Judaism and Christianity have long shared similar beliefs and histories, and as a result, share similar central tenets. Their shared tenets have long separated them from other major religions of the world, and as a result, have helped to shape civilization for those who have followed these religions.
Judaism has the primary belief that there is one God, an indivisible, eternal, and incorporeal (without shape or form) being (Center for Religious Tolerance, 2007). They believe that His words and teachings have been passed down from prophets, the greatest of them being Moses, who received both the law in the form of the written Torah and the oral Torah that was transcribed in the Talmud (Center for Religious Tolerance, 2007). It is believed by the Jewish that God can be reached through prayers, without the intervention of intermediates, such as priests, etc (Center for Religious Tolerance, 2007). Judaism believes that people are inherently good by being creations of God (Center for Religious Tolerance, 2007). Consequently, it is believed that God knows the deeds of all men, and will pass down judgment based strictly on the deeds of man (Center for Religious Tolerance, 2007). The Jewish believe in the Messiah, and believe that when the Messiah comes, those who follow the laws of God will be resurrected (Center for Religious Tolerance, 2007). Though the Messiah has not been specifically described in the Torah, it is believed by Jews that the Messiah would take the form of a human (Religion Facts, 2010). It is believed that the Messiah will be a “descendent of David, observant of the Jewish law, a righteous judge, and great military leader (Religion Facts, 2010).” It is speculated among the Jewish that the Messiah will come when the world is especially good or evil, though no specific time or conditions have been described (Religion Facts, 2010). While Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah, Jews have denied it stating that he played an influential role in the practice of rabbinical Judaism (Telushkin, 1991).
Though Christians believe in many of the same concepts as Judaism details with the exception of the ways in which it is interpreted. For example, while both Christians and Jews believe in one god, Christians believe that God exists in the form of a Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Hakim, 2009). Also, there is the belief that humans are inherently evil (through Adam and Eve eating from the tree of life), and that it is only through the salvation of Christ (the son of God) and the following of His principles that humans can attain goodness and be redeemed (Hakim, 2009). Like Judaism, it is believed by Christians that people can reach God, however most denominations (with the exception of Catholicism, who believes that God can be reached through the intercession of priests) believe that this is through the constant intercession of Jesus, who is considered the Messiah (Hakim, 2009). Christians believe that the Messiah, as in Judaism, will come back to Earth to usurp those who believe in Him, conquering evil (Hakim, 2009).
The two religions are markedly different from other major religions in the world for several reasons. The first difference is their belief in monotheism. For centuries before either religion began, it was believed in most of the world that multiple gods with a supreme leader among them ruled the daily practices of humans on earth. The gods were often described as having human-like characteristics, often having the capabilities of becoming angry, jealous, and enamored with humans at any point in time. For that reason, there were very few rules or principles that humans following these religions were obligated to maintain. Rituals became the main source of compliance with gods, and there were often no books to document the history and core beliefs of the people. Judaism and Christianity was so drastically different from the other religions that were in existence because there were set rules, and the God that ruled had set guidelines dictating the lives of people. Each law included direct consequences, as well as an ending of the world where evil is permanently vanquished, which varied from other religions where even death was a continuation of life as usual. Records were made of historical events that happened among their people, as well as traditions built from those events. These principles define and separate Judaism and Christianity from other religions of the world.
Judaism has the primary belief that there is one God, an indivisible, eternal, and incorporeal (without shape or form) being (Center for Religious Tolerance, 2007). They believe that His words and teachings have been passed down from prophets, the greatest of them being Moses, who received both the law in the form of the written Torah and the oral Torah that was transcribed in the Talmud (Center for Religious Tolerance, 2007). It is believed by the Jewish that God can be reached through prayers, without the intervention of intermediates, such as priests, etc (Center for Religious Tolerance, 2007). Judaism believes that people are inherently good by being creations of God (Center for Religious Tolerance, 2007). Consequently, it is believed that God knows the deeds of all men, and will pass down judgment based strictly on the deeds of man (Center for Religious Tolerance, 2007). The Jewish believe in the Messiah, and believe that when the Messiah comes, those who follow the laws of God will be resurrected (Center for Religious Tolerance, 2007). Though the Messiah has not been specifically described in the Torah, it is believed by Jews that the Messiah would take the form of a human (Religion Facts, 2010). It is believed that the Messiah will be a “descendent of David, observant of the Jewish law, a righteous judge, and great military leader (Religion Facts, 2010).” It is speculated among the Jewish that the Messiah will come when the world is especially good or evil, though no specific time or conditions have been described (Religion Facts, 2010). While Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah, Jews have denied it stating that he played an influential role in the practice of rabbinical Judaism (Telushkin, 1991).
Though Christians believe in many of the same concepts as Judaism details with the exception of the ways in which it is interpreted. For example, while both Christians and Jews believe in one god, Christians believe that God exists in the form of a Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Hakim, 2009). Also, there is the belief that humans are inherently evil (through Adam and Eve eating from the tree of life), and that it is only through the salvation of Christ (the son of God) and the following of His principles that humans can attain goodness and be redeemed (Hakim, 2009). Like Judaism, it is believed by Christians that people can reach God, however most denominations (with the exception of Catholicism, who believes that God can be reached through the intercession of priests) believe that this is through the constant intercession of Jesus, who is considered the Messiah (Hakim, 2009). Christians believe that the Messiah, as in Judaism, will come back to Earth to usurp those who believe in Him, conquering evil (Hakim, 2009).
The two religions are markedly different from other major religions in the world for several reasons. The first difference is their belief in monotheism. For centuries before either religion began, it was believed in most of the world that multiple gods with a supreme leader among them ruled the daily practices of humans on earth. The gods were often described as having human-like characteristics, often having the capabilities of becoming angry, jealous, and enamored with humans at any point in time. For that reason, there were very few rules or principles that humans following these religions were obligated to maintain. Rituals became the main source of compliance with gods, and there were often no books to document the history and core beliefs of the people. Judaism and Christianity was so drastically different from the other religions that were in existence because there were set rules, and the God that ruled had set guidelines dictating the lives of people. Each law included direct consequences, as well as an ending of the world where evil is permanently vanquished, which varied from other religions where even death was a continuation of life as usual. Records were made of historical events that happened among their people, as well as traditions built from those events. These principles define and separate Judaism and Christianity from other religions of the world.
