Main Difference Between Buddhist And Catholic Morality example essay topic

A community, a system of belief, a tradition and a way of life- Catholicism and Theravada Buddhism are all of these and many more. There are many affinities between Theravada Buddhism and Catholicism, but each tradition is marked with its own unique origins. Thus it is valuable to explore Buddhist rituals, practices, ethics and morals comparatively to those Catholic, but equally important to examine those features that are uniquely their own religion. Every religion that strives to achieve its own way of life chooses distinctive practices and rituals to reach their desired spiritual goals. When considering Catholicism and Buddhism, the two main forms of worship are prayer and meditation. While Nirvana is the ultimate spiritual attainment, most ordinary Buddhists show their commitment to the Buddha through several religious practices.

The basic motives behind Buddhist practices mirror with those behind the Catholic tradition (Seay (2001, p. 58). Both traditions aim to create togetherness within their community by developing a sense of communion with all present through a group activity. Some of these activities include group prayer / meditation and group singing / chanting. Another motive behind some Buddhist and Catholic practices is the principle of suffering, a significant element of religious tradition. This principle was formed on the basis of the suffering endured by Saddartha G utama and Jesus Christ and is put into practice through traditions like achieving Nirvana and Lent sacrifices. Sacrificing something that is of great significance to a follower is a reflection of their commitment and devotion to that religion, thus leading people to believe that because of that action they are a worthier Catholic or Buddhist.

Whilst there are many similarities between the traditions, many differences are apparent when considering Ninian's dimension, 'ritual and practice'. The first disparity between Buddhist and Catholic worship is the reasons for their devotion. Catholic prayer is a personalized approach to petition, praise and / or thank their God. Catholic prayer is both controlled and spontaneous.

This is contrary to the Theravada Buddhist practice as meditation is always disciplined, controlled, self-contained and. When Catholics pray it is either in public or private, whilst Buddhist meditation is strictly physically and spiritually solitary. For monks, it is sufficient for practicing meditation and no prayer, as prayer is a distraction to achieving Nirvana. Whereas for Mahayana Buddhism, followers can benefit from prayer but Buddha does not claim the capacity to answer prayers of petition.

This is contrary to Catholics, as they believe their prayers can be heard and answered by their God. Catholic morality is based on key passages from Christian scripture. The Christian Beatitudes are taught by the Catholic Church and reflects the way in which Catholics should operate within the community. The Buddhist Eightfold Path has similar themes to the Beatitudes as it teaches Buddhists significant morality needed to be a worthy Buddhist. Both the Christian Beatitudes and the Buddhist Eightfold Path aim to recognise wisdom, ethical conduct and mental development in through these scriptures (Jenkins, 2000, p. 396).

The main difference between Buddhist and Catholic morality is found in ethical principles of both traditions. Crotty (1999, p. 55) states that "Compassion, or concern for others, is the most important principle in Buddhism; it is based on the example of Buddha himself". Catholics tend to focus more on pleasing and aspiring to be like their God, whilst valuing service and justice. Another major contrast between both faiths is the religious involvement with a variety of discussions and issues in contemporary society. The Catholic Church is pro-active in discussing a number of issues including refugees, cloning, consumerism, gambling, in-vito fertilization and nuclear welfare. Buddhist involvement in these issues is less evident, as they believe it is more important to concentrate their energies on developing qualities that will assist in achieving Nirvana.

Catholicism and Theravada Buddhism have many similarities and differences through the ritual and practice and ethical and moral dimensions. Catholicism and Buddhism have developed from their early origins into religions with both traditional and contemporary elements that continue to have much influence on today's modern society..