On The Line Dr. Joel Okamoto: What Hinduism and Buddhism Believe (and How Christianity Differs)
May 26, 2025
Dr. Joel P. Okamoto, a theologian at Concordia Seminary, delves into the nuances of major world religions, highlighting how Hinduism and Buddhism contrast with Christianity. He discusses the nature of religion, emphasizing that all belief systems grapple with life's ultimate questions. Dr. Okamoto clarifies core Buddhist teachings and explores Hinduism's evolution into metaphysical thought. He passionately defends Christianity, focusing on the significance of Jesus' resurrection and how it shapes understanding of scripture and faith.
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Religion As A Comprehensive Account
- Religion frames an account of everything: comprehensive, unsurpassable, and addressing central human questions.
- That framework explains why Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims function as religious communities.
Hinduism Sees Creation As Illusory
- Hinduism treats everyday reality as illusory and locates ultimate reality in an uncreated spiritual ground.
- Salvation aims to pierce ignorance and reintegrate the soul with Brahman, not to redeem created history.
Child Sees Buddha As God
- Joel recounts a child mistaking a Buddha statue for a god to show how worship grows around images.
- He cites Zen sayings like "if you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him" to show Buddhism's anti-attachment twist.
