catholic approach buddhism buddism fourth largest religion in the world, with about 370 million...

Catholic Approach Buddhism

•Buddism• Fourth largest religion in

the world, with about 370 million adherents

• Second Vatican Council's call for respectful dialogue with other religions, found many "common characteristics" especially in the realm of ethics with Buddists.

Catholic Approach to Buddhism

• Beliefs• The Four Noble Truths include:

• (1) life is suffering, • (2) the cause of suffering is desire, • (3) to be free from suffering we must

detach from desire, and; • (4) the "eight-fold path" is the way to

alleviate desire. • The eight-fold path includes having right

views, intentions, speech, actions, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.

• The final goal of Buddhism is not merely to eradicate desire, but to be free of suffering

Catholic Approach Buddhism: Nostra Aetate, • Vatican II's Declaration states that Buddhism, in its various forms, realizes the

radical insufficiency of this changeable world. • Buddhism teaches a way by which men, in a devout and confident spirit, may

be able either to acquire the state of perfect liberation, or attain, by their own efforts or through higher help, supreme illumination."

• The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in Buddhism and believes that Buddhism, in certain ways, "often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men."

While the Council affirms that Buddhism may contain a "ray of Truth," it does not endorse appropriation of Buddhist beliefs into Christian practice.

• In Buddha’s final words to his disciples under the sala trees, he said, "Make of yourself a light. Rely upon yourself; do not rely upon anyone else. Make my teachings your light. Rely upon them; do not depend upon any other teaching.“

• Christ, the "true light," did not teach His followers to extinguish their fires, such as is meaning of nirvana, but to illuminate the world with His love, and to reflect the light of His truth.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html


Catholic Approach to BuddhismCatholic Belief• Catholics believe that the Church is the

Body and Bride of Christ, the seed of the Kingdom of God, and the conduit of God's grace and mercy in the world.

The Church teaches that while suffering is not part of God's perfect plan, it does bring us closer to Christ and unite us more intimately with our Suffering Lord.

• Christianity is focused on worshipping God, on holiness, and the restoration of right relationships between God and man through the Person and work of Jesus.

Catholicism believes that truth, and the Author of Truth, can be known rationally (to a significant, yet limited, extent) and through divine revelation.

• Catholics believe in the Resurrection and have a positive view of Christ’s teachings as the path to salvation

Buddhist Belief• Buddhists believe that Church, or Sangha, is

in the end, upaya, nothing more than the expedient means to ultimate extinction.

• Rather than the Beatific Vision, Buddhist teaching holds that non-existence is the only hope for escaping the pains of life

• Buddhism teaches that suffering must be escaped from; indeed, this is a central concern of Buddhism.

• The Buddhist is not concerned with whether or not God exists, nor does he offer worship. Instead, he seeks after non-self (anatman).

• Buddhism denies existential reality; nothing, including the "self," can be proven to exist.

• 'The Buddhist doctrine of salvation constitutes the central point, or rather the only point, of this system.

• The Buddhist tradition and the methods deriving from it have an almost exclusively negative soteriology. (soteriology = doctrine of salvation)

Catholic Approach to Buddhism

Jesus Christ

• Christ claimed to be the one and only true God who came to suffer, die, and rise again, establishing a covenant with people

• Christ preached the reality of sin, the nature of God the Father, and the need for repentance and salvation.

• Christ taught that God is completely Other, but also taught that God wishes to share His divine life, given through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit

• Christ rose from the dead, once and for all, and claimed divinity

Buddha• Buddha is believed to be one of many thatãgata

(thus-come-one). Buddha preached the untenable nature of existence and the means to escape suffering

• Buddha teaches that every person must find their own path to enlightenment, or nirvana, the extinction of self. .

• Buddha taught individuality must perish and that everything is One.

• Buddha left a teaching in which each person must find his own path

• For Buddhists, Buddha is a model, regardless of whether or not he was a historical person.

• Buddha suggests that, "There is no 'I'; there is no 'self'." At his death, when he experienced pari-nirvana, or "final extinction," he stated that the question of the afterlife was, "not conducive to edification." What's important is that man escapes desire by being extinguished.

Catholic Approach Buddhism• A Buddist practioner may consider Buddha

as a philosopher who urged men to be selfless.

• Buddhism is not interested in the question of God, so it is more accurate to describe it as agnostic.

