Sin in Tiantai Buddhism and Christianity: A Comparison Between Chih-i and Pope Gregory I

Author

Wangyu TangFollow

Date of Award

Summer 8-6-2018

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA Asian Studies

Department

Language/Literature /Culture

Advisor

Jeffrey Rice, Ph.D

Committee Member

Lawrence Frizzell, D. Phil

Committee Member

Yan Wang, Ph.D

Keywords

Sin, Buddhism, Catholicism, Chih-i, Pope Gregory I, Contemplation

Abstract

Buddhism and Christianity are two of the major religions in the world. This paper is going to compare sin in Medieval Tiantai Buddhism with Medieval Catholicism, with examples of Chih-i (Zhiyi) and Gregory’s teaching on sin. This article investigates sin from the aspects of pride, greed and sources of sin, cardinal sins, and practice of contemplation in the two religions. The two religions share common ground in the question of sin, yet there are differences in the source of sins and the definition of cardinal sins. In addition, the teachings of Chih-i and Gregory the Great on the practice of contemplation revealed that contemplation played dissimilar roles in two religions. Finally, it concludes that there are resemblances in two religions that connect East Asia and the West, which calls for future cooperation that brings a message of salvation to all human beings.

Recommended Citation

Tang, Wangyu, "Sin in Tiantai Buddhism and Christianity: A Comparison Between Chih-i and Pope Gregory I" (2018). Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs). 2600.
https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/2600