Buddhism/Part 10
| February 10, 2000 |
| By: John Ankerberg, John Weldon; ©2000 |
| A chart comparing Buddhism and Christianity |
Buddhism vs. Christianity Chart
| Buddhism | Christianity |
| Seeks release from suffering | Seeks knowledge of God and His glory |
| “Unreal” (impermanent) world | Real world |
| Nihilistic, pessimistic outlook | Hopeful, optimistic outlook |
| No God or Savior exists. | One God, one Savior |
| Apologetic centered in subjective experience | Apologetic centered objective history |
| Trusts self | Trusts God |
| Morality self-derived | Morality based on the infinitely holy character of God |
| Devalues man (e.g., man is a bundle of flux; the body is evil, the mind is deceptive) | Dignifies man (e.g., man is made in God’s own image; the believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit; the mind is good and glorifies God) |
| Activity and individual life are “evil” and hamper salvation | Activity and individual life are good and glorify God |
| Atheistic/polytheistic | Theistic |
| Impersonal ultimate reality | Personal ultimate reality |
| Often anti-social | Responsible social action |
| Enlightened by works | Salvation by grace |
| Mysticism and the occult are spiritual activities | Mysticism and the occult are rejected as evil and as opposed to God |
| The afterlife constitutes an impersonal, uncertain nirvana | The afterlife is clearly delineated and involves personal immortality |
| Spiritual truth is discovered by disciplined effort | Spiritual truth is revealed by God |
