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Buddhism is a philosophy of life preached by Gautama Buddha
("Buddha" means "enlightened one"), who
lived and taught in northern India in the 6th Century B.C. The
Buddha was not a god and the philosophy of Buddhism does not
entail any theistic world-view until after it was introduced
into China. Renowned Chinese gods in Buddhism like Guanyin (Bodhisattva
Avalokitesvara ) and Milefo (Maitreya) were actually humans
who came to China to preach.
Buddhism stresses the teaching of no self (Anatta). There is
a famous saying, 'where can dust be collected if there is nothing
to start out with.' Thus attachment to the idea of substantial
and enduring self is only an illusion ('like the reflections
of moon in the water and flowers in a mirror'), which can only
lead to suffering.
Therefore, suffering is a consequence of one's own actions.
This is consistent with the Buddhist doctrine of causes and
effects. ('If one sows melon seeds, one harvests melon; and
if one sows beans, one reaps beans'). One is thus responsible
for all the consequences of his own psychological states and
volitional actions (karma). These good or bad actions or karma
can be carried from one life to the other. Your well-being in
this life is affected by your karma in your previous lives,
and your karma in this life dictates your well-being in your
future lives. The Chinese believe that if you are a good person,
you may become a good person in your next life. However, if
you are a bad person in this life, you may end up reincarnating
into an animal or even an insect.
Buddha taught the Four Truths and the Eightfold Path.
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Christianity is the relationship with God, the Father and Creator
of all things. A person is accepted by God, not because of his
deeds but because of who he is, a child of God. (This concept
is very similar to the fact you are a member of your earthly
family regardless what you have done. Without this relationship,
you are like a run-away child). Although we are all sinners,
God still loves us and sent his Son Jesus Christ to die for
our sins on the cross. (God actually approached us first, like
a parent looking for a run-away child! For all other religions,
man seeks god instead.) To establish this relationship with
God, one must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior who died for
our sins and rose again. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we
can then turn away from sin.
Many followers that accept Jesus as their Savior follow the
prayer below:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I want to have a relationship with You.
I know I cannot save myself, because I am a sinner.
I believe that You died for me on the cross and rose again from
the grave.
Please forgive my sin as I receive your gift of eternal life.
I will turn away from my sin and place my trust on You.
In Jesus' name I prayed. Amen. |
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The religion of Islam is built upon the five pillars that
define the essential elements of Islam. Once you become a
Muslim you should implement all these in your daily life.
The pillars are:
1)
Testimony of Faith - Shahada Witness to two individuals
that
a) There is no god except Allah.
b) Muhammad is the messenger
of Allah.
2) Five daily worships
- Salaat
3) Fasting in the month
of Ramadan- Sawm
4) Donation to charity
- Zakat
5) Pilgrimage to Mecca
once in your life during Hajj
Besides the outward witnessing, a Muslim should believe the
Shahada in his heart with a firm conviction and unshakeable
faith in order to be a new-born person. He must then behave
accordingly, applying this faith to every thing he speaks
or does
Muslims believe that this will improve his character and
draw him closer to perfection. The light of the living faith
will fill his heart until he becomes the embodiment of that
faith.
Aside from the 5 pillars, all Muslim should love and be loyal
to his Muslim brothers. He should, as a practice, dissociate
himself completely from the unbelievers and refuse to be influenced
by them, both in worldly and religious matters.
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The original Buddhist philosophy does not entail
any theistic world-view. Godly figures were introduced later.
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There is only one true God in Christianity,
Who referred to Himself as, "I am who I am." |
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The Muslims also believe in one god
known as Allah. |
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Man lives his own fate, and has no one to blame
but himself. In other words, you have to work for your salvation
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Salvation is not based on work. It
is a free gift to all who would accept Jesus Christ as their
Savior. |
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Salvation is based on work through
implementing the five pillars in life |
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In a sense, there is eternal life. But one is
not sure what his next life will end up being. It depends on
the karma of his present life
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Eternal life in heaven is promised
to all who accept this free gift of salvation |
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Eternal life is defined as 'eternal
bliss in Hereafter'. Not everyone who obeys Allah and practices
the five pillars is promised eternal life. |
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| There is no god in Buddhism to love
or take care of its people |
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The Bible is filled with teachings
of God's love towards us, to the extent that He sent his only
Son to die for our sins.
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The Koran does not mention Allah'
s love towards his people. |
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As a socialist country, China declares most of its population are
atheists. However, in the years following the end of the Cultural
Revolution, which had seen the disintegration of religions in China,
the intense anti-religious sentiment of the Cultural Revolution has
began to fade away. Traditional Chinese religion is now officially
considered a proud national relic and, in many cases, the government
actively promotes the restoration of temples, churches and holy mountains
as tourist sites. All Chinese citizens, excluding CCP member, are
free to practice beliefs or religions.
Traditional China was dominated by three major faiths: Confucianism,
Daoism, and Buddhism. None of these systematically required an exclusive
professions of faith, thus these different faiths coexisted relatively
peacefully so that the average Chinese might feel some affinity
with more than one of them. For example, a Chinese believer might
profess faith in the doctrine of filial piety espoused strongly
by Confucianism, celebrate Daoist holidays at temples, and pray
to Buddhist Bodhisattvas, all without any conflict of interest.
In addition to these primary religions, Islam, Christianity Zoroastrianism,
and Judaism, also had or have had minority followings in traditional
China.
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