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12
8
Christianity was Influenced Christianity is Plain Original
Debate Score:20
Arguments:13
Total Votes:20
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 Christianity was Influenced (6)
 
 Christianity is Plain Original (7)

Debate Creator

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True Christianity, a Hindu Sect?

Some evidence of Hindu/Buddhist thought is there in some of the passages in the gospels. For example John 1:1 also being found in many ancient pre-Christian Hindu texts as the starting point for chapters, clearly a possibility of Hindu influence. 

“In the beginning was the word, and the word was with Brahma, and the word was Brahma” 
(Krishna Yajurveda, Kathaka Samhita, 12.5, 27.1) 

A lot of what Jesus said about ethics parallels with Buddha's basic teaching. Jesus' experience of the three temptations in the wilderness is also paralleled with the Buddha. They are different temptations, but the existence of three temptations in the wilderness by Mara (Satan) is significant. Also you have some verses in the New Testament that hint at reincarnation theory, like when Jesus hinted at the idea that John the baptist actually was Elijah, 

"For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come." (Matthew 11:13-15) 

Hindu conceptualization would also explain where Christianity conceived of the idea of incarnation in the form of an avatar outside of mere mythology. Some Christians would respond that Jesus' claim to uniqueness sets him apart from Hindu avatars, but those Hindu avatars also make similar claims of uniqueness. In the Gita we find Krishna making similar "I AM" claims. So this may be just God speaking in first person while incarnate in different individuals. 

"Of all creations I am the beginning and the end and also the middle, Arjuna. I am the spiritual science of the self, and I am the truth." (Gita 10:32)

Christianity was Influenced

Side Score: 12
VS.

Christianity is Plain Original

Side Score: 8
3 points

A view of religion is that it is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence by people seeking a more comprehensive answer to their problems than they feel is provided by everyday beliefs.

Human animals from different cultures have been wandering across this planet for thousands of years influencing other cultures, exchanging trade goods and language, so is it possible that Christianity was not influenced.

I don't think so.

Side: Christianity was Influenced

I agree that it seems likely that Jesus ripped off the Buddha but I highly doubt it is fair to say that Christianity is a Hindu Sect. It is pretty obvious that Christianity arose from Judaism, not Hinduism. Furthermore Hindu and Christian beliefs contrast and are incompatible in many ways.

Side: Christianity is Plain Original
Cartman(18192) Disputed
2 points

If Jesus ripped off Buddha then Christianity arose from both Judaism and Hinduism, right? If it came from both you can't dismiss the Hinduism aspect. Then, you have to ask yourself are the Christian beliefs that are incompatible really part of true Christianity?

Side: Christianity was Influenced
1 point

Why would having ripped off the Buddha mean that Christianity arose from Hinduism exactly?

Side: Christianity is Plain Original