The first chapter of Gregory A. Barker’s “Jesus in the World’s Faiths”, entitled “Buddhist Views of Jesus”, invites readers to step into the shoes of a Buddhist in regards as to who Jesus is and what he means to them. In the Buddhist religion, Jesus is both known and recognized in a positive manner, as a collection of different things. For instance, he is seen as a social activist and critic. Both the Buddha and Jesus acted as advocates of emphasizing the interior life over external ritual action. However, Jesus is seen more as the more radical and far-reaching when compared to the Buddha. Other titles that Buddhists have given Jesus are magician and teacher. The miracles and exorcisms that Jesus performed, by which is seen as the pure power
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Between Christianity and Buddhism, we have two savior figures, Jesus and Amitabha Buddha. Jesus is the glorified savior whose path of salvation is played out in the death and the resurrection of him in the realm of history. Amitabha Buddha on the other hand, has a completely different path in regards to salvation. Different from Jesus, he made forty-eight vows, created the contents and people, and means of entrance to the Pure Land. This is a place where during five aeons of time all beings can be reborn into this land and achieve …show more content…
One quote that I found interesting in the section entitled, “Two Models of Salvation”, Barker says, “the Buddhist views the human condition, not as one of sin or offense to God, but as suffering created through ignorance and blind passion, resulting in delusion, greed, and anger” (Pg 34). This quote stood out to me because it allowed me to take heart of the fact that we Christians see some things fairly similar to what Buddhists see. Which is completely better than not seeing anything similar at all in my opinion. Nevertheless, I find it interesting that they believe the human condition is one of suffering, because honestly I would say that they’re not too far of there in some regards. As Christians, I do believe that our earthly lives are not going to be perfect and that in a sense, human life is suffering, because if it were not, then Adam and Eve would not have sinned at the beginning of time. However, what I do disagree with is the fact that they see it as ignorance and blind passion. We may suffer here on earth, because of our human nature, but that it is exactly why God gives us the Holy Spirit to live inside of us. Thus, giving us joy, peace, and coherence in life. We may live in suffering sometimes, but with Jesus in our life, that is how we can live through it as happily and successfully as we most often do. One last quote that stood out to me in the section
Between Christianity and Buddhism, we have two savior figures, Jesus and Amitabha Buddha. Jesus is the glorified savior whose path of salvation is played out in the death and the resurrection of him in the realm of history. Amitabha Buddha on the other hand, has a completely different path in regards to salvation. Different from Jesus, he made forty-eight vows, created the contents and people, and means of entrance to the Pure Land. This is a place where during five aeons of time all beings can be reborn into this land and achieve …show more content…
One quote that I found interesting in the section entitled, “Two Models of Salvation”, Barker says, “the Buddhist views the human condition, not as one of sin or offense to God, but as suffering created through ignorance and blind passion, resulting in delusion, greed, and anger” (Pg 34). This quote stood out to me because it allowed me to take heart of the fact that we Christians see some things fairly similar to what Buddhists see. Which is completely better than not seeing anything similar at all in my opinion. Nevertheless, I find it interesting that they believe the human condition is one of suffering, because honestly I would say that they’re not too far of there in some regards. As Christians, I do believe that our earthly lives are not going to be perfect and that in a sense, human life is suffering, because if it were not, then Adam and Eve would not have sinned at the beginning of time. However, what I do disagree with is the fact that they see it as ignorance and blind passion. We may suffer here on earth, because of our human nature, but that it is exactly why God gives us the Holy Spirit to live inside of us. Thus, giving us joy, peace, and coherence in life. We may live in suffering sometimes, but with Jesus in our life, that is how we can live through it as happily and successfully as we most often do. One last quote that stood out to me in the section