As previously stated, women had completely different lives with Christianity and their newfound power was incredibly unusual in relation to the previous culture, as well as most of the other societies at that time. Most importantly, they were offered a new way of life where they could even participate in the church. Likewise, women's position in Buddhism was unique for that time and Buddha also gave women full freedom to participate in a religious life. Before both of these religions, women's duties had been restricted to the household and they were not even allowed to recite any religious scripture. Once given their new freedom to partake in religion, both Buddhist and Christian women took advantage of the opportunity. Thus, both religions changed the social natures of their time periods as salvation could be attained by all beings, male and female.
As most religions do, Buddhism and Christianity have distinct views on the controversial social principles of sexuality. Correspondingly, both religions contend that “refraining from sexual misconduct seems to be a precept of vital importance in modern society all over the world” (The Buddhist Perspective of Lay Morality, 87). Likewise, both religions hold clergy members to strict sexual standards. Many Christian doctrines require ministers and priests to restrain from sex, marriage, and children by practicing celibacy and completely devoting oneself to God. However, monks sacrifice the joys of marriage and children and partake in a world of sexual abstinence to “accumulate goodness and wisdom” (Sources of Chinese Tradition, 424). Similarly, Buddhist and Christian views of marriage and premarital sex differ as well. For example, for many Buddhists, marriage is more of a civil ceremony rather than religious one. Therefore, marriage is not a sacrament, it is purely a secular affair and the monks do not participate in it. Consequently, sex before marriage is not an issue (The Buddhist Perspective of Lay Morality, 112). However, Christian doctrine strictly forbids premarital sex and recognizes it as a grave sin punishable by hell if forgiveness is not sought. The Bible states;
If no proof of the girl’s virginity can be found, she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her death. She has done a disgraceful thing in Israel by being promiscuous while still in her father’s house. You must purge the evil from among you. (Deuteronomy 22: 13-21)
This notion seems harsh and makes one question whether all the tenets from the Bible should be followed. However, in conclusion, the social nature of sexuality is deeply enrooted in both of these religions.
In regard to the last social nature of interest, Christianity and Buddhism each have specific principles in respect to life and death, specifically, the meaning of each. Religions often devote a great deal of attention to death because this notion greatly influences the way one lives their life. Buddhism and Christianity have a unique interpretation of the importance of death and the subsequent afterlife. The Buddhist belief is that rebirth constantly occurs by the process of Samsara where;
Men, women, animals, heavenly beings, hell dwellers, and other sentient beings pass through an endless series of lives, moving up or down according to the karma, or good and bad deeds, that they have accumulated. (The Illustrated History of China, 95)
Buddhists argue that the causes for this constant cycle of rebirth are ignorance, desire, and craving; aspects that control the urges of nature. While there is no actual ‘soul’ in Buddhist philosophy, memories and actions of one’s past lives are transmigrated to the next life after death. However, the process of rebirth “can be stopped only by achieving nirvana” and this occurs when one has a disciplined system of conduct and “the right views about the nature of existence” (Sources of Chinese Tradition, 417). The state of nirvana is commonly described as a persona place of supreme bliss and is followed by Buddha and The Pureland.
Christianity presents a different view of death and the afterlife. First, Christians believe that people have a soul, and upon death, that soul can go to one of three places. If the moral tenets of Christianity were not followed and forgiveness was not sought, the soul will rest in hell for all eternity. Alternatively, purgatory is a state for souls that must be purged before entering heaven. Finally, heaven is the supreme goal for Christianity.
While these two religions may differ in the respect of afterlife, it is important to emphasize that they hold similar views regarding respect for life. For example, both Buddhism and Christianity contend that “life and limb are precious to every living being and nobody has the right to destroy the life of another for any reason” (The Buddhist Perspective of Lay Morality, 52). This is a strong example of how the moral tenets of the two religions influence the social principles of life and death. In relation to contemporary issues, abortion, the death penalty, and pre-emptive war can be analyzed here. Both Buddhism and Christianity are strongly opposed to all three of these circumstances because life is being destroyed, not preserved. On the other hand, a contemporary examination of Chinese culture presents a contradiction, as current law forbids families in China from having more than one child. This law strictly opposes the moral tenets of Christianity and Buddhism and is not procreative. All in all, the principles with regard to life and death for each religion are morally encrypted in all of society.
In summary, the principles that Buddhism and Christianity dictate have had a critical impact on the advancement of each society, as well as global civilization as a whole. Each religion’s distinct views on the social natures of gender discrimination, sexuality, and life and death mechanically hold its followers responsible for their evolution. For example, in modern times there have been moves to ordain women priests in some Christian denominations. Although these moves have led to much dissension, the issue would not have been mentionable without the efforts and actions of the past. Specifically, the accomplishment of gender equality, which both religions radically achieved, allows either sex to reach salvation. However, the principles of Buddhism and Christianity tend to disagree in the respect of sexuality, specifically, the sexual standards for religious figures. Additionally, Buddhism does not hold marriage as a religious sacrament, as it is in Christianity. Lastly, while both religions view death as a natural and inevitable end, the meaning of life and the association of afterlife are fundamentally different. In conclusion, although the foundations and tenets of Christianity and Buddhism were founded thousands of years ago, their contemporary relevance on social natures cannot be ignored.
