Buddhism – Preparation Document – You should be able to write an account on the religion of Buddhism.
Issues like euthanasia and abortion are serious to Buddhists. Because a baby could be in serious pain and suffering, a Buddhist might make the decision to abort because it would stop the suffering of a human being. The soul would be reborn anyway, so why put the child through suffering? Christians, such as Catholics have severe problems with abortion because they think it is murder. This is a difference between the faiths.
Both Buddhism and Christianity have similarities. Both faiths have a set of rules that you should follow. Christians are commanded not to steal murder or commit adultery. Buddhism has the same form of rules called precepts.
Buddhism has two main symbols. The eightfold wheel, which represents the eight guides to life. The lotus flower is also used because it symbolises the rise to enlightenment through the murky waters of life. Reincarnation is belief that when you die you are reborn. Buddhists believe in karma. When you do something positive, something positive happens in return. When you do something negative, something negative occurs. Karma can go from one lifetime into the next. For example, if you show great impatience, you may return as a tree. If you are selfish and greedy you may come back as poor. Your soul needs to be taught lessons from one life to the next. Some people simply do not cope with the life of a human and revert back to being an animal.
Buddhists follow guidelines call precepts. These help their soul become purer so they can achieve enlightenment.