• A Buddhist allows others to believe in a God or gods, but such beliefs are merely convenient means to the final end, which has nothing to do with a God.

• Jesus and Buddha are two enlightened teachers who help man to that end

• Buddist enlightenment is achieved through the 4 Noble Truths and the 8 fold path

• Christianity is allowable as long as it is viewed as a stage of spiritual progression, leading eventually to the extinction of self — nirvana

• A Christian practitioner may meditate on God's grace, God's infinite love but there are fundamental differences between Christian and Buddhist mystic.

• Christian mysticism is born of the Revelation of the living God.

• Christian mysticism . . . is not born of a purely negative 'enlightenment.' It is not born of an awareness of the evil which exists in man's attachment to the world through the senses, the intellect, and the spirit. John Paul II

• Buddhism is allowable because from an ethical viewpoint, it encourages people to do the right thing all the time.

• Buddhism is a religion of salvation as is Christianity

Catholic Approach to Buddhism Comparison

CATHOLICISM BUDDHISM Resurrection. Reincarnation. Eternal life with God in Heaven. Nothingness (nirvana). Jesus is God. Personal fallible opinion has to bow to God's Law given through the Commandments and teaching of His Church.

Buddha developed a lifestyle devoid of commandments. Ethical and moral decision making is open to personal opinion.

The intricate design and order of the universe presupposes, beyond reasonable doubt, God the Creator.

Buddhism recognizes no Creator.

"It is appointed for man to die once, and then the judgement." Karma and samsara: continuing rebirth.

Abortion always wrong. Abortion permitted in certain circumstances. Contraception always wrong. Contraception acceptable. Adultery is always wrong. 'Open marriage' acceptable. Fornication is always wrong. Pre-marital sex acceptable. Homosexual acts are always wrong. Homosexual activity is acceptable. Divorce prohibited. Divorce allowed.

Catholic Approach Hinduism

• Hinduism is the religion of the majority of people in India and Nepal.

• Has over 900 million adherents worldwide.

• Hinduism originated around the Indus Valley near the River Indus in modern day Pakistan.

• About 80% of the Indian population regard themselves as Hindu.

Catholic Approach Hinduism

• Most Hindus believe:• in a Supreme God, whose qualities and forms are represented by the multitude of

deities which emanate from him. The Supreme God has a triple-form: Brahma, the Ultimate Reality, Shiva, who reflects more the immanence of the Divine and Vishnu, who appears as both helper and savior.

• that existence is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed by Karma.• that the soul passes through a cycle of successive lives and its next incarnation is

always dependent on how the previous life was lived.

• The main Hindu texts are the Vedas and their supplements (books based on the Vedas).

• Many scriptures discuss dharma, which can be rendered as 'code of conduct', 'law', or 'duty'

• Hindus celebrate many holy days, but the Festival of Lights, Diwali is the best known.

Catholic Approach Hinduism: Nostra Aetate• First religious tradition which is mentioned by Nostra Aetate. • Described as a collective denomination for the ancient religious tradition

which consists of diverse socio-religio-ethno-cultural groups. • Nostra Aetate affirms: "In Hinduism men contemplate the divine mystery

and express it through the unspent fruitfulness of myths and through searching philosophical inquiry. They seek release from the anguish of our condition through ascetical practices and deep meditation or a loving, trusting flight towards God“

• Pope John Paul II wrote that the Church has a high regard for Hindus conduct and way of life, for those precepts and doctrines which, although differing on many points from that which the Church believes and propounds, often reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men.

• The key elements of Hinduism, mentioned by Nostra Aetate, are: contemplation of the divine mystery; its expression through myths; its search through philosophical inquiry; seeking release from anguish through ascetical practices; trust in and love of God.



Aspect Catholic Hinduism

Date of Origin 33 AD 6000 BC --by the birth of Rama. Probably older if based on Vedas

Founder Jesus, St. Peter/Paul None

Summary Christianity based on the Gospel as preached by Jesus. The central message from Jesus was of forgiveness and love - love your fellow human beings including your enemies, take care of the poor and unfortunate ,forgive those who harm you..

Hinduism is based on the ancient revealed texts called the Vedas and Upanishads, The central theme of the religion is the divinity of all beingsGod is present in all things - animate as well as inanimate. This is the belief in panentheism (not to be confused with pantheism) - that God is beyond human comprehension and that He contains everything within Himself as well as stands beyond and apart from it all – that God is both male, female as well as undifferentiated.

