Comparison of the Concept of Self in Christianity and Buddhism - Assignment Example

Christianity and Buddhism, both of the religions, occupy a great number of followers worldwide. As religions, both are ancient and incarnation of orient and occident faith and culture. The noteworthy or more interesting feature or even a parameter to draw the similarity between both the ancient religions of the world can be on the fact that both the religions have evolved from individual teachings of two great men- Lord Buddha and Jesus Christ. The concept of self in Christianity is quite different from the doctrine of self prevailing in Buddhism.

Christianity believes in more of a self-effacing concept. In Christianity, God is the omnipotent and He is the creator of the world, humans, and life. He is entitled to shower his love and blessings on his folks and devotees. Buddhism, on the other hand, follows a different perception as regards the concept of self. Here, man is more prominent than the presence of God. God is evidently the creator of the universe but never does it mentions about the presence of that omnipotent power to take care or shower its blessing on its folk.

Man in Buddhist philosophy is the creator of his own destiny and it is the self, responsible for suffering too. It is the “karma” of a man that makes him responsible for his suffering.