What are the differences between Judaism and Christianity?

One answer by a Christian

There are many differences. I will try to briefly outline the most fundamental ones.

1. The Jews rejected Christ's claim that he was the Son of God. They believed His claim was blasphemous (Luke 22v70-71).
2. The Jews reject the New Testament and read only Hebrew Bible which is called the Tanach. The first five books of the Hebrew Bible contain God's guidelines for how Jews are meant to live. Paul wrote (Galatians 3v10) that anyone who wants to live under the law is under a curse. According to the N.T. we are released from the curse of the law by faith in Christ.

 

One answer by a Jew

Judaism was already a complex and complete religion for thousands of years before Christianity even began evolving. Christianity represents, if anything, the rejection of Judaism - as it contradicts some core Jewish tenets.

Now, this is not to imply that one faith is better than the other: it is merely to clarify how profoundly different these two religions are.

It is, of course, true that Christianity began life as a tiny fringe sect within Judaism. But the original followers of Jesus were not called 'Christians'. They called themselves followers of "The Way", "ebionim/ThePoor" and "Notzrim/HolySeparatedOnes".

Most of the Christian doctrines did not develop until Saint Paul (after Jesus' death) and much later with the Church fathers and Constantine, by which time Christianity was already an entirely non Jewish faith.

The final and irrevocable parting of the ways between the faiths came when Christians deified Jesus (formalized by Constantine in 325CE). At this point, Christianity was endorsing a belief that is blasphemy for any Jew, because in Judaism, no human can ever be 'divine' or on a par with G-d.
Judaism was already a complex and complete religion for approximately 1500 years before Christianity even began evolving ^{see discussion page}. Christianity contradicts core Jewish tenets.

Here are just some of the differences in key beliefs between Judaism and Christianity:

1. Judaism:
- says that no human can ever die or atone for the sins of others
Christianity:
- says that Jesus died for the sins of mankind

2. Judaism:
- says that all humans are born pure, and innocent
Christianity:
- says that all humans are born with 'original sin'.

3. Judaism:
- says that no man gets a 'second coming'
Christianity:
- says that Jesus will have a 'second coming'

4. Judaism:
- says that every human should speak directly to G-d
Christianity:
- Jesus claims in the 'new testament' that the 'only way' to G-d is via him

5. Judaism:
- says G-d is one, indivisible, cannot be separated into three aspects/incarnations
Christianity:
- speaks of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

6. Judaism:
- says that we are all equally G-d's children
Christianity:
- says that Jesus was 'God's son' above all others, and any who accept him will become children of God

7. Judaism:
- has no concept of 'hell' ^{see discussion page}
Christianity:
- some Christians say that non-believers go to 'hell'

8. Judaism:
- has no 'devil', the Jewish 'Satan' is just an ordinary angel, under G-d's control
Christianity:
- describes 'Satan' as a devil and 'fallen' angel

9. Judaism:
- the 'messiah' will be a normal, mortal man who must fulfill all the Jewish messianic prophecies in one normal, mortal lifetime
Christianity:
- Jesus was the 'messiah' and will fulfill the Christian messianic prophecies when he 'returns'

10. Judaism:
- says that the righteous of all faiths will reach 'gan eden' or 'garden of Eden.
Christianity:
- some Christians insist that only those who 'know Christ' can reach heaven

11. Judaism:
- forbids Jews from trying to convert anyone to Judaism
Christianity:
- believes in actively 'witnessing' and encouraging people to convert to Christianity

Clