Hello Ronin,
Buddhism is a beautiful religion, but to understand it, you have to let go of your traditional Judeo-Christo-Islamic Western way of thinking about religion
How many different sects of Buddism are their?
Quite a lot. There is Theravada Buddhism, which is practiced mainly in South Asia and Southeast Asia. There is Mahayana Buddhism (which came later) and is practiced primarily in East Asia. There is also Vajrayana Buddhism which is practiced in Tibet under various different names.
Within each of these major sects there are smaller divisions, schools, and subsects.
Do they believe human perfection is possible (All sects)?
Human perfection is achieved by reaching Nirvana.
Do they understand the sin nature humans have (or deny this)?
There isn’t much discussion of ‘original sin’ in Buddhism. Remember, original sin is more or less exclusive to Christianity and is not found in other religions.
The Buddha did say, however, that the universe and the world itself is, was, and always will be in a state of ‘suffering’, though not suffering in the normal way we understand it.
How do they explain persecuation of Christian Missionaries by Buddhists throughout
parts of Asia?
Every religion has an ugly side. The Christians have a history of persecuting members of other faiths that far surpasses Buddhists.
Don’t judge a religion and its teachings by a few misguided followers.
Is there a ultimate goal to heaven and how does a Buddhist get to this state (all sects)?
Buddhists do believe in heaven (or rather heavens) and hells, but the point of life is not to get into Heaven. The point of life is to achieve Nirvana, or freedom from the cycle of rebirth (called samsara in Sanskrit).
The sects have different ways as to how to reach Nirvana, but the Buddha’s general philosophy stands clear: the cessation of desire is the cessation of suffering.
Meaning, free yourself from desire.
Different sects have different ways to reach Nirvana.
Buddhists try to achieve Nirvana throughout their lifetimes through meditation and realization.
Mahayana Buddhists might call upon the aid of Bodhisattvas (think of them as savior-gods) to help them achieve Nirvana.
Pure Land Buddhists meditate on the name of Amitabh Buddha in the hope that they will be reborn in the Pure Land (Sukhavati), where they will be guaranteed eventual Nirvana.
How can a relgion based on human Philosphy give any redemption?
Redemption for what? Original sin?
Remember, only Christians believe in that.
You can redeem yourself as a human being in Buddhism by building up merit through virtuous acts, meditation, and other things.
And by achieving Nirvana, you are ‘free’ from this world.
