Buddhism is a religion with philosophical theory as its foundation, it is different compared with Abrahamaic religions with faith to single god as its foundation, this is caused by different philosophical perspective, or I should say the way to explain agnostic power that controls the world.

There are an agnostic power controls the world, human are curious about it, and yet fear about it, knowing an agnostic power existence cause human to name it. The personification of agnostic power become God, the most famous is YHWH created by Hebrews. The materialization of agnostic power become Heaven (in Chinese philosophy perspective), which occurs in China. The philosophy theorization of agnostic power become Karma, it occurs in Karmic religions such as Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Then the personification of the power makes human fear about it, and thinks they will never achieve that, and subordinate to them. That causes the agnostic power have absolute authority over human, where human cannot win over. That means, no matter how powerful you are, you can't win God. Christians and Muslims goes to heaven to praise the god with psaltery, but they won't be the same with the god.

The materialization of the agnostic power makes human fear about it, and makes human try to harmonize with it and use it well. That causes human will try their best to harmonize with agnostic power. This exists in Taoism from China.

The philosophy theorization of agnostic power makes human going to research it, and try to break through it. So, Buddhism nirvana is to know the force of Karma that bounded on themselves, and control the Karma by knowing the law of Karma. While the highest attainment of Buddhism is the Buddha, and everyone can become Buddha if they follows the correct path of Buddhism. That means, Buddhists fears Karma and learn Karmic law, and trying to break through the karmic law.

Just my point of view, no philosophical training on me, yet. *>.<* And, I'm atheist.

This post has been edited by alizcielblutmond: Sep 11 2010, 10:35 PM