Buddhism is divided into traditions that share fundamental beliefs like reincarnation and the concept of rebirth. Through practicing Buddhism by following the Eightfold Path and understanding the Four Noble Truths, one can achieve Nirvana and be liberated from suffering. Taoism believes in the Tao, a force that flows through all life, and that people should seek to become one with the Tao by following principles like wu wei and balancing the opposites of yin and yang. Christianity centers around beliefs that Jesus is the Son of God whose life, death and resurrection prove God's forgiveness, and that salvation comes through faith in Jesus.
Buddhism is divided into traditions that share fundamental beliefs like reincarnation and the concept of rebirth. Through practicing Buddhism by following the Eightfold Path and understanding the Four Noble Truths, one can achieve Nirvana and be liberated from suffering. Taoism believes in the Tao, a force that flows through all life, and that people should seek to become one with the Tao by following principles like wu wei and balancing the opposites of yin and yang. Christianity centers around beliefs that Jesus is the Son of God whose life, death and resurrection prove God's forgiveness, and that salvation comes through faith in Jesus.
Buddhism is divided into traditions that share fundamental beliefs like reincarnation and the concept of rebirth. Through practicing Buddhism by following the Eightfold Path and understanding the Four Noble Truths, one can achieve Nirvana and be liberated from suffering. Taoism believes in the Tao, a force that flows through all life, and that people should seek to become one with the Tao by following principles like wu wei and balancing the opposites of yin and yang. Christianity centers around beliefs that Jesus is the Son of God whose life, death and resurrection prove God's forgiveness, and that salvation comes through faith in Jesus.
Buddhism is divided into traditions that share fundamental beliefs like reincarnation and the concept of rebirth. Through practicing Buddhism by following the Eightfold Path and understanding the Four Noble Truths, one can achieve Nirvana and be liberated from suffering. Taoism believes in the Tao, a force that flows through all life, and that people should seek to become one with the Tao by following principles like wu wei and balancing the opposites of yin and yang. Christianity centers around beliefs that Jesus is the Son of God whose life, death and resurrection prove God's forgiveness, and that salvation comes through faith in Jesus.
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Buddhism
Buddhism, like most of the great religions of the world, is divided into a number of different traditions. However, most traditions share a common set of fundamental beliefs.
One fundamental belief of Buddhism is often referred to as reincarnation -- the concept that people are reborn after dying. In fact, most individuals go through many cycles of birth, living, death and rebirth. A practicing Buddhist differentiates between the concepts of rebirth and reincarnation. In reincarnation, the individual may recur repeatedly. In rebirth, a person does not necessarily return to Earth as the same entity ever again. He compares it to a leaf growing on a tree. When the withering leaf falls off, a new leaf will eventually replace it. It is similar to the old leaf, but it is not identical to the original leaf.
After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana. This is a state of liberation and freedom from suffering.
BUDDHISM -- CREED There are two separate, basic tenets in Buddhism that help to show a Buddhist's basic beliefs.
4 NOBLE TRUTHS 1. Life is suffering. Everything experiences suffering during their life 2. Origin of suffering. 3. Extinction of suffering. (nirvana) 4. Path leading to the extinction of suffering. (8 fold path)
THE MORAL CODE OF BUDDHISM: THE FIVE PRECEPTS
Refrain from killing Refrain from stealing Refrain from sexual misconduct Refrain from lying Refrain from drugs and alcohol
Buddhist liturgy is a formalized service of veneration and worship performed within
a Buddhist Sangha community in nearly every traditional denomination and sect in the Buddhist world. It is often done once or more times a day and can vary amongst the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana sects.
The liturgy mainly consists of chanting or reciting a sutra or passages from a sutras, a mantra (especially in Vajrayana), and several gathas. Depending on what practice the practitioner wishes to undertake, it can be done at a temple or at home. The liturgy is almost always performed in front of an object or objects of veneration and accompanied by offerings of light, incense, water and food. Christianity Christianity, religion founded in Palestine by the followers of Jesus. One of the world's major religions, it predominates in Europe and the Americas, where it has been a powerful historical force and cultural influence, but it also claims adherents in virtually every country of the world.
