Stoic, Confucian, Daoist, Mohist, Buddhist, and Vedantist arguments for Christianity

[NewTestamentChristian]

These arguments are of my own making; They are far from perfect. I think that if we could use philosophies like these to better understand Christianity, there would be more Christians in the world.

Stoic Argument for Christianity​

1. Premise 1: The Logos is the rational and divine principle that orders the cosmos (Chrysippus, Cleanthes).
2. Premise 2: Virtue consists in living according to the Logos, which is the source of moral law (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.3).
3. Premise 3: The Gospel of John identifies Christ as the incarnate Logos (John 1:1, 14).
4. Premise 4: Christ, as Logos, embodies perfect wisdom and virtue, uniting divine reason and human existence.
5. Conclusion: Christianity fulfills Stoicism by revealing the Logos as a personal, redemptive presence in Christ, offering not only alignment with divine reason but grace for moral transformation.

Confucian Argument for Christianity​

1. Premise 1: Human flourishing depends on cultivating virtue and fulfilling proper relationships (Analects 12:1, 15:23).
2. Premise 2: The highest moral ideal should be embodied in a person, the junzi, who exemplifies perfect virtue (Analects 7:6).
3. Premise 3: Christ surpasses all sages as the true junzi, demonstrating agape (self-sacrificial love, self-giving love, unconditional love) and moral perfection (Philippians 2:5-8, Matthew 5:44).
4. Premise 4: The Confucian vision of harmonious relationships finds its fulfillment in Christ’s teaching of universal love, where divine ren ("human-heartedness") transforms human relationships (John 13:34, 1 John 4:8).
5. Conclusion: Christianity fulfills Confucian ethics by presenting Christ as the perfect sage whose wisdom and virtue complete and elevate Confucian ideals.

Daoist Argument for Christianity​

1. Premise 1: The Dao is the eternal Way that harmonizes all things (Dao De Jing 25, 42).
2. Premise 2: The highest wisdom is yielding, humility, and living in harmony with the Dao (Dao De Jing 22, 76).
3. Premise 3: Christ embodies the Dao through effortless action (wu wei) and non-resistance to evil (Philippians 2:7, Matthew 5:39).
4. Premise 4: The Gospel of John equates Christ with the Logos, revealing Him as the Dao in personal form (John 1:1-3, 14).
5. Conclusion: Christianity fulfills Daoism by unveiling the Dao as a personal and loving God, who harmonizes creation through Christ’s humility and self-giving love.

Mohist Argument for Christianity​

1. Premise 1: The highest ethical principle is jian ai (universal and impartial love) rather than partiality or favoritism toward one's own group (Mozi, "Universal Love" Ch. 14).
2. Premise 2: The will of Tian (Heaven) establishes moral order and expects humans to practice righteousness and care for all (Mozi, "Will of Heaven" Ch. 26).
3. Premise 3: Christ teaches and embodies agape and rejects favoritism (Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 10:25-37).
4. Premise 4: Christ’s life and teachings align with the will of Tian , revealing not just an abstract cosmic order but a personal God who commands love and justice (John 3:16, 1 John 4:8).
5. Conclusion: Christianity fulfills Mohism by offering Christ as the embodiment of universal love and divine moral will, demonstrating jian ai in its highest form.

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Buddhist Argument for Christianity​

1. Premise 1: Suffering (dukkha) arises from attachment and ignorance (Buddha, Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta).
2. Premise 2: Liberation (nirvana) requires detachment from self and realization of ultimate truth (Dhammapada 277-279).
3. Premise 3: Christ teaches self-renunciation, detachment from worldly desires, and ultimate truth (Matthew 16:24-26, John 8:32).
4. Premise 4: Christ willingly embraces suffering to break its power over humanity, leading others to liberation (Isaiah 53:5, Hebrews 2:14-15).
5. Conclusion: While Buddhism provides a rational analysis of the problem of suffering, Christianity fulfills Buddhism by presenting Christ as the enlightened path to liberation, offering not only detachment from suffering but union with God in love.

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Vedantist Argument for Christianity​

1. Premise 1: The ultimate reality (Brahman) is pure being, consciousness, and bliss (Sat-Chit-Ananda, Taittiriya Upanishad 2.1.1).
2. Premise 2: The Atman (self) longs to reunite with Brahman but is veiled by ignorance (avidya, Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7).
3. Premise 3: Christ reveals Himself as the eternal and personal Absolute, declaring, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6).
4. Premise 4: The Incarnation bridges the finite and infinite, allowing personal communion with the divine (Colossians 1:15-17, John 1:14).
5. Conclusion: Christianity fulfills Vedantic thought by revealing that Brahman is a personal God who seeks relationship with humanity through Christ.

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[Laodicean60]

All this predates the NT and some of the beliefs rhyme with the NT.

 

[NewTestamentChristian]

All this predates the NT and some of the beliefs rhyme with the NT.

Buddhism, I think, while much of its fundamentals are to be praised, is the toughest to deal with for two reasons. Firstly, there is no creator god. Sure, the more theistic forms of Buddhism have a deity promising salvation according to them, but this deity is not a first cause. And secondly, nirvana, liberation, is not freedom from suffering by directing your desire to doing what is good but rather extinguishing desire completely. Of course Buddhism teaches that you should do good but we’re talking about the end goal here.

 

[FireDragon76]

Buddhism, I think, while much of its fundamentals are to be praised, is the toughest to deal with for two reasons. Firstly, there is no creator god. Sure, the more theistic forms of Buddhism have a deity promising salvation according to them, but this deity is not a first cause. And secondly, nirvana, liberation, is not freedom from suffering by directing your desire to doing what is good but rather extinguishing desire completely. Of course Buddhism teaches that you should do good but we’re talking about the end goal here.

"Desire" is a poor translation of the Sanskrit word tanha, which literally means thirst. A closer equivalent would be passion, in the Greek sense.

In Buddhism, people are seen as naturally good, but ignorant of the truth. Therefore, ending tanha means a person does good owing to their nature.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

Well there are two things:
1. A Christian life ethic of love, altruism, kindness and empathy
2. A Christian belief that Jesus is the unique manifestation of God in human flesh.

Many religions and philosophies can agree with #1 but not #2.

 

[NewTestamentChristian]

"Desire" is a poor translation of the Sanskrit word tanha, which literally means thirst. A closer equivalent would be passion, in the Greek sense.

In Buddhism, people are seen as naturally good, but ignorant of the truth. Therefore, ending tanha means a person does good owing to their nature.

I should have pointed that out; Buddhism obviously believes that there are good or wholesome desires and that craving is an unwholesome or disordered one (or the root of all other disordered desires).

 

[FireDragon76]

I should have pointed that out; Buddhism obviously believes that there are good or wholesome desires and that craving is an unwholesome or disordered one (or the root of all other disordered desires).

What I find most distinctive about Christianity is the social implications of the Hebrew prophets and Jesus of Nazareth's teachings about the Kingdom of God. Buddhism generally lacks this focus on the immanent (though there are exceptions, such as in Nichiren Buddhism). As close as you come in world religions is in Confucianism (datong, 大同 ) and Japanese New Religions like Oomoto.