One of the basic ideas...
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One of the basic ideas in Eastern religions, e.g. Buddhism, is the idea of karma, which means that every deed, good or bad, receives just retribution; hence in such a religion there is no such thing as forgiveness or of being justified in the sight of God. All of us, then, have to work out our own way home the hard way. If the parable of the Prodigal were written from the perspective of Buddhist belief, it would appear in this way: The son goes off into the far country. He comes back home, but his father disguises himself from him and hires him as a slave to do mean and scrubby tasks. He continues in this role until he proves his integrity and competence, then his father reveals himself and claims him as his son.
Here is a difference between Christianity and Buddhism. It is the difference between a religion of grace and one to which grace is foreign. In Christianity the sinner is accepted at the beginning in and through God's "amazing grace." In Buddhism it may be obtained if one struggles and works one's way to that end. This is the issue in Romans 5:1-11.
-- Macleod
Here is a difference between Christianity and Buddhism. It is the difference between a religion of grace and one to which grace is foreign. In Christianity the sinner is accepted at the beginning in and through God's "amazing grace." In Buddhism it may be obtained if one struggles and works one's way to that end. This is the issue in Romans 5:1-11.
-- Macleod
