Buddhism vs. Christianity

Religion is one the primary motivational factors driving life in Thailand. Various religions sit side by side in the Land of Smiles and often give the country the feeling of being a regular melting pot of personalities. Unlike in the West where Christianity is predominant, Thailand is a Buddhist country. Around 95% of all Thais are Buddhist, while less than 1% are Christian.

What is perhaps most interesting about Thailand is that even though there is a strong divide between rich and poor, between those who have and those who have not, there is a common bond in both love for the royal family and love for Buddhism. There are temples scattered throughout the country, as you might find churches scattered in Western countries, and there are also shrines everywhere, from the work place to the side of the street, honoring the dead.

It is interesting to note that Jesus and Buddha lived only 500 years apart. Buddha’s teachings were focused in India whilst Jesus’ were in Israel. Both Jesus and Buddha were revolutionary in their ideals and both pushed for their respective religions to be treated with more respect and traditions be upheld so as not to taint their value.

Christians and Buddhists do not share many similarities in their own ideals, even though there are many similarities between Jesus Christ and Buddha. What their teachings have manifested into today have become two rather different ideologies.

For example, Buddhism does not uphold the belief in any single God or transcendental entity, and likewise Buddhism does not recognize Christianity’s desire for a personal savior through whom we can each find salvation. Buddhism also stands against Christianity with the notion that the concepts of heaven and hell exist and that there will be an end of days. Yet both Christianity and Buddhism share the ideal that we are each responsible for our own choices and have a moral obligation to act accordingly.

What is perhaps most alien to Christians is the notion of eternal cycles of living. Buddhism teaches that one life is linked to the next and affected by karma. Our actions in this life will determine our state in the next life. Christianity rather teaches that this is our life and that in this life we must seek to live our lives in the name of Jesus Christ so as to attain the key to the kingdom of heaven.

Living in a Buddhist country, one is able to see vast differences in the lifestyle and the state of mind as compared to in the West. In Thailand people take a relaxed approach to life. There is a focus on inner freedom, tolerance and acceptance that is lacking in the West. People simply exist and though there are physical differences, the general feeling in Thailand is that everyone is united in kinship.

Buddhism is more flexible than Christianity and as such people are able to shape the religion to fit in with their own person rather than having to shape themselves to fit in with the religion. When viewed with Western eyes Buddhist ideals can appear idyllic and, ironically, Eden-like, and for these reasons many Westerners make the choice to relocate to countries such as Thailand.

• What is Buddhism?
• The Basics of the religion at the center of Thai culture