Unit Three : Buddhism
The basic teachings of the group are listed below in the unit summary. To learn more on how to defend against these teachings check out the apologetic links below the summary. To learn more about what the group itself says, check out the links at the bottom of the page.

Unit Summary

Buddhism would be considered a false religion, not a cult. It is also considered by many as more of a philosophy than a religion.

"Professing themselves to be wise they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and to four-footed beasts, and creeping things." - Romans 1:22,23

1. Buddhism was founded around 500 BC by Siddhartha Gautama, who when he believed he reached enlightenment became the "Buddha"
2. Buddhism is an offshoot of Hinduism, sharing many of the same features including, reaching an enlightened state after cycles of reincarnation and progressing by meditation, prayer, chanting, etc..
3. The goal of human existence, Buddha taught, was to free oneself from the law of "karma" (cause and effect of good and bad deeds) and achieve a state of "nirvana" where one ceased desiring and thus eliminates suffering
4. There are two main branches, Theravada and Mahayana.
5. Buddha was opposed to all the thousands of Hindu gods in his time and tried to reform Hinduism although today Buddhists build shrines an statues of Buddha to worship, pray to, and bring sacrifices to.
6. The "four noble truths" that form the foundation of Buddhism are:

Life is suffering

Suffering is caused by desire

The cessation of desire eliminates suffering

The stopping of desire comes by following the "middle way" or Buddhism

"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device." - Acts 17:29

Check out the links below to find out more about this group.

Sites that are affiliated with Buddhism
*Note - These sites definitely do not represent the perspective taught by this course, these links are made available for research, to see what the groups themselves say they teach.
Dharma