Teachings of Jesus, ohammad, Conflucious, Gautama

Buddha (Prince Gautama) taught that followers of his path would reach nirvana, or a complete release from the sufferings of worldly existence through a process of constant rebirth into various life forms (Greaves et al, 1997, p.172). This belief is popularly called reincarnation. Salvation and the afterlife are provided for through the endless process of reabsorption and rebirth. Jesus taught that there was forgiveness, salvation, and life after death in the kingdom of heaven. In Christianity, those who do not believe are condemned to a fire and brimstone type of hell after death, and those who do believe have a "heaven of blissful existence for the saved" (Greaves at al, 1997, p.375).

Confucius, roughly a contemporary of Buddha, taught more in the vein of philosophy than religion, but his teachings more or less became a religion. On salvation and the question of an afterlife, Confucius taught a deep respect for ancestors (Reilly, 2000, p.221). He thought that life on earth was important and that people should learn about the living before worrying about the dead. At the same time he believed in the sky-spirits above and the earth-spirits below. Islam has somewhat

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do not compete, and that there has to be a balance between the good of the individual and the good of the group (Reilly, 2000, p.217). Education was highly valued, but primarily for men. As Confucians pursued goodness, they aspired to behave at all times as though they were in the presence of an important guest. It was best to avoid pretense and too much clever talking. The Golden Rule is a part of Confucianism, "Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you" (Reilly, 2000, p.217). In terms of sin, Buddha taught that it is a sin to kill living things. His followers learned not "to kill, steal, commit adultery, lie, speak evil, gossip, flatter, or otherwise wander from the path" (Greaves et al, 1997, p.172). It was considered a sin to hoard one's treasures or personal gifts and talents (a similarity to Christian teachings). Buddhism incorporated the Hindu idea of karma, that if one committed a sin, there would be a repercussion, until the situation was rectified. Less dutiful people were reborn into various lives until the negative karma was worked out. Jesus taught that anger was unproductive. He was a champion of women, and many of his followers, even until his crucifixion were women. He taught that for
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