I was raised Southern Baptist and was only ever instilled with a guilt over every sinful thing I was said to be, and superiority that I was saved while billions would burn in hell. Was this really a message of love? Tolerance? Forgiveness?

I find huge contradictions in any religion that would claim theirs is a loving god when he would condemn the VAST majority of the world’s population to eternal suffering for failing to acknowledge his existence (ego).

The life of the Buddha, a man and not a demigod, continues to inspire people to live a life of deep self-exploration, peace, absolute tolerance, and non-violence: things that Christ taught. And unlike the Judeo-Christian-Muslim god, there have been no wars waged in the Buddha’s name, no atrocities, no genocide, no Inquisitions, or acts of terrorism. No countries have been conquered or peoples decimated to spread the word of the Buddha.

Perhaps if Christ had just been a man instead of the son of God then fewer atrocities would’ve been carried out on his behalf.

The Buddha’s sole purpose was to end human suffering and to those who practice, either as renunciates or just meditate occasionally, they know the peace that exists in the present and they commit less violence and breed less intolerance than any Christian I’ve ever known.

The Buddha was more “Christ-like” than any Christian I’ve ever met. I would strongly suggest you read more of what the Buddha said especially if you intend to make comments about his teachings. The Buddha is more similar to Christ than different, in fact Christ was a Buddha.