Judaism

 

Monotheism:  there is one God, the Creator of all that was, is, and will be

*  Beliefs are recorded in the Torah, given to Moses on Mount Sinai during the Exodus from Egyptian bondage

 

This direct revelation from God to Moses is what separated the Hebrews from other tribes or nations living in the ancient Middle East.  Think about this:  if the Hebrews are God’s chosen people, then what can everyone else NOT be?  -- God’s chosen people.  So they’re automatically on the outside looking in.  Exactly.  The Jews were called to a higher discipline in the upholding of their law; this also separated them socially from other peoples of the Middle East.

 

13 Fundamental Beliefs of Judaism:

1.      God is the Creator

  1. God is One

 

Would Christians believe these first two statements?  -- Yes.

 

  1. God is Incorporeal (a “spirit”)

 

Would Christians have a problem with this one?  -- Yes, from the standpoint that Christians believe Jesus was actually God, so God inhabited a human body for a period of time.  But most Christians would say now that God is a spirit…

 

  1. God is Eternal
  2. God alone is to be worshipped

6.      God communicates to man through prophecy

 

How about these?  Any problems?  -- No, probably not.

 

  1. Moses was the greatest of the prophets

 

Here?  What if you’re a Muslim?  -- Muslims of course would say that Mohammad is the greatest of the prophets.  I think Christians would accept that Moses was a great prophet.  Some Christians might say that Isaiah was the greatest prophet because he predicted the birth of Christ.

 

  1. God revealed the Torah to Moses
  2. The Torah will remain unchanged

 

What’s the problem here?  -- Christians didn’t change the Torah.  No, but they did kind of add on to it…  Like an appendix or something, maybe?  These last two statements represent the Orthodox viewpoint; Reform and Conservative Jews believe revelation is progressive and can take place even today.

 

  1. God knows about, and is concerned, for man
  2. God rewards and punishes people for good/evil
  3. A Messiah will bring a new age
  4. The Messiah will raise the dead

 

Are there any differences with the last four?  -- No, not really.

 

Some Jews believe that when Moses was on Mt. Sinai, he received the perfect will of God, the perfect Torah.  When he came down from the mountain, what did he find the Israelites engaged in – even if you’ve only seen the movie “The Ten Commandments”, you should be able to answer this.  – He found the people engaged in idol worship and generally wild behavior.  They had forgotten God in only a short time.  Lots of vices and sin…  Yes.  So the story goes that Moses then did what?  -- He launched the tablets into the Golden Calf that Aaron had fashioned and destroyed it.  He scattered the people and made them aware of their sin.  Yes.  So he went back on the mountain into God’s presence and convinced God that the Israelites were not yet ready for the perfect Word.  He convinced God that it needed to be simplified, and the 10 Commandments are what he came back with.

 

The Ten Commandments:

  1. You shall have no other Gods (for the Jews:  I am the Lord you God who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt to be your God.)
  2. Don’t worship idols
  3. Don’t misuse God’s name
  4. Remember the Sabbath day
  5. Honor your mother and your father
  6. Don’t kill
  7. Don’t commit adultery
  8. Don’t steal
  9. Don’t lie
  10. Don’t want what others own

 

The Nazis broke all of these…

 

 

Christianity

 

The alleged resurrection of Jesus Christ separates Christianity from Judaism and Islam

 

Major beliefs:

*  The Jewish God is the one, true God

*  Jesus Christ is God

*  God is active where believers are

*  Christians use the sacred writings of the Jews

*  Christians belong to a people of God

 

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught His views on:

*  Who the Kingdom of Heaven is for (the only way to the Father is through the Son)

*  Murder

*  Adultery

*  Divorce

*  Swearing false oaths – not keeping one’s word

*  Love for enemies

*  Giving to the needy

*  Prayer

*  Fasting

*  Money

*  Faith

*  Judging others (judge not, unless you will be judged)

*  The Golden Rule (see Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31, Leviticus 19:18, Analects 15.24, etc.)

*  False prophets