Impersonal God No such concept Brahman There is only one entity or being that underlies all existence. This entity pervades all of creation but it also stands apart from creation. It is totally impersonal and beyond human comprehension.

Comparisons between Catholic and Hindu teachings and traditions


Personal God • The Trinity - Three Persons in One God:

• the Father is the Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth.

• the Son (incarnated as Jesus). The Son redeems humanity from original sin and makes us eligible for the kingdom of heaven. He proceeds from the Father, but he seems to have stayed hidden until the incarnation of Jesus.

• the Holy Spirit (Not actively worshipped) proceeds from the Father and the Son. But its role is not that clear: apparently it enters into people like the Prophets and inspires them.

• The Trinity:• Shiva the Destroyer/Transformer,

• Vishnu the Sustainer/Preserver (periodically incarnates on Earth, the two most important incarnations: Rama and Krishna),

• Brahma the Creator (Not actively worshipped)

• Other Gods (For a detailed analysis of Hindu Gods and where they come from see this):

• Ganesh,• Goddesses (Saraswati, Laxmi, Parvati,

Durga, Kali),• Hanuman,• Surya, the Sun• Navagraha (nine Planets),• Kartikeya


Animal Worship No

• No• There are no known temples to snakes or monkeys or

elephants or cows anywhere in the world (the myths of Ganesh and Hanuman are explained elsewhere).

• Cows, however, are indeed considered sacred but are not worshiped

Divine Incarnations The Only Begotten Son of God:Jesus, the ChristThe Christ will Return at the End of the World

Ten Avatars of Vishnu:Shri RamaShri KrishnaSeven previous ones that are not actively worshippedThe next Avatar, Kalki, yet to come.

Scriptures • The Holy Bible consisting of :• the Old Testament (Jewish

Scripture• the New Testament.

• portions of this book that directly quote Jesus are truly extraordinary.

• Vedas (Sruti - revealed). These are ancient Sanskrit texts, Divided into four Vedas and portions of them reveal a deep questioning and commentary on the nature of reality, God and the human condition.

• Upanishads (Sruti - revealed). These are philosophical texts which contain the essence of Hindu philosophies (from multiple points of view) about the ultimate reality - Brahman, karma, reincarnation, ethics, the purpose of life and the means of liberation for man.

• Mahabharata (Smriti - remembered(not revealed)) The Mahabharata and Ramayana are epic stories (in verse)

• Bhagavat Gita (Smriti). Besides the Vedas and Upanishads, this is the main Hindu religious text and is said to be delivered by Shri Krishna in the Mahabharata. Similar to the Upanishads, it is a synthesis of Hindu philosophy - dharma, selfless karma, bhakti, yoga and means of attaining moksha.

• Puranas (Smriti)• Dharmashatras (Smriti)


Creation Story

• The Trinity always existed and is eternal.• Creation is the common work of the Holy Trinity (all three), but

mainly of the Son (the Word) and somewhat of the Holy Spirit (the giver of life).

• God creates the Universe out of nothing, but he is still immanent in it.

• Before Creation only Brahman exists in a state of rest. Then the Trinity appears out of Brahman.

• The third person of the Trinity (Brahma) creates the Universe and all creatures in it out of the substance of Brahman.

• The second person of the Trinity (Vishnu) then preserves/sustains the Universe.

• At the end, the first person of the Trinity (Shiva) destroys the Universe. • After the final end, the Trinity dissolves back into Brahman.

Dogmas/Beliefs

Original Sin: • The first man Adam disobeyed God - he preferred

himself to God and by that very act scorned him. • This sin is removed only by Baptism • Jesus by dying on the cross redeems humanity and

believers from this sin. Through his suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross, the Christ atoned for our sins It is only possible for those who have been redeemed through Jesus, to be ultimately saved (sent to heaven) after death.

• Immaculate Conception/Virgin Birth - Jesus was born of a virgin and conceived through the Holy Spirit

• Resurrection and Ascension - The death and resurrection of Jesus makes possible the reconciliation between God and humanity.

• Angels - God has created non-corporeal beings known as Angels through and for the Son.

