Religous Parables

Buddhism Beliefs

• Lead a moral life
• Be aware of inner thoughts
• Develop understanding

4 Noble Truths

• Life is suffering
• Desire causes suffering
• Suffering can be overcome
• 8-fold path (understanding/connecting with self) leads to end of suffering (Nirvana)

Christianity

• People were created by God and turned away
• God sent his son (Jesus) to save the people
• the Bible is God's word to man
• Afterlife (Heaven)

Parable

Buddhism

• Stories help people understand themselves and interaction with others
• Deep themes are made easier to understand

Christianity

• Jesus tells stories for people to understand character of God
• Helps people understand concepts beyond normal realm of thought
• Understand relationship with God

Metaphors

• Both use metaphors to place people within the stories (complex ideas are made to seem like simple ideas)

Symbolism

• Used by both
• certain characters resemble people or ideas that are complex to understand

Conclusion