Buddhist influences on Christianity

See also: Buddhism and Christianity and Comparison of Buddhism and Christianity
A Greco-Buddhist statue of Siddartha Gautama (Buddha) preaching. The Greeks are believed to have introduced the practice of figural representations of the Buddha. (See Greco-Buddhist art.)

Buddhism was known in the pre-Christian Greek world through the campaigns of Alexander the Great (see Greco-Buddhism and Greco-Buddhist monasticism), and several prominent early Christian fathers, including Clement of Alexandria and St. Jerome, were aware of the Buddha, even mentioning him in their works.[1][2] However, the majority of modern scholars who have studied both Buddhism and Christianity hold that there is no direct historical evidence of any influence by Buddhism on early Christianity.[3][4][5] Scholars generally consider any such influence implausible given that first century Jews are highly unlikely to have been open to far eastern concepts that appeared opposed to some of their basic beliefs.[6]

Some historians such as Jerry H. Bentley and Elaine Pagels suggest that there is a possibility that Buddhism influenced the early development of Christianity.[7]

There have also been suggestions of an indirect path in which Indian Buddhism may have influenced Gnosticism and then Christianity.[8][verification needed] Some scholars hold that the suggested similarities are coincidental since parallel traditions may emerge in different cultures.[9]

Despite suggestions of surface level analogies, Buddhism and Christianity have inherent and fundamental differences at the deepest levels, such as monotheism's place at the core of Christianity and Buddhism's orientation towards non-theism.[10][11]

In the East, the syncretism between Nestorian Christianity and Buddhism was deep and widespread along the Silk Road, and was especially pronounced in the medieval Church of the East in China.[12] There are also historical documents showing the syncretic nature of Christianity and Buddhism in Asia such as the Jesus Sutras and Nestorian Stele.[not verified in body]

  1. ^ McEvilley, p391
  2. ^ Clement of Alexandria Stromata. BkI, Ch XV http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf02.vi.iv.i.xv.html (Accessed 19 Dec 2012)
  3. ^ Encyclopedia of Buddhism (Volume One) by Robert E. Buswell (Feb 2004) ISBN 0028657195 Macmillan pages 159
  4. ^ Jesus: The Complete Guide by J. L. Houlden (Feb 8, 2006) ISBN 082648011X pages 140-144
  5. ^ Fredriksen, Paula. From Jesus to Christ. Yale University Press, 2000, p. xxvi.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Eddy53 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Bentley, Jerry H. (1992). Cross-Cultural Contacts and Exchanges in Pre-Modern Times. Oxford University Press. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-19-507640-0.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Thundy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Grau was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Numrich10 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lim34 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ In the 13th century, international travelers, such as Giovanni de Piano Carpini and William of Ruysbroeck, sent back reports of Buddhism to the West and noted the similarities to Nestorian Christian beliefs .Macmillan Encyclopedia of Buddhism, 2004, page 160