Buddhism: Free Membership?
By: Sharon White
In this paper I shall compare Buddhism to Islam and Christianity, and try to uncover similarities and distinctions between them. Also I’ll explain whether Buddhism is a religion or a philosophy, and observe the requirements for membership eligibility.
What is religion? Longman’s dictionary says that ‘Religion is the organised worship of God.’ Webster’s dictionary says ‘Religion is the belief of the existence of God.’ Both dictionaries have one thing in common, they both relate to God in one way or another.
How is Buddhism a religion? Buddhism has many similar features, which are common in other major religions such as Christianity and Islam. I would like to identify that Buddhism has a Founder; it has sacred scriptures, sacred time, sacred objects, and sacred place.
The Founder of Buddhism was Siddhartha Guatama lived about 2600 years ago; he was the son of a wealthy Indian King and had all the luxuries that anyone would have ever wanted. But, he became unhappy about the purpose of his life and knew that there was more to life, then lavishness. He knew that this wouldn’t bring true happiness and that they wouldn’t prevent him from growing old and then finally dying. So he left the palace in search of an answer. He is now known to be one of the greatest teachers ever known and now has 327 million people, who followed his path and become Buddhists.
Buddhism has sacred scriptures just like other religions such as Muslims who have the Qu’ran and Christians who have the Bible. Some years ago after the Buddha died, his disciples, who are also known as the Sangha, the congregation of monks, met to write down his famous sayings. They wrote them in the Pali language and many Buddhists read this, so they are able to look upon Siddhartha as an example.
If you were to look at Buddhism through these two dictionaries points of view, then Buddhism would not be a religion, for it does not believe the subsistence of God.
So how is Buddhism not a religion? Buddhists do not believe is God, so therefore they have no-one to worship or pray to. On the other hand Buddhism has all the other elements of it being a religion.
All religions have a Founder like Islam who has Allah. He shared the idea of Islam with people and the believers are now known as Muslims. The Founder of Buddhism is Siddhartha who shared his ideas of living life between two extremes and choosing the middle way so that you can overcome suffering.
It has festivals and holy days just like other religions where they celebrate special days where of when the Buddha found Buddhism.
Many Buddhists have organised themselves into ‘Orders’ or groups. They meet together to meditate in specially designed buildings and temples. This is very similar to Islam, because Muslims join together to pray Namaz at a mosques. This makes people feel belonged to a certain group and gives them support at their difficult times.
These are all good examples of how Buddhism can be a religion but there are other elements which Buddhism doesn’t fulfil to be a religion. In every other religion God plays a major part of it, but in Buddhism there is no-one to look up to or worship. I think it is important for God to exist because people are able to form relationships with him and are able to put faith in him. This means people are able to look to him so that they are able to get through any hard times that life may put them through.
Religions have rules and restrictions for their followers to live by so that they can gain the pleasure of their God and please him. If they are not obeyed then they are sinning in the eyes of God. Buddhists have guidelines that they can live by, if they choose to. They are given to them so that they are able to overcome the sufferings and pains of the world so it‘s for the best of them.
They believe that they do not need to be in groups to meditate, they can do it alone. They think that Buddhists should find their own separate way out and being in groups may prevent this as people would do what others would.
Siddhartha warned against giving yourself a label. This goes against his teachings about there is no self. You can not give a label to something that does not exist. This means that Buddhists can not call themselves Buddhists because there is the danger of them becoming attached to the group.
Some people like to start of by joining a group so it’s easier for them to get into the idea of Buddhism and receive support from others. But as they used to the ideas, they then go there own way. This is like learning how to ride a bike. First of all you can use stabilisers to help you but when you have learnt how to ride it and are able to balance and understand it, you can take the stabilisers off and go at it alone.
I think that Buddhism isn’t a religion because I think it’s important for a God to be involved in it and because it doesn’t have one, there is no-one to turn or look upon.
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Sharon White is a senior writer and writers consultant at term papers. Get some useful tips for thesis and buy term papers .