Joshua Englander
Dr. John Knight
World Religions
MID-TERM PAPER
Hinduism and the rise of Buddhism
All religions, both current and extinct, have their similarities and differences. When people discuss the history of religion and the impact it has created amongst societies dating back thousands of years, you usually hear about only the most popular religion based on your area, or the top two or three religions that still exist today. You are told at a young age why your family’s religion is correct and why outside religions are incorrect. As a result, stereotypes form. In the United States for example, Christians are by far the biggest group of religious followers and are affiliated with most Americans by the rest of the world whereas in the …show more content…
Both religions came from the very same soil, in what is known today as the country of India. While this created an odd and uncomfortable relationship, leading to many conflicts and disagreements, it also helped to influence each other and create healthy competition during peaceful times. In fact, many Buddhist kings revered Hindu deities and teachers and many Buddhist temples were built under the patronage of Hindu rulers. Many people believe that Buddhism became popular in India because it freed people from the oppression of traditions. Buddha’s teachings gave the Indians hope and aspiration which Hinduism did not offer them at the time. Some even today claim that Buddhism is nothing more than another section of Hinduism. Buddhists find this unacceptable as in their minds, Buddha was the first to experience and achieve Nirvana. In ancient India, these disagreements led to executions of Buddhists by Hindu rulers as well as many historical wars, something many religions have experienced during their history. Despite these problems, the similarities helped to find eventual peace like how Buddha was originally a Hindu himself. It can’t get any similar than …show more content…
This is because Buddhists do not accept the concept of an eternal self, and Buddha himself took a different approach, stating in an International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Inventions article that his followers would unite “as do rivers in the sea”. Hindus do not know their original creator unlike most of today’s religions. That information was lost over the years. Buddhists on the other hand are fully aware of their creator, the Buddha. Geographically, Buddhism mainly resides over countries like Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Sri Lanka though its practices and rituals are shared worldwide. Hinduism on the other hand, mainly resides in India and Nepal though like Buddhism its practices and rituals are spread
Dr. John Knight
World Religions
MID-TERM PAPER
Hinduism and the rise of Buddhism
All religions, both current and extinct, have their similarities and differences. When people discuss the history of religion and the impact it has created amongst societies dating back thousands of years, you usually hear about only the most popular religion based on your area, or the top two or three religions that still exist today. You are told at a young age why your family’s religion is correct and why outside religions are incorrect. As a result, stereotypes form. In the United States for example, Christians are by far the biggest group of religious followers and are affiliated with most Americans by the rest of the world whereas in the …show more content…
Both religions came from the very same soil, in what is known today as the country of India. While this created an odd and uncomfortable relationship, leading to many conflicts and disagreements, it also helped to influence each other and create healthy competition during peaceful times. In fact, many Buddhist kings revered Hindu deities and teachers and many Buddhist temples were built under the patronage of Hindu rulers. Many people believe that Buddhism became popular in India because it freed people from the oppression of traditions. Buddha’s teachings gave the Indians hope and aspiration which Hinduism did not offer them at the time. Some even today claim that Buddhism is nothing more than another section of Hinduism. Buddhists find this unacceptable as in their minds, Buddha was the first to experience and achieve Nirvana. In ancient India, these disagreements led to executions of Buddhists by Hindu rulers as well as many historical wars, something many religions have experienced during their history. Despite these problems, the similarities helped to find eventual peace like how Buddha was originally a Hindu himself. It can’t get any similar than …show more content…
This is because Buddhists do not accept the concept of an eternal self, and Buddha himself took a different approach, stating in an International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Inventions article that his followers would unite “as do rivers in the sea”. Hindus do not know their original creator unlike most of today’s religions. That information was lost over the years. Buddhists on the other hand are fully aware of their creator, the Buddha. Geographically, Buddhism mainly resides over countries like Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Sri Lanka though its practices and rituals are shared worldwide. Hinduism on the other hand, mainly resides in India and Nepal though like Buddhism its practices and rituals are spread