Analyzing Christianity and Buddhism Perspectives on Health and Life

This essay provides a comparative analysis of Christianity and Buddhism, focusing on their differing perspectives on ailments, health, and the value of life. The study uses the case of George, a cancer patient experiencing significant pain and loneliness, to illustrate these religious viewpoints. The essay examines how Christianity emphasizes prayer and faith in God's healing power while acknowledging the potential for suffering to draw individuals closer to God. Conversely, Buddhism views illness as an inevitable part of life, encouraging medical assistance but also promoting acceptance and the cultivation of a healthy mental state through meditation. The analysis explores George's personal reflections on his life from both religious perspectives, highlighting the importance of spirituality and mental well-being in coping with illness. Both religions value spiritual growth and encourage individuals to seek relief from physical suffering, yet the approaches and emphasis differ, offering distinct frameworks for understanding and navigating health challenges. The essay concludes by comparing the values and considerations related to health, suffering, and the sanctity of life within each religion, emphasizing the importance of positive attitudes and spiritual practices in the face of illness.

ASSIGNMENT 15
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Abstract
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Each religion views the diseases, health and value of the life of an individual in different ways.
As an impact, the views of the diseases, health and value of the life also vary among the
individual who believe in these religions. The current research deals with analysis on the views
on the ailments, health and value of the life in two different religions, the Christianity and the
Buddhism. The research also deals with discussion on the situation of George, who is suffering
from Cancer and bearing with intense pain.
Comparative analysis of Christianity and Buddhism:
Interpreting George’s malady and suffering in each religion:
The concept of prime reality indicates, the God or the Gods or the material cosmos (Wainwright,
2017). The concept of prime reality is found in both the religions, the Christianity and the
Buddhism. The Christianity concept indicates that the God has the power to heal an individual
from illness although he is not responsible for the illness. The Christianity also believes that the
prayer can improve the physical, mental and spiritual health of a suffering individual. From the
perspective of the Christianity, the malady and suffering of George can be reduced with the help
of prayer. George is not only suffering from Cancer but the loneliness is also causing pain for
him. The prayer, as per the Christian faith, can improve the physical, psychological and the
spiritual health. The Christian faith also indicates that the pain and suffering can take an
individual closer to the God. However, the Christian faith does not pose any restriction on taking
the medical assistance to reduce additional pain.
In case of Buddhism, the sickness is considered as an unavoidable part of the life. Similar to the
old age, the sickness can also cause suffering to some extent. Although the illness is considered
as an obvious part of life, as per the Buddhist concept, a suffering person should take the
available medical assistances to reduce the pain. However, the Buddhist view also indicates if the
suffering remains even after accepting the medical assistances, then it should be accepted.
Additionally, the Buddhist view also considers that the illness and the physical pain gives the
individuals with an excellent opportunity to cultivate the desirable and the healthy mental states
which give importance on patience and the forbearance. In addition, the Buddhist view gives
importance on using meditation as an effective way to reduce the suffering of a sick person.
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From the Buddhist perspective, the disease of George is an inevitable part of his life. George has
undergone a number of surgery and other processes which can reduce the pain. These actions of
George are completely supported by the Buddhist views. However, George is mentally broken
because of his pain and the loneliness. As per the concept of Buddhism, George should accept
the pain and should show a healthy mental status. Along with other medical assistances, he can
focus on the meditation also to improve the overall health status.
George’s analysis of his life from perspectives of each religion value of his life:
George is not only suffering from the sickness for a long time but he is also living alone. The
families and friends meet him occasionally which has enhanced his loneliness and so, the pain
increased. The loneliness compelled George to think that the God too left him although he
believes in prayer and perform it regularly. Both the physical and mental pain broke George and
so, he decided to commit suicide. The analysis George has made can be reviewed from the
perspective of the Christianity and the Buddhism.
To George, the nature of external reality at his current situation is highly chaotic. It reduces the
mental health and mindfulness of George. From the Christian perspective, George’s way of
thinking that the God has left him cannot be supported as this religion considers the God shows
empathy to the sick persons. The Christian faith also indicates that the role of prayer is important
in the process of healing because prayer can improve the physical and spiritual health status of an
individual.
The human beings are considered as the complex systems (Griffiths, 2018). Doing prayer on the
regular basis can help the individuals to attain a better health status. By focusing on the prayer
more, George can improve the mental health status. Increased focus on the Christianity can also
help George to believe that the God is empathetic towards him.
From the Buddhist perspective, the ailments are integral parts of the life (McLellan, 2015). The
individuals should focus on reducing the pain due to diseases with the help of available medical
assistances. However, the medical assistances may not be able to reduce all the pain of an
individual. In those cases, the individuals need to focus on accepting the pain with mindfulness.
The Buddhist belief also gives importance on using mediation as a method to increase the
mindfulness and improve the mental health. From the Buddhist perspective as well, George
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should accept the illness and suffering positively. In the current situation, George is mentally
broken. Use of meditation can help George to increase mindfulness and get rid of the mental
issues.
Values and considerations of Christianity and Buddhism:
Both Christianity and the Buddhism consider that improving the spiritual status of an individual
is an important part of the healing process. In Christianity, the God is considered to have the
power of reducing the pain of sick individuals. So, prayer is believed to be an effective way of
reducing the physical and mental pain. However, the Christianity also considers that pain and
suffering can bring an individual closer to the God.
In case of Christianity, there is a debate over the right attitude of the individuals towards the
pain, suffering and the death (Gibson, 2015). The Christians give special value on the pain and
suffering as it is evident from the theological notion of Jesus' suffering. The Christians also
believe that the pain and suffering are able to transform an individual. The God is empathetic to
the sick person. The followers of Jesus as well have shown instances where the sick person is
shown with empathy. The belief focuses on maintaining sanctity of the human lives although;
followers of the belief are encouraged to take help from the medical assistances to reduce the
pain.
In case of Buddhist view, no spirituality is put on the ailment. Instead, the Buddhist view gives
importance on putting spirituality on the response which the individuals show during the
sickness. As per the Buddhism, the body of an individual is considered as an important tool to
achieve the spirituality to the maximum extent (Egnew, 2018). Therefore, any physical ailment
needs to be taken care of and any sort of mortification or mistreatment is strictly prohibited in
case of Buddhism. The Buddhism also believes that the physical and the mental health are
interrelated and the physical illness can affect the mental health of an individual also.
In both the cases of the Christianity and the Buddhism, the sickness needs to be considered with
the positive attitude. Both the religion states that the pain and suffering improves spirituality of
the individual and takes the individual closer to the God. However, in both the religions, the
individuals are encouraged to get rid of their physical illness.
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References:
Wainwright, E. (2017). Women Healing/healing Women: The Genderisation of Healing in Early
Christianity. Routledge.
Griffiths, M. (2018). Narrative and numbers: empirical studies of Pentecostal and charismatic
Christianity.
Gibson, I. (2015). Suffering and Christianity: conversion and ethical change among the Newars
of Bhaktapur (Doctoral dissertation, University of Oxford).
Egnew, T. R. (2018). A narrative approach to healing chronic illness. The Annals of Family
Medicine, 16(2), 160-165.
McLellan, J. (2015). Religious responses to bereavement, grief, and loss among refugees. Journal
of Loss and Trauma, 20(2), 131-138.
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