This paper compares Christianity and Buddhism through the lens of seven worldview questions, examining each tradition's understanding of reality, human nature, knowledge, morality, and history. It then analyzes shared and divergent values between the two faiths and considers how spiritual belief intersects with medical practice. The author reflects on a personal perspective that views modern medicine and faith as compatible rather than contradictory. The paper also addresses the common role of perseverance, prayer, and meditation across religious traditions, and concludes with practical guidance for healthcare providers working with patients of differing religious backgrounds.
This paper addresses several questions pertaining to faith and healthcare. The first is a comparison of Christianity and Buddhism using the seven worldview questions as a framework. This is followed by a comparative analysis of the two faith systems. The paper then presents a personal spiritual perspective on healing, an examination of common threads across religions regarding healing, prayer, and meditation, and practical guidance for healthcare providers working with patients of a different religious background. While the religions of the world share many similarities in the context of healthcare, they also differ in a number of important ways.
In Christianity, the prime reality is God, or the "material cosmos." When it comes to external reality, the answers "point to whether we see the world as created or autonomous, as chaotic or orderly" (Christianity.com, 2015). In the Christian view, there is an orderly system underlying all things — even when it is not fully understood — and it was created by God. A human being is a highly complex creation made in the image of God. Christians believe that knowledge is possible because God has given humanity the capacity for it. Moral understanding — knowing right from wrong — is grounded in the teachings of the Bible as well as the internal function of conscience. Finally, the purpose of human history is understood as an outgrowth of God's creation, in which everything has happened or will happen for a reason (Christianity.com, 2015).
In Buddhism, the prime reality — and reality in general — is called dhamma or dharma. It is the supernatural framework that maintains order in the universe. The nature of worldly existence, from a Buddhist perspective, is suffering. A currently living human being is understood as the present manifestation of someone who has lived before, having returned in a different body and form. Buddhists believe that the universe has always existed and functions in a cyclical pattern. Knowledge is considered attainable through releasing oneself and engaging in meditation and ritual practice. Right and wrong are determined by whether an action is wholesome or causes harm — if it hurts someone, it is wrong. Throughout history, Buddhism identifies an over-reliance on desire and greed as a root cause of suffering (FFE, 2015).
In terms of how these two religions compare, they both affirm the existence of something omnipresent. However, Buddhists hold that the Earth has always existed, while Christians believe that although God is eternal, the Earth was created at a specific point in time. Both traditions maintain a general sense of right and wrong, and both identify desire or envy as sources of moral and spiritual problems, even if their underlying reasoning differs.
The Buddhist emphasis on suffering is particularly interesting in a comparative context, because some Christians also focus on suffering — pointing to figures such as Job and the Israelites in Scripture. However, some Christians counter that perspective by arguing that certain forms of suffering are excessive and without clear explanation, and that alleviating such suffering is a moral imperative (Bratcher, 2015).
On the question of spirituality and faith as they relate to healing, there is an important distinction between trusting that God will intervene and allowing a medical professional to perform their role. For example, if one has a headache, it is entirely reasonable to pray for relief while also taking a pain reliever. Modern medicine and faith are not mutually exclusive — they can and do coexist. The view that faith alone should replace medical treatment is unreasonable, particularly when effective treatments are available. People who insist on faith healing to the exclusion of medicine do so at potential cost to their wellbeing.
"Similarities and differences between faiths"
"Author's view on faith versus medicine"
"Shared values of prayer, suffering, and perseverance"
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