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people are not the true enemies. Instead, a spiritual battle is going on in “the heavenly realms,” and the enemy is Satan, along with the other fallen angels—the demons—who followed him in a rebellion against God and attempt to manipulate people. 15
    Buddhists are comparatively subjective. They believe that they can change their experience of the world by changing how they choose to view it. Christians are comparatively objective. They believe that they can change the world by earnest prayer if it is in accord with the will of God.
    Were They Divine?
    Theravada Buddhists usually do not believe in the divinity of Buddha. Buddha believed he was the same as every other enlightened being. Some Buddhists believe he was more enlightened than any other buddha in history. However, many Mahayana Buddhists believe in his divinity.
    Conservative Christians believe in the divinity of Christ. In the Gospels, Jesus claimed to be one with God on several occasions. Mainstream Christianity from its earliest times has viewed God as a “triune” being consisting of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of John says of Jesus that “all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” 16 Thus, as the second person of the Trinity, he shared in the role of creator of the universe. Some liberal Christians do not regard Jesus as divine, viewing him as a great moral teacher instead.
    Occult
    In many Asian countries, Buddhism intentionally blended in the beliefs and practices of native populations as it expanded. Typically, this included superstitions and occult practices. Vajrayana Buddhists adopted many native Tibetan beliefs (in a wide range of deities) as an integral part of their spiritual practices.
    Conservative Christians view all occult beliefs and activities as evils that should be completely avoided. Many liberal Christians are more open to blending in some of these views.
    Near the end of Chapter Fifteen , in a section labeled, “Only One Way?” there is an extensive discussion of this entire area of contrast. To Buddha, any appearance of “good” or “evil” is an illusion that exists only in the realm of seeming reality. To Jesus, good and evil are opposites engaged in a battle for the eternal destiny of every soul.

Major Contrast #9: Nature of the Universe

Buddhism
Christianity

The universe has always existed. It was never created.
God created the universe suddenly, as the Big Bang theory depicts.
Buddha taught that any appearance of dualism is an illusion and is not part of ultimate reality, which has only one nature (monism).
Jesus taught dualism (i.e., that reality consists of two opposite natures). He believed in the reality of good vs. evil, virtue vs. sin, and heaven vs. hell.
Buddha claimed that all sentient beings (i.e., people and animals) are interconnected and nearly equal. People are capable of attaining enlightenment, whereas animals are not.
Jesus emphasized a clear hierarchy among beings: God the Creator, then angels and demons, then people, then animals and plants, and finally, inanimate matter.
Why would God create a world where suffering is pervasive? It makes more sense to believe that the world, and the universe, were never created. They always existed.
In response to mankind’s rejection of God in the Garden of Eden, God withdrew from active control of the world. In God’s absence, Satan became “prince of this world.” 17 This left mankind exposed to inherent, persistent suffering and misfortune.

    Buddhism denies the ultimate existence of sin and the necessity of grace. Choosing to cast off the illusions of self and dualism is necessary to become enlightened. In Christianity, sin is not an illusion; it is a state of rebellion against and alienation from God. How one’s sin is dealt with will determine a person’s eternal destiny. Jesus, who is one with God as the second person of the Trinity and existed with God in heaven before he came to