A Question From Atheists

[nosferatu323]

I don't think you're accurately communicating the built in motivators to action in either religion, nor do I think you're really grasping the idea of the carrot and the stick, lol.

Do what we say and you will get this thing x you want.  Fail to do what we say and you will suffer.  

Buddhist version - Do x y and z and you'll achieve nirvana.  Fail and you will suffer.
Christian version - Bow and be rewarded.  Fail and burn.

I think I understand. But there is no action involved in either case as I see it. One asserts merely believing in the sacrifice of the son, Buddhism asserts releasing from the attachments. I think releasing from attachments is not an action either, I think it simply means not expecting any reactions from for your actions. The difference is clear when you compare these religions with Islam for example, almost all Muslims do prayers in the exact same way 5 times a day, they don't drink alcohol, they fast during their holy month, premarital and extramarital relationships are very rare among them, etc., in contrast Christians are characterized by merely a personal love for a personal Jesus Christ, in general they don't do anything that distinguishes them from a non-Christian as far as I know. A Buddhist can be anything according to their own definition also, being Buddhist is not necessarily reflected in the actions of the individual, and there is no emphasis on using the meditation techniques offered by different schools of Buddhism. 

Also in Buddhism, it makes it clear that many prefer to remain in Samsara. Samsara is not pure suffering like the Christian hell is.