• Devil/Satan - the Fallen Angels

• Tat Tvam Asi - translates as 'thou art that'. Hinduism postulates that the Universal Soul (Paramatma) is identical to the individual soul (Atma), meaning that the Self - in its original, pure, primordial state - is wholly or partially identifiable or identical with the Ultimate Reality that is the ground and origin of all phenomena.

• Reincarnation After death a believer will be reborn as a human being at some point in the future and this cycle will continue until the person has achieved enlightenment from the cycle of death and rebirth.

• Karma - This law states that each thought, word and action of a human being puts into motion a cause that results in an equivalent effect either in this life or in subsequent lives.

• Devas/Danavas/Daityas/Asuras - There are three types of beings in Creation:

• Devas - gods with a small 'g' (equivalent to angels),• Danavas/Daityas/Asuras - anti-gods (equivalent to demons)• Manavas (human beings).• Devas live in heaven, humans on Earth and Danavas/Asuras

in lower worlds.


Sacraments

BaptismEucharist (See below)Reconciliation/ConfessionConfirmationMarriageHoly Orders (Ordination)Anointing of the Sick

Namakarana (Naming the child)Chudakarma (First time cutting of hair)Karnavedha (Piercing the ears)Upanayana - Sacred Thread Ceremony (Performed after 7 years, considered Second birth, Beginning of Education)Samavartana (Completion of Education)Vivaha Samskara (Marriage ceremony)Grihasthashrama (Entry into life of a house-holder.)Vanprasthashrama (Retirement. Renouncing the house-holder's life)Sanyasashrama. (Renunciation of the world. Leading the life of a monk)Antyeshti (Funeral: last rites of the dead)

Goal of Life and How to Attain It

Goals: • To know, love, and serve God in this life, so as to

attain salvation and be happy with Him in heaven

Methods: • Obey Jesus's teachings about love and service

to mankind. However, today the emphasis is on Old Testament laws and Paul's admonishments

Four Goals:• Dharma - Performance of duty and fulfilling obligations per ones

station in life• Artha - Persuit of prosperity or worldly success• Kama - Persuit of pleasure or material/sensual desires• Moksha - Persuit of Enlightenment - liberation from rebirth,

self-realization, union with God

Four Methods/Paths:• Karma Yoga - the path of action or selfless service• Bhakti Yoga - the path of devotion• Jnana Yoga - the path of knowledge (about the self or

God)• Raja Yoga - the path of meditation/contemplation

Aspect Catholic HinduismLife After Death If you have not repented all your

mortal sins and sought absolution before death, you will go straight to eternal hell.

Those who have repented their mortal sins go to purgatory for a while to be purified/cleansedAfter purgatory, you go to eternal heaven where time does not exist

At the end of the world, you will be joined by your resurrected 'glorified physical' body

After death you may go to hell to pay for your misdeeds on earth for a temporary period (proportional to your deeds)Then to heaven for a while as a reward for your good deedsThen you reincarnate again on earth (so there is no eternal hell or eternal heaven).

A person does not remember his previous lives, but the soul remembers and learns/grows from each lifeThe circumstances of your birth are determined by your karma

This cycle continues until you become enlightened i.e. achieve moksha or liberation

Aspect Catholic HinduismEgalitarianism, Racism, Casteism, Sexism

• Christianity as preached by Jesus is a truly egalitarian religion which makes no distinction between human beings on the basis of religion, race, skin color, gender or material

• However, once Paul gets into the act, he makes it clear that women are definitely not equal to men and should be submissive, subservient and obedient to their husbands.

Hinduism does not claim to be egalitarian at all. It divides society into four levels or castes in the following order:• Kshatriyas - rulers and warriors (these are not foot

soldiers, this is the aristocracy)• Brahmins - priests and teachers• Vaishyas - merchants, trades people, artists,

craftsmen, doctors, engineers• Shudras - unskilled laborers and field workers The caste system is officially banned in India since independence, but it has become so entrenched in the society that even Budddhist and Christians in India maintain their caste from generation to generation.

Women are often treated as inferior and subservient to their husbands and male relatives.

Hindus do not believe that salvation (or mokhsha) depends on your religion or whom you worship or your specific belief system.

Anyone can attain enlightenment or moksha, including non-believers like atheists or communists.

Catholic Approach to Islam• Has about 1.62 billion followers or 23% of

the global population,• Islam is the second-largest religion by

number of adherents• Muslims believe that there is only One

God.• According to Muslims, God sent a number

of prophets to mankind to teach them how to live according to His law including Jesus, Moses and Abraham are respected as prophets of God. The final Prophet was Muhammad.

