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To: Pahuanui
Looking aside, for a moment, that it is easily debatable that Jesus founded no religion, the parallels between he and the Buddha are manifold and obvious.

Really? Did the Buddha claim he was God, was the Buddha's life and death prophesied? Was the Buddha born into royalty ( compared to Jesus' meager upbringing)? The dissimilarities are more obvious. What are the parrallels that should be obvious to me?

34 posted on 06/23/2003 9:23:16 AM PDT by St.Chuck
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To: St.Chuck
Really? Did the Buddha claim he was God, was the Buddha's life and death prophesied? Was the Buddha born into royalty ( compared to Jesus' meager upbringing)? The dissimilarities are more obvious. What are the parrallels that should be obvious to me?

They are quite striking, actually.

Buddha's birth was prophesied.
He was of royal descent.
He was given gifts at birth.
His birth was signaled by a star.
He was born of a virgin (Maya, considered the 'Queen of Heaven').
Crushed a serpent's head.
Came to fulfill the law.
Performed miracles.
Healed the sick.
Fed a large mass of people from only a small basket of cakes.
Healed the sick.
Was transfigured on a mount (Mindhamma Hill).
Was tempted in isolation by the devil (Mara) and resisted.
Ascended into heaven/nirvana
Many, but certainly not all, traditions have him returning again in the future.

All in all, especially in light of Buddhism predating Christianity by about 500 years and that there were Buddhist missionaries sent by Emporer Asoka in the mediteranean area before the birth of christ, I'd say the similarities are quite interesting.

38 posted on 06/23/2003 10:23:23 AM PDT by Pahuanui (when A Foolish Man Hears The tao, He Laughs Out Loud.)
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