Key to Theosophy, which helped him to realize the ‘greatness’ of his own Hindu religion and which saved him from “being converted by the Christian missionaries in India”.
So sad to hear that. Helena has a lot to answer for, which continues to this day and until evil is purged from creation. The illusions are innumerable but the truth is ONE, Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Fabulous article! And yes, it would make for a great video. You clearly share the Gospel here, distinguishing it from what I think is its primary enemy ... the uni-religion ... Gnosticism ... New Age ... etc.