Religion Comparison- Biblical & Buddhist Parables

Basic Beliefs Similarities

• Both believe in a higher power/god
• Everyone must live a certain/abide to the holy book a certain way
• Prayer and meditation are used to practice the faith

Basic Beliefs Differences

• Christians practice the scriptures of the bible, and Buddhists practice Zen
• Christians believe in only one god, and Buddhists believe in the Buddha
• Christians believe in Heaven, and Buddhists believe in Enlightenment

Purpose of Text Similarities

• Illustrate a truth or story
• Use the known to find the unknown
• Use ancient life to help illustrate the story

Purpose of Text Differences

• Biblical parables have a figurative and a literal meaning, but Buddhist parables only have literal meanings
• Biblical parables have a change of events, but Buddhist parables are simple with no twist
• Biblical parables have a right and a wrong, and Buddhist parables do not

Structure of Text Similarities

• Writing is formal, but is also wise
• Written very structured which is similar to poems
• The word choice is very distinct in each of the parables
• Use aphorism

Structure of Text Differences

• Biblical parables are long and tell a story within a story
• Buddhist parables are short and quickly teach a life lesson
• Biblical parables contain clear allusions
• Buddhist parables use conflict to later represent its message.