world religions week 3 - buddhism
DESCRIPTION
What do Buddhist believe? How do they see the world? What are the important similarities to and differences from Christianity?TRANSCRIPT
World Religions
The Gospel and Friendship in a Pluralistic Suburb
What Do You Know?
What three words best describe your personal experience with
God?
Do you have any personal experience
with Buddhism?
What do you know about Buddhism?
What questions do you have about Buddhism?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Our “Mars Hill” Methodology
1. •A basic introduction to the faith’s worldview
2. •Areas of agreement between that faith and Orthodox Christian theology and practice
3. •Areas of disagreement between that faith and Orthodox Christian theology and practice
GOAL: To equip you to build a truth-seeking relationship with someone of another faith.
Buddhism
Following the Middle Path
Who was the Buddha?
Hinduism
Buddhism
Review: the Hindu Worldview
Brahman
Samsara
Atman
KarmaRe-
incarnation
Maya
Born to Indian Royalty, raised in luxury(563 BC)
“4 Passing Sights”
Great Going Forth
The Middle Way
Enlightenment“Bodhi”
The Life of Siddhartha Gautama
Brahman
Maya
Samsara
AtmanKarma
Re-incarnatio
n
Buddhism: Three Marks of Reality
1) All is Change
Brahman
Atman
Karma
Re-incarnati
onMaya
Samsara
Buddhism: Three Marks of Reality
1) All is Change
2) Anatman: No Self
Buddhism: Three Marks of Reality
1) All is Change
2) Anatman3) Suffering/
Dissatisfaction
Sat
Samsara
Karma
Re-incarnat
ion
The Buddhist Worldview: Sat
Brahman
Samsara
Atman
Karma
Re-incarnati
on
Maya
Hinduism Buddhism
Brahman
Samsara
Atman
Karma
Re-incarnati
on
Maya
The Buddhist Self: 5 Skanda/Aggregates
Karma
Conscious-ness
Perceptions
Body
5Sense
s
Hinduism Buddhism
Reincarnation in Buddhism
Karma
Conscious-ness
Perceptions
Body
5Sense
s
Karma
Conscious-ness
Perceptions
Body
5Sense
s
Sat
Samsara
Karma
Re-incarnat
ion
Smells Like Nirvana
Nirvana
Buddha’s Four Noble Truths
To live is to suffer.
Suffering is caused by desire.
End suffering by ending desire.
The 8-Fold Path releases us from suffering.
The Eight-Fold Path to Enlightenment
Under-standi
ngIntenti
on
Speech
Action
Work
Effort
Medi-tation
Contem-
plation
Is Buddhism Atheistic?
Buddhism Today
Theravada
• Built around Monastic communities
• Probably most like Buddha’s teachings
Mahayana
• “The Great Vehicle”
• Most popular
• Bodhisattvas and gods
• Many schools
Zen
• A school of Mahayana
• Named for the 7th step
• Highlights meditation
Buddhism Today
1. Ahimsa
2. Educatio
n
Theravada
Mahayana
Zen
Building Bridges to Buddhism
We both have a founder.
The Problem of Evil
The Danger of Desire
Spiritual Practices are Good
Buddhists and Christians Both Value
Education
Spiritual practices
Peacemaking as a spiritual practice
Taking care of the natural world
Where Buddhism and Christianity Disagree
In Buddhis
m
Life
Is Cyclic
al
Every-
thing
Just repea
ts
Christians Believe The
World Is Going Some-where
Where Buddhism and Christianity Disagree
Sat• “gods” are part of (false)
reality• gods’ essence is identical to
reality• gods are also trying to escapeYahweh• God is the creator• God is distinct from creation• God is rescuing and
redeeming creation
Where Buddhism and Christianity Disagree
Desire is Bad• Creation is fundamentally
impermanent• Desire causes suffering.• Desire must be eliminated.
Desire can be Bad.• Created things are gifts from
God.• Our desires should point us
back to God• Misaligned desires cause
idolatry.
Where Buddhism and Christianity Disagree
Nirvana• The goal of Buddhism is the
end of Self• Self is an illusion• Reincarnation
Christlikeness• The goal of Christianity is
sanctification• Self is redeemed and fulfilled• One Self, One (eternal) Life
