Dark Green Religion

Final paper topic

“All Species are Equal” is one of the important ideas that Buddhism keeps as their central theme. On the other hand, Christianity believes that “Human Center View” is the most important one. In addition, Christian people usually make human as the commander of the nature. Therefore, Christianity’s belief is contradicted with the Buddhism’s. Comparing these two religions, what are the pros and cons? Why these two religions held such beliefs according to their unique historical backgrounds? What are the significant events that trigger or cause these particular beliefs to be created or existed within these two religions? Finally, if I was an atheist, which religion is more likely illustrate my personal beliefs and why?

For this religion research paper, I focus on the different beliefs on two religions. In comparing two religions’ main beliefs and stand points of Buddhism and Christianity, we learned and noticed that each one of them has its important meaning for us to believe. One stands for “All species are equal to one another,” while the other one stands for taking human as the center view of the religion.” We will discuss several different matters and consider many factors of each pros and cons and how they each related to the nature and the environmental issues and how each religion’s main belief is being developed and created in the first place.

During the ancient time in China, the ecological philosophy has a unique theme of “All species are equal,” especially appearing in Buddhism. In Buddhism, its beliefs focus on an angle that all species can reach the certain level like Buddha; therefore it proves and admits the equality of all species. Recent ecology and genetics prove that all human beings and lives are all from based on the unit of cell, in addition, almost all cell have the same genetic mechanism.

Living as a human being shares all resources with all other species and holding the same characteristics. Speaking in principle, human being and all living lives are equal; no one is more superior to the other or has a better social status. In the ancient Chinese ecological philosophy, not only includes the all the animals and plants, but also includes the entire universe. According to Buddhist teaching, everything including inanimate thins, has a Buddha nature, and all living creatures