Differences And Similarities Between Buddhism And Confucianism

It is said that from the earliest times man has been hopelessly religious. Religion is concerned with the shared beliefs and practices of humans. Religion has defined nations, given purpose to people’s lives, and even started wars. It is the response to elements in life and the environment which is beyond mankind’s comprehension. There are many different religions in the world from different regions; however, they all have basic similarities and differences between them. Some of the world’s major religions include: Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Taoism. This here essay is a report on such religions and their beliefs. Buddhism is a spiritual tradition; it focuses on personal spiritual development and attaining deep insight into the genuine nature of life. Like Hinduism, Buddhism believes in Karma. Buddhist teachings about Karma explain that our past actions affect us, whether positively or negatively, and our present actions will affect our future. The main objective of Buddhism is …show more content…
Meaning everyone must know their place in society; each person has a different role in society and if everyone fulfills their roles society will flourish. Relationships are key in Confucianism. There are five cardinal relationships; all but one contains a superior and an inferior. These relationships are: ruler and subject, parent and child, husband and wife, older sibling and younger sibling, and lastly, friend and friend. These bonds portray obedience and mutual respect from one group to the next. Confucius believed family was the basic unit of social organization that should be respected. The ill and elderly were to be cared for by able family members, while it was the responsibility of the entire family to raise the children to be moral and just members of society. Alike Buddhism’s Five Precepts, there are five virtues, basic ideas about how a person should behave, taught in