Christianity: Origins & Texts
This sacred text of Christianity is divided into two main sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
THE BIBLE
In Christian theology, this concept refers to the deliverance of humanity from sin and death through Christ's death and resurrection, offering believers reconciliation with God and eternal life.
Salvation
This person is the historical founder of Buddhism, who attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha)
These foundational truths diagnosed the nature of human suffering and its cessation.
What are the Four Noble Truths?
This central spiritual discipline involves training the mind to cultivate deep focus, mindfulness, and clarity, famously categorised into Samatha (calming) and Vipassana (insight).
Meditation
The historical and geographical context of Christianity began in this region of the Roman Empire, centered around the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth.
Palestine (or first-century Judea)
This central Christian belief states that God is three persons in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Holy Trinity
The principal sacred text collection in Theravada Buddhism, written in Pali, is known by this name (meaning "Three Baskets")
What is the Tripitaka (Pali Canon)
This practical guideline of moral behavior in Buddhism leads to the end of suffering and the attainment of Nirvana.
The Noble Eightfold Path
This devotional practice in Buddhism involves personal rituals, chanting, and offerings at a home shrine.
What is Puja?
These four books of the New Testament, meaning "good news," provide the primary accounts of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The Gospels
This core event in Christian theology validates Jesus' divinity and promises eternal life to believers.
The Resurrection
This country/region is where Buddhism first originated in the 6th century BCE before spreading across Asia.
What is ancient India (modern-day Northern India/Nepal)
The universal law of cause and effect that governs the cycle of rebirth is called this.
What is Karma?
This Christian sacrament symbolizes spiritual rebirth, washing away of sin, and initiation into the church community.
Baptism
This important historical event in 325 CE, convened by Emperor Constantine, helped formalise core Christian doctrines like the Trinity and the nature of Christ.
The Council of Nicaea
Formally defined at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 CE, this theological term describes the mysterious union of Jesus Christ's fully divine nature and fully human nature in one single person.
Hypostatic Union
This major division/branch of Buddhism is often called the "Greater Vehicle" and is prominent in East Asia.
What is Mahayana Buddhism?
In Buddhism, ethical behavior is primarily framed around avoiding harm and practicing non-violence, famously summarized in these foundational behavioral commitments.
the Five Precepts?
This term describes the monastic and lay community in Buddhism that supports spiritual progression.
Sangha
Following their flight from Jerusalem after early persecutions, it was in this prominent cosmopolitan city of Syria where the scattered disciples first established a major multicultural church and were officially called "Christians" for the first time.
Antioch
Collectively known as the Paschal Mystery, this three-part salvific arc of Jesus' earthly mission forms the ultimate foundation of Christian faith, proving His victory over sin and death.
The Paschal Mystery
Convened three months after the Buddha's death (Parinirvana), this historic council saw 500 arhats gather at Rajgir to recite, verify, and preserve the Buddha's spoken teachings (Dharma) and monastic rules (Vinaya).
First Buddhist Council?
This ultimate state of liberation, peace, and blowing out of greed, hatred, and delusion is the goal of Buddhist practice.
Nirvana
Typically held on Sundays, this principal act of Christian corporate worship commemorates the Last Supper through Scripture readings, prayer, and the sharing of bread and wine.
Eucharist