The Afterlife

Comparison Essay # 26509

Religion and Theology > Buddhism
Religion and Theology > Christianity

The Afterlife

A comparative analysis of the thoughts of Buddhist and Christians on the afterlife.

2,255 words () | 10 sources | MLA | 2003 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper compares Buddhism and Christianity, focusing on their thoughts and beliefs on death and the afterlife (Heaven, Hell and Nirvana). It examines how Christians believe that the death of a person is only the beginning of their existence and that a person's time on earth is only a trial for the after life. It looks at how Buddha's followers strive to reach Nirvana rather than Heaven as Christians do. The goal of Buddhists is to reach Nirvana and achieve as well as understand the Four Noble Truths, the path in which Buddhists follow in order to reach enlightenment. It evaluates how Buddhists rely on the mind and Christians rely on the soul and a similarity between Buddhism and Christianity is the leniency of their life places. Buddhists have no time limit in which to achieve Enlightenment and Christians are given unlimited opportunities to accept God and ask for forgiveness before their death.

From the Paper:

"Buddhism is a religion that hails from countries of the East on the continent of Asia. This religion's followers strive to reach Nirvana rather than Heaven as Christians do. The goal of Buddhists is to reach Nirvana and achieve as well as understand Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths are the path in which Buddhists follow in order to reach enlightenment. The road to reaching Nirvana is very complicated and its steps vary from denomination to denomination of Buddhism. Those steps, or what Buddhists call the Eightfold path, the guide for spiritual enlightenment includes the following parts: right understanding, right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration."