Taysir Aljumah

Dr. Jeremy Cook

6 November 2015
Judaism vs. Christianity
Judaism and Christianity come out as two major aspects of religious
diversity in the contemporary society. Christianity and Judaism tend to have
similar origins, but diverse practices, beliefs, and teachings. The purpose of
this research essay is to compare and contrast the basic beliefs of Judaism
and Christianity. In the course of achieving this purpose, the essay will focus
on the primary focus of each religion, perception of the afterlife, basic rules
of the two religions, and major resemblances, as well as differences between
Judaism and Christianity.
Firstly, the basic belief of Christianity is that Jesus is the Son of God as
evident in the second person of the Trinity of God the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. In addition, Christians tend to believe that the life of Jesus on
earth, his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into heaven are essential in
demonstrating Gods love for humanity, as well as forgiveness of the human
sins. On the other hand, Judaism focuses on teaching the Jews to believe in
one God, thus the need to direct all prayers towards Him rather than the
aspect of Trinity in agreement with the perceptions of the Christians. Judaism
views Jesus as wonderful teacher and storyteller, but just a human rather
than being the son of God. Also, the Jews do not perceive Jesus as a prophet.

Christianity teaches that Jesus saves souls while Judaism believes that only
God has the powers to save souls.
In Christianity, there is an afterlife. According to this perspective, the
way individuals behave on earth will determine their destination in relation to
the afterlife. For instance, Christians believe that there is hell for the wicked
personalities, as well as heaven for the individuals who uphold the demands
and expectations of God. In this context, Christians believe on the need to
live consistent with the philosophies, dogmas, and practices of Christianity to
life an eternal life in relation to the facets of the afterlife.
On the other hand, traditional Judaism tends to believe in the fact that
death is not an end of the human existence. Nevertheless, since Judaism
focuses on the present life on earth rather than the afterlife, the religion
does not integrate much dogma in relation to the afterlife, thus incorporation
of substantive room for opinion. It is highly possible for the Jews to believe
that wicked life on earth undergoes substantive punishment following the
end of the individual. On the other hand, Godly life undergoes absolute
rewards after death.
Christianity focuses on the incorporation of practices such as prayer,
sacraments, worshiping in churches, reading of the Bible, and engagement in
the acts of charity, as well as communion. On the other hand, Judaism
integrates practices such as praying three times on daily basis and
incorporation of a fourth prayer on Shabbat and holidays. In addition,

Judaism uses Torah and Tanakh as the scriptures, which demonstrate

teachings of God. Christianity and Judaism also differ in accordance with the
means of salvation. From Judaism perspective, salvation is only possible
through belief in God, as well as complete faith and good deeds. In the case
of Christianity, salvation is possible through Christs passion, death, and
resurrection, as well as through the Holy Spirit.
Christianity tends to incorporate personalities believing in the deity
Jesus Christ, thus integration of the term Christians to refer to the followers.
On the other hand, Abraham did provide the platform for the development or
creation of Judaism through his descendants of Isaac and Jacob. From this
perspective, the founder of Christianity is Jesus Christ while the founders of
Judaism include Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. Christians worship on
Sunday, which is the Lords Day. On the other hand, Jews worship from Friday
at the sunset through to Saturday sunset in relation to Sabbath.
In spite of the existence of these diversities or differences between
Christianity and Judaism, the two religious practices tend to have various
similarities in relation to their beliefs. In the first instance, both religious
practices believe in God as a power and divine being. The two religious
practices believe that God is all knowing, as well as the creator, thus the only
one to be worshiped. In addition, Judaism and Christianity practices believe
in the existence of Adam and Eve, thus the story of creation by God. Judaism

and Christianity followers have the tendency of adhering to the Ten

Commandments.
According to this perspective, the Ten Commandments are essential in
the determination of the behaviors and practices of the Jews and Christians
in pursuit of a Godly life. Christianity and Judaism teach about the Promised
Land for the Jews in relation to the agreement between God and Abraham.
Christianity, like Judaism, teaches about the role of Moses in guiding the Jews
out of the bondage in the foreign land. Christianity and Judaism tend to look
forward to the coming of the Messiah in accordance with the practices of the
two religious practices. Similarly, it is valuable to note that Christianity and
Judaism teach on the fact that we are children of God.
Annotated Bib
This essay is about Judaism vs. Christianity. This essay is written on
November 6, 2015. I wrote the difference between the two. This essay is
written by Taysir Aljumah.