Tracing the philosophical and moral convergence of Buddhism and Christianity

Abstract

As one of the Archbishops, Bishop Bigandet, the Apostolic Vicar of Ava and Pegu has said, except for certain ideational differences, the moral truths espoused by the two religions holds great similarity, with the last Buddha Gautama designated as having led a life like “our Christ, the Messiah”. While a Buddhistic initiation of Christianity has been debated for long, a real comparison of the two faith systems brings to light its many points of coherence, including the factor of monotheism and the belief in an intercessor, whom the respective followers believe in heeding to while devoting their prayers and rituals to the worship of the idol. Though the two religions differ in dogmatologies and its ethical spirit, their many points of coherence will be elucidated in this paper which will focus on the modes of expression, the historical connection and the inclusivity that has made both the religions atheistic resulting owing to widespread acceptability and popularity. With a clear reference to Jesus in Buddhist scriptures and manuscripts as him being one of the last Buddhas to attain enlightenment and to guide people from their sufferings by taking it upon himself (Boddhisatva), does the two faiths energize each other through such references or do they challenge the other in their respective choices of intermediaries who have been chosen to continue operationalizing as separate institutions.