By T.C. Lo (盧天賜); June 12, 2012 (revised 3/8/2013)
Undoubtedly the greatest religions in the world are Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity. They all have long historical roots and are rather intricate in their doctrines. Can one summarily describe them in few words? Who dare to try? It was said that a person’s being could be understood by the last words he uttered right before he dies. Alright, let’s go to the records to find out what did these religious leader say. From their last words perhaps we might deduct what their worldviews were.
The last words of Mohammad were recorded by Aisha who said, “The Prophet in his fatal illness said, ‘Allah cursed the Jews and the Christians because they took the graves of their Prophets as places for praying.’” (Hadith 2:414) Note: Hadith is Muslim traditions of the words and deeds of Muhammad–a narrative record.
The last words of Buddha: “Behold, O monks, this is my last advice to you. All component things in the world are changeable. They are not lasting. Work hard to gain your own salvation.”
The last words of Jesus spoken during his crucifixion: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
You see, Islam is noted for their hatred toward infidels; Buddhism is a merit based religion, you pay and pay and pay, but you never know whether you have paid enough; only in Christianity will you find grace and forgiveness. Therefore, Jesus is the only one who is qualified to be our Lord and Savior. Strictly speaking, Christianity is not a religion but a matter of making relationship with Christ.
世界上三大宗教—回, 佛, 耶—都是歷史悠久, 錯綜複雜的宗教. 誰能用三言兩語可解釋清楚呢? 嘩! 好大膽呀! 有人說, 一個人是怎樣的人, 可由他的最後遺言 (Last Words) 而得知. 那就試試吧! 讓我們由這三位教主的最後遺言看他們的世界觀:
• 回教穆罕默德 (Mohammad) 的最後遺言: 真主, 願祢詛咒猶太人和基督徒, 因為他們在先知的墓上向祢禱告.
• 佛祖最後遺言: 諸事無常 需精進不怠.
• 耶穌最後遺言: “父啊，赦免他們！因為他們所做的，他們不曉得.”
你看, 回教是仇恨 (curse), 佛教是功德 (work hard for), 唯獨基督教是赦免 (forgive). 所以耶穌不但是教主, 更是救主. 赦免是白白的, 所以這就是恩典了. 這段話真能把這三種宗教的要領表達出來嗎? 讓讀者自行決定吧!
Note: 請參看本 blog 內另一短文, “我為甚麼不信佛教?” on January 21, 2012.
