On the subject and philosophy behind many religions around the world, there are many differences and similarities between two or more religions. No matter how big or small the detail may be, there is an undeniable fact that we, as humans, all generally want the same thing. We want happiness. Whether that happiness comes from knowledge, peace, meaning, or whatever we're trying to find, it's what we all want. Religion often attempts to achieve this through seemingly counterproductive philosophical reasoning in order to match counterintuitive reason. He attempts to confuse the simplicity of truth to, in turn, simplify the confusion of the human condition. A religion that attempts to take this formula and transform it into a quest for peace ultimately leading to happiness. This religion is Buddhism. He tries to achieve happiness by realizing that life is suffering and that suffering is the negative effect of desire. Therefore, it teaches that by excluding desires from life, you will find meaning and happiness in life. It is then that Christianity interrupts its philosophy. It is the idea that life is suffering, because man has sinned, and without sin there would be no suffering. The desire for God and the desire to love others indeed brings a joy far greater than happiness. The two schools of thought are obviously different, and Buddhism obviously has its faults, so where should a Christian witness come in to alleviate the erroneous mindset of a Buddhist thinker? Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayFirst, the Christian should take a stand on philosophy, that is, in order to conduct himself in religious thought that would undoubtedly distract the Buddhist. The philosophy of Christianity does not focus solely on the religion itself, but rather on a relationship. It is the only relationship in life that has the capacity to bring joy. It is about the supernatural relationship between man and God that God established by sacrificing his love on a physical cross, and also condemning his own son to 33 years of a miserable human life on the sin-cursed world that he created to be good. This relationship requires desire, which is the first rule of Buddhism that Christianity breaks. The second broken ideology would be the conceptual form of God and the difference between the two religions. Shaping a mind and its thoughts regarding God is an incredibly difficult task, so adding to the relationship God has with us, as previously mentioned, would complicate matters even further for the Buddhist. This idea should make it clear that explaining the true God and correct philosophical reasoning should not be an effort to convince the Buddhist of Christian beliefs, but rather let the facts and philosophy speak for themselves. After all, philosophy is incredibly important in both religions, not only theology, but also the human aspect of how each "religion" directly relates to people. In the document Christian Witness to Budddhs, he divides the document into two main sections between the Theravada and Mahayana schools. . First, they start talking about Theravada and its worldview. Just as the document states: In the worldview of Theravada Buddhists, there is a distinction between intellectual and popular Buddhism, between ideal culture and real culture. Their point B concerns the crucial theological questions that people recognize in the historical and doctrinal similarities between theChristianity and Theravada Buddhism. The document gives examples of these similarities which are: “The similarity of ethical standards between the Ten Commandments and the Buddhist sila abstentions. » He emphasizes that these moral absolutes constitute useful steps in leading Buddhists from where they are to encountering the Gospel. A key point of this document is that it tells us that the fundamental goal of the Christian is not to assimilate religious systems, but to bring men to know Christ. There might be similarities between these religions, but one major difference lies in salvation. Theravada Buddhists depend only on themselves, but the Gospel declares that dependence on self and reliance on the flesh is a disaster. Theravada Buddhism essentially teaches the ability of oneself, without God's help, to free oneself from injustice and suffering in order to achieve a state of total absence. The basis of Buddhism is humanism in which man has no authority other than himself to answer to; and human beings are not inherently evil but can become good through their own efforts. Human beings can do this without God's help or connection with God. Like other religions, Buddhism is the pursuit of the ideal by human beings. Whereas Christianity comes from God's self-revelation to humanity. It is in the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ that the divine manifestation culminates. Therefore, the Gospel is centered on a transcendent God, who reveals himself in the culture and language of man and who, through divine grace, makes men and societies fruitful and just. Only the Holy Spirit who dwells within us can make this transformation possible. In the teaching of Buddhism, autonomy is fundamental. Autonomy runs counter to the contemporary concept of progress in Buddhist theory and practice. In the Bible, autonomy is the fundamental component of sin, because man separates himself from God through self-centeredness. The contrast between Buddhist teaching and evangelical teaching appears at several points in this document. Theravada Buddhism has no chance of forgiveness, because karma is an iron law, which knows no exceptions or immediate escapes (especially in popular beliefs). This contrasts with the gospel of the loving God who, through the power of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, gives forgiveness, hope and the exchange of life, acting in a spiritual dimension. For cleansing the past, power in the present, and hope for the future, Christ's atonement is sufficient. The death of Christ is the cornerstone on which a loving God grants forgiveness. Thus, God, in Christ, took the place of man himself as a substitute for the liberation from sin and self and the reconciliation of man to God. Every Christian should seek out meaningful expressions and native illustrations, stories, and anecdotes helpful to theological truth. The evangelist must always be on the lookout for important historical illustrations to communicate. “Christians should try to read Buddhists in their natural setting without uprooting them from their family and cultural ties. Christians must identify with the people among whom they live and develop an indigenous model of Christian life and worship in those communities.” The second section of this document now talks about Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism has achieved full development and pervasive influence in Japan. The Mahayana worldview is based on the basic concepts of karma, rebirth, and enlightenment; as well as those related to the Three Refuges, the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Mahayana Buddhism is a set.