• Muslims base their laws on their holy book the Qur'an, and the Sunnah.

• Muslims there are five basic Pillars of Islam including the declaration of faith, praying five times a day, giving money to charity, fasting and a pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once).

Catholic Approach Islam: Nostra Aetate• The Church regards Muslims with esteem.

• They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth,who has spoken to men;

• they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God.

• Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion.

• In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead.

• Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.

• However according to Pope John Paul II, the God of the Koran is ultimately a God outside of the world, a God who is only Majesty, never Emmanuel, God-with-us. However he also indicated that Christians and Muslims must learn to live with each other.

• He has also observed regarding the dialog between Catholics and Muslims that, “No peace without justice, no justice without forgiveness: this is what in this message I wish to say to believers and unbelievers alike, to all men and women of good will who are concerned for the good of the human family and for its future.”

• Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom.”



Catholic Approach to Islam• The Catholic Bishops have identified points of consensus with Muslims:

• We, Catholics and Muslims, believe that God is the source of peace and justice, and thus we fundamentally agree on the nature of peace and justice and the essential need of all to work for peace and justice.

• Our rich teachings and traditions of peace and justice serve as a resource and inspiration for all; however, our immediate and present actions to work together are often wanting. The need to work together for peace and justice is a pressing demand in these troubled times.

• We believe that it is God who forgives and that as Catholics and Muslims we are called by God to offer forgiveness. Forgiveness is an important step to moving beyond our past history if we are to preserve human dignity, to effect justice, and to work for peace.

• We may disagree on certain points of doctrine, even as we respect the others’ rights to believe in the fundamental integrity of their teachings and affirm all their human and religious rights. With love and in the pursuit of truth, we will offer our criticisms of one another when we believe there is a violation of integrity of faith in God. We must avoid demonizing one another and misrepresenting one another’s teachings and traditions.

• When we meet in dialogue and discuss matters of peace, justice, and forgiveness, while being faithful to our traditions, we have experienced a profound and moving connection on the deepest level of our faith, which must take effect in our lives.

Aspect Catholic Islam

Date of Origin c. 4 B.C. - 30 A.D. 622 AD

Founder Jesus, St. Peter/Paul MuhammadSummary Christianity based on the Gospel as

preached by Jesus. The central message from Jesus was of forgiveness and love - love your fellow human beings including your enemies, take care of the poor and unfortunate ,forgive those who harm you..

• Islam is based on the teachings of the prophet Muhammad as revealed to him by the angel Gabriel.

• Islam means 'surrender' or 'submission' and the religion asks its followers to surrender everything to Allah, the one and only God and follow strictly.

• Islam is said to be the religion of peace and brotherhood - it does not discriminate against any one based on color, race, language or wealth.

Impersonal God No such concept No such concept

Comparisons between Catholic and Islamic teachings and traditions






• Allah One and only God• Muslims believe that Allah is the all-

powerful Creator of a perfect, ordered universe.

• He is transcendent and not a part of his creation, and is most often referred to in terms and with names that emphasize his majesty and superiority.

• Among the 99 Beautiful Names of God (Asma al-Husna) in the Quran are: the Creator, the Fashioner, the Life-Giver, the Provider, the Opener, the Bestower, the Prevailer, the Reckoner, and the Recorder.


Animal Worship No No


None - God can never incarnate as human




• The Holy Koran. • The teachings of God as revealed to

the prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.

• Hadith - These are collections of teachings or sayings or stories of the Prophet Muhammad. Not all Hadiths are accepted by all Muslims Sunnnis generally accept Bukharis hadiths as authoritative –

• Shias have their own version while some Muslims reject the authority of the Hadiths.

Aspect Christianity (Mainly Catholicism) Islam

Creation Story

• The Trinity always existed and is eternal.

• Creation is the common work of the Holy Trinity (all three), but mainly of the Son (the Word) and somewhat of the Holy Spirit (the giver of life).


• Islam is also a Abrahamic religion and shares the creation story of the Old Testament.

Dogmas/Beliefs

Original Sin: • The first man Adam disobeyed God - he

preferred himself to God and by that very act scorned him.

