The Jewish people are very devoted to their God and seek the meaning of life in their understanding of God. Judaism originated in the land of Israel (also known as Palestine) in the Middle East. The Jews believe that a single, transcendent God created the universe and still governs it, and everything has meaning. The same God who created the world revealed himself to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. The content of that disclosure is the Torah (revealed instruction), Gods will for humankind stated in commandments (mitzvoth) by which individuals are to adjust their lives to interact with one another and with God.
The exile of the Judeans to Babylonia in 586 BC was a major turning point in Israelite religion. The prophets Ezekiel and Deutero-Isaiah believed that Yahweh had used the Babylonian Empire to punish the Israelites for their sins, and he therefore had the power to redeem them from captivity if they repented. A truly monotheistic religion developed the God of Israel now being seen as the God ruling universal history and the destiny of all nations. I’m not going to delve any further into the history of Judaism.
At this point in time I will simply state that there are many differences in between Christianity and Judaism The Jews believe in “anointed prophets,” or someone who speaks for God. The majority of Jews rejected Jesus Christ because Jesus claimed to be God. The Jews believe that Jesus was just a prophet and he is not God. The Jews understand God as being set apart from everything else. God is the “wholly other. ” There are different levels of Jews. There are reform Jews, conservative Jews, Orthodox Jews, and Hesetic Jews. There are many religious holidays for the Jews, and religious ceremonies like Shabbat, which means to cease from labor.
This occurs at sundown when the Jews must return home to be with their families. On Saturday, the holiest day for the Jews they attend synagogue and will not drive a vehicle. Many Jews keep a kosher house, meaning they do not eat animals and certain foods, and the food must be prepared a certain way. Jesus Christ lived as a Jew, died as a Jew, and rose again as a Jew. The Christians believe that Jesus Christ is God. They believe the messiah already came, in the form of Jesus Christ. The core of the Christian message is that “All have sinned. ” Even in the sinful state though, every human being is still worthy of God’s love.
The Old Testament said about Christianity, that the law is good, but it could not save you. Failing just one in life is failing them all. Laws function to show that people are sinful and need a savior. Jesus Christ is the savior for the Christian people. Christians believe that Jesus was fully man and also fully God. The central teachings of traditional Christianity are that Jesus is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that his life on earth, his crucifixion, and his resurrection are proof of God’s love for humanity and God’s forgiveness of human sins.
Christian ethics derive to a large extent from the Jewish tradition presented in the Old Testament, particularly the Ten Commandments. As you can see, there are evident differences between the two religions, the largest being, the Christians believe that Jesus is God. The Christian religion influences more people throughout the world than Judaism.
