I would help you with Buddhism. I would like to present you the Three Greatest Answers.
? What is Buddhism?
Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million people around the world. The word comes from 'bud hi', 'to awaken'. It has its origins about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known as the Buddha, was himself awakened (enlightened) at the age of 35.
? Is Buddhism a Religion?
To many, Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or 'way of life'. It is a philosophy because philosophy 'means love of wisdom' and the Buddhist path can be summed up as:
(1) to lead a moral life,
(2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions, and
(3) to develop wisdom and understanding.
? How Can Buddhism Help Me?
Buddhism explains a purpose to life, it explains apparent injustice and inequality around the world, and it provides a code of practice or way of life that leads to true happiness.
If you're religious or not you can still follow Buddhism!
Buddhism is a religion and spiritual way of wisdom and peace. Although I am not educated in the literature of Buddhism itself, I know it's main fundamental theme is that the cycle or "wheel" of reincarnation constantly, and on a continual bases, re-births the soul and spirit of mankind into another body of flesh, which comes from yet another womb. Buddhism believes that every so many thousands of years (I'm probably incorrect on the number of years that must go by) another Buddha is born, one who will guide believers in Buddhism into spiritual enlightenment and understanding, concerning all the spiritual elements of Buddhism that are unknown to many.
The problem with Buddhism, as it concerns itself with "reincarnation", is that those who are re-birthed must always re-experience death, and the death of their loved ones. Not that the past life is remembered, but the principle. To relive, must be to re-experience death, and this will continue until the earth itself falls apart or deteriorates by either natural or universal means. If that happened, where would the soul and spirit "reincarnate". It seems reincarnation is dependent upon the developmental process of birth. Although I am highly interested in reincarnation, I don't put my absolute trust in it. Rather, I place my faith in Christ's resurrection.
I hope this helped.
The long answer about Buddhism is good. One thing I like about Buddhism is the kind of meditation it teaches, which increases the awareness of your inner state. It is similar to Western therapy that way, and is very helpful in promoting wiser ways of looking at life.
One truth of Buddhism is: One of the main causes of human suffering it the desire of things. ("I HAVE TO HAVE this.")
Another is: Another great cause of human suffering is aversion toward things. ("I can't STAND this.")
Another cause of human suffering is ignorance of reality - that most of how life appears to the human being is illusion. It's stuff we all agree on - especially social agreements - like what's important, how you "should" behave - but there is a whole deeper level of understanding reality, which you come to by meditating.
Having read the above post about reincarnation, I would like to add: Buddhism teaches that once you are no longer "attached" to this human life, by being detached from DESIRE and detached from AVERSION - and once you live in a perpetual state of understanding of the reality of existence (called "enlightenment", you may get off the cycle of birth and death and flow into the everything. Where you will be part of bliss. Something like that.
What is Buddhism and what do Buddhist believe in?