• This sin is removed only by Baptism • Jesus by dying on the cross redeems

humanity and believers from this sin. Through his suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross, the Christ atoned for our sins It is only possible for those who have been redeemed through Jesus, to be ultimately saved (sent to heaven) after death.





• Allah - There is only One God - no Trinity, no Son, no Goddess, no Other being

• Judgment day - The day will come when all people will stand before Allah's judgment. On that day the deeds of each person will be weighed against the bad ones. Those whose good deeds outweigh the bad ones will be sent to paradise, others will be sent to hell.

• Angels - Below God there are angels the main one among these is Jabrail. Angels have no free-will and are always good.

• Jinns - Below the angels are jinns. Jinns have free-will like men and may be good, bad or neutral.

• Shaytan - The main evil Jinn is Shaytan or Iblis who refused to bow down to Adam. He and his minions constantly whisper evil thoughts to human beings.

• Prophets - God sent a prophet to each nation to teach them. There are 124,000 prophets, the main ones are Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jonah, John the Baptist, Jesus and the last and final Prophet, Muhammad


Sacraments


The five pillars of Islam can be considered as sacraments: • Shahadah: Testimony of faith - declaring there is

no god except Allah, and Muhammad is God's Messenger

• Salat: ritual prayer five times a day • Zakat: giving 2.5% of one's annual savings to the

poor and needy • Sawm: fasting and self-control during the

blessed month of Ramadan • Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a

lifetime


Goals: • To know, love, and serve God in this life, so

as to attain salvation and be happy with Him in heaven

Methods: • Obey Jesus's teachings about love and

service to mankind. However, today the emphasis is on Old Testament laws and Paul's admonishments

Goals: Total surrender, submission, obedience, worship of Allah by accepting Allah's Will over ones own.

Methods: Following the five pillars of Islam (see above).

Aspect Catholic IslamLife After Death If you have not repented all your

mortal sins and sought absolution before death, you will go straight to eternal hell.

Those who have repented their mortal sins go to purgatory for a while to be purified/cleansedAfter purgatory, you go to eternal heaven where time does not existAt the end of the world, you will be joined by your resurrected 'glorified physical' body

After death, the soul separates from the body (in case of Muslims the soul is taken out with ease and is then taken with respect by the Angels of Mercy, in case of Kafirs with great pain by Angels of Punishment) and then the soul remains in 'Barzakh', a sort of waiting place, until the Day of Judgment. On the day of Judgment, you are sent to heaven or hell according to your deeds.

Heaven in Islam is a place of worldly pleasures, such as living in palaces, drinking wine, eating delicious food and having sex, but apparently that is only metaphorical.

Aspect Catholic IslamEgalitarianism, Racism, Casteism, Sexism



Islam claims to be an egalitarian religion - all men are equal. except that Arabs are more equal than all others. According to many hadiths, 'Allah has chosen the Arabs over other nationsWomen are clearly considered inferior to men in Islam (a position which goes far beyond the patriarchal attitudes of other religions).

However, Islamic treatment of women was far better than what existed at the time of Muhammad who improved their lot considerably.

Catholic Approach Judaisim• In 2012, the world Jewish population was

estimated at about 14 million, or roughly 0.2% of the total world population.

• Judaism originated in the Middle East over 3500 years ago

• Judaism was founded by Moses, although Jews trace their history back to Abraham.

• Jews believe that there is only one God with whom they have a covenant.

• The most important religious document is the Torah.

• Halakha, the rabbinic Jewish way of life, is based on a combined reading of the Torah, and the oral tradition—the Mishnah, the halakhic Midrash, the Talmud and its commentaries.

• Spiritual leaders are called Rabbis.• 6 million Jews were murdered in the

Holocaust in an attempt to wipe out Judaism.

Catholic Approach Judaisim: Nostra Aetate• Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this

sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies as well as of fraternal dialogues.

• True, the Jewish authorities and those who followed their lead pressed for the death of Christ; still, what happened in His passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today. Although the Church is the new people of God, the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God, as if this followed from the Holy Scriptures.

• Furthermore, in her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel's spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.

• The Church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles. Indeed, the Church believes that by His cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles. making both one in Himself.

• Nevertheless, God holds the Jews most dear for the sake of their Fathers; He does not repent of the gifts He makes or of the calls He issues-such is the witness of the Apostle.