Central Beliefs The central teachings of traditional Christianity are that Jesus is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that his life on earth, his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into heaven are proof of God's love for humanity and God's forgiveness of human sins; and that by faith in Jesus one may attain salvation and eternal life (see creed). This teaching is embodied in the Bible, specifically in the New Testament, but Christians accept also the Old Testament as sacred and authoritative Scripture.
Christian ethics derive to a large extent from the Jewish tradition as presented in the Old Testament, particularly the Ten Commandments, but with some difference of interpretation based on the practice and teachings of Jesus. Christianity may be further generally defined in terms of its practice of corporate worship and rites that usually include the use of sacraments and that are usually conducted by trained clergy within organized churches. There are, however, many different forms of worship, many interpretations of the role of the organized clergy, and many variations in polity and church organization within Christianity.
Christian liturgy is a pattern for worship used (whether recommended or prescribed) by a Christian congregation or denomination on a regular basis. Although the term liturgy is used to mean public worship in general, the Byzantine Rite uses the term "Divine Liturgy" to denote the Eucharistic service.
Catholic Moral Teachings
Catholic moral teachings can be divided roughly into two types: social teachings (involving all of society) and personal teachings (involving each individuals’ call to live a moral life).
Social teachings have to do with the social order, with what we often call “social justice.” This is based on the dignity of human beings created by God and on a focus on the common good of all. Over the last century there have been many papal encyclicals on social justice, enumerating the rights of all people to a just wage, freedom from oppression, fair treatment, freedom from discrimination, adequate food, shelter and clothing, etc. Such issues were included in the Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et spes). These recognize that working for justice in the social arena is not something extra, but an intrinsic part of living the gospel. If we are not doing something, we are not fully living the gospel! Taoism Founder: Lao-Tse Tao (pronounced "Dow") can be roughly translated into English as path, or the way. It is basically indefinable. It has to be experienced. It "refers to a power which envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living." The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe. It embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.)"
Taoism started as a combination of psychology and philosophy but evolved into a religious faith in 440 A.D. when it was adopted as a state religion. At that time Lao-Tse became popularly venerated as a deity. Taoism, along with Buddhism and Confucianism, became one of the three great religions of China. With the end of the Ch'ing Dynasty in 1911, state support for Taoism ended. Much of the Taoist heritage was destroyed during the next period of warlordism. After the Communist victory in 1949, religious freedom was severely restricted.
Taoism is primarily centered in Taiwan. Taoism has had a significant impact on North American culture in areas of "acupuncture, herbalism, holistic medicine, meditation and martial arts..."
Cult Beliefs:
They believe Tao is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life. They believe it is their goal to become one with the Tao. The priesthood views the many gods as manifestations of the one Tao. The concept of a personified deity is foreign to them, as is the concept of the creation of the universe. Thus, they do not pray as Christians do; there is no God to hear the prayers or to act upon them. They seek answers to life's problems through inner meditation and outer observation. They believe time is cyclical, not linear as in Western thinking. They believe Yin (dark side) is the breath that formed the earth. Yang (light side) is the breath that formed the heavens. They symbolize pairs of opposites which are seen throughout the universe, such as good and evil, light and dark, male and female. Intervention by human civilization upsets the balances of Yin and Yang. The symbol of Taoism, represents Yin and Yang in balance. They believe the Tao surrounds everyone and therefore everyone must listen to find enlightenment. They believe the five main organs and orifices of the body correspond to the five parts of the sky: water, fire, wood, metal and earth. They believe each person must nurture the Ch'i (air, breath) that has been given to them. They believe the development of virtue is one's chief task. The Three Jewels to be sought are compassion, moderation and humility. They believe in following the art of "wu wei," which is to let nature take its course. For example, one should allow a river to flow towards the sea unimpeded; do not erect a dam which would interfere with its natural flow.
