caitlin's question channeled through her professor

caitlin's question channeled through her professor

I am sending this question in for Caitlin (kindred soul), who is having technical issues with her computer. Here is her question for the class:

The Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha

The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism state that:

“existence is unhappiness

unhappiness is caused by selfish craving

selfish craving can be destroyed

selfish craving can be destroyed by following the eight fold path” (28).

The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism were not revealed to Siddharta Gautama through revelation. Rather, through an analysis of the lessons we have learned from our experiences, human beings can eradicate suffering from their lives, without the help of a deity.

Christianity relies on a deity to grant us grace in order to eradicate the suffering from our lives. Is a religion without a deity still a religion? Is Buddhism more like a self-help program for living a cleaner, less cluttered life?