Aspect Catholic Judaism

Date of Origin c. 4 B.C. - 30 A.D. c. 1800 BC

Founder Jesus, St. Peter/Paul Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and MosesSummary Christianity based on the Gospel as

preached by Jesus. The central message from Jesus was of forgiveness and love - love your fellow human beings including your enemies, take care of the poor and unfortunate ,forgive those who harm you..

Impersonal God No such concept No such concept

Comparisons between Catholic and Judaism teachings and traditions






• One God (known in English as 'Yahweh' or 'Jehovah') - "...Hear Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4).


Animal Worship No No


None – There is only one GodJews do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah and not a divine person. Jesus is considered a prophet




• The Hebrew Tanakh, similar to the Christian Old Testament, comprised of the Torah (Hebrew: 'Law'), Nevi'im ('Prophets') and Ketuvim ('Writings').

• In addition, Judaic texts include combined reading of the Torah, and the oral tradition—the Mishnah, the halakhic Midrash, the Talmud and its commentaries.

Aspect Christianity (Mainly Catholicism) Judaism

Creation Story

• The Trinity always existed and is eternal.

• Creation is the common work of the Holy Trinity (all three), but mainly of the Son (the Word) and somewhat of the Holy Spirit (the giver of life).


• Creation story of the Torah.

Dogmas/Beliefs

Original Sin: • The first man Adam disobeyed God - he preferred

himself to God and by that very act scorned him. • This sin is removed only by Baptism • Jesus by dying on the cross redeems humanity and

believers from this sin. Through his suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross, the Christ atoned for our sins It is only possible for those who have been redeemed through Jesus, to be ultimately saved (sent to heaven) after death.





• There is only One God - no Other being Known as Yahweh or Jehovah

• Jews have chosen to follow the commandments of the One True God and God will look out for them in return.

• Every man is equal. Jews believe a Messiah coming and proof will be an end to war and hunger all over the world.

• Judaism rejects the doctrine of original sin. Atonement for sins committed is made through seeking forgiveness from God in prayer and repentance. In addition, the day of atonement (Yom Kippur) is set aside specially for this purpose.

• Salvation: Through belief in God, good deeds, complete faith.• Judgment day - Traditionally, there is the concept of Gehinnom

or Gehenna - those who die in sin may suffer temporary punishment, but certain sins merit eternal punishment.

• Prophets - God sent prophets• Jesus A fellow Jew, a respected, learned scholar• Other Spiritual beings: Angels, demons, and spirits.


Sacraments


Rituals include• the Circumcision of newly born Jewish males, Bar

mitzvah - a ceremony marking the 'coming of age' of Jewish boys

• observation of the Sabbath (Shabat). As in the other faiths, prayer is important.

• The Jewish prayer book is called the Siddur.


Goals: • To know, love, and serve God in this life, so as

to attain salvation and be happy with Him in heaven

Methods: • Obey Jesus's teachings about love and service

to mankind. However, today the emphasis is on Old Testament laws and Paul's admonishments

Goals: To celebrate LIFE! To fulfill the Covenant with God. Do good deeds. Help repair the world. Love God with all your heart. Strong social justice ethic.

Methods:Justice; strict adherence to God's law. Reading the Holy Books, and following the Commandments.Faithfulness, charity, modesty, Tikkun Olam (improving the world), mitzvot (good deeds, following God's law), Love of the creations. Ethics Intellectual discussions, and study.

Aspect Catholic JudaismLife After Death If you have not repented all your mortal

sins and sought absolution before death, you will go straight to eternal hell.

Those who have repented their mortal sins go to purgatory for a while to be purified/cleansedAfter purgatory, you go to eternal heaven where time does not existAt the end of the world, you will be joined by your resurrected 'glorified physical' body

Judaism's ideas of the afterlife have varied widely among different groups and in different time periods. Some believe in a world to come, Reincarnation (some groups); unifying with God, Jews believe in a human soulFocus is on time on Earth now.Some believe there is no afterlife and it is not emphasized.

Aspect Catholic JudaismEgalitarianism, Racism, Casteism, Sexism



• The equality of men and women begins at the highest possible level: God. In Judaism, God has never been viewed as exclusively male or masculine.

• Both man and woman were created in the image of God. According to many Jewish scholars, "man" was created "male and female" with dual gender, and was later separated into male and female.

• According to traditional Judaism, women are endowed with a greater degree of "binah" (intuition, understanding, intelligence) than men.

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