A Christian Response by Stephen J. Bedard
I came across an interesting comment about the comparison between Buddhist and Christian tradition by Edward Conze, editor of Buddhist Scriptures (Amazon affiliate link). Please note that this is not an attack on Buddhist tradition or a defence of Christian tradition. Buddhist tradition differs fundamentally from that of Christianity. In Christianity we can distinguish an … Read More “The Difference Between Buddhist and Christian Tradition” »
The parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most famous teachings attributed to Jesus, encapsulating themes of repentance, mercy, and reconciliation. Less widely known is that a story often called the “Buddhist parable of the prodigal son” appears in Mahāyāna Buddhist literature and bears striking surface similarities. These parallels have prompted questions about … Read More “Two Prodigal Sons? A Comparison of Buddhist and Christian Parables” »
Between roughly 400 BCE and 100 CE, India and the Mediterranean world were linked by overland and maritime networks that facilitated trade, diplomacy, and limited intellectual exchange. These contacts occurred during a formative period for both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, when key scriptures were already in circulation and shaping religious life in South Asia. Understanding which … Read More “India and the Roman World: Cultural and Religious Interaction, 400 BCE–100 CE” »
Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha, stands at the center of one of the world’s major religious traditions. Unlike figures grounded in modern documentary history, the Buddha belongs to a distant oral culture in which biography, teaching, and legend were transmitted for centuries before being written down. As a result, historians approach his existence … Read More “The Historical Evidence for the Existence of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)” »
