Buddhism
Origins: A nontheistic religion derived from a variety of belief systems, Buddhism is largely based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, aka Buddha, who lived several centuries before Jesus.
Beliefs: Buddhism teaches the Four Noble Truths, which explain the nature of suffering and discontentment; and it calls believers to follow the Eightfold Path: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.
Their Holy Books: The Pāli Tipitaka – a source of rules for monks and nuns and a source of doctrinal clarification – and the Mahayana sutras, which tradition dictates are the original teachings of Buddha
Who Jesus Is to Them: Buddhists do not believe in God and do not believe in Jesus, though their scriptures foretold of a Holy One who would come and show them a new way.
Followers: Estimated between 350 million to 550 million
Teachings on Salvation: Heaven and hell are not fixed eternal destinations but are temporary holding places. People can work their way out of hell based upon previous merit, and people in heaven experience greater sensual pleasures than those in hell. In fact, Buddhists believe heaven and hell are not just experienced after death but are also earthly experiences. Reincarnation is also possible, according to the Buddhist worldview, with a person’s rebirth based upon his last living thought in his previous life. The ultimate goal is work one’s way to the state of nirvana, the highest state of being and unique to each individual.
The Buddhist Path to Accept Jesus Christ as Savior God Is Real
Life is hard, and we make it harder through our desire and our greed. Peace seems so far away, and our striving sometimes seems to be in vain. If life could only be simpler.
Guess what? It is.
You may worship many gods. We have a new one for you. His name is Jesus, and He alone is the one true God.
Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. (Acts 17:23b-25)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1: 1,14)
Hope Is Here
Your words, your actions, your thoughts, your speech – all the things you do – cannot save you. But Jesus can.
For it is by grace we are saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
God recognizes our failures, and He has made a way by reaching down from heaven to earth through Jesus, God in flesh. He did the work of redeeming our souls, knowing we couldn’t do it for ourselves.
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Freedom Is Yours
All your life, you’ve sought the truth. At the same time, the Truth has been seeking you.
I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)
Jesus is calling out to you. He offers you the one real Truth that will set you free. Then you will be assured of an eternity with Him – an eternity better than any Nirvana you’ve longed for. Are you ready to accept the Truth? Are you ready to accept salvation through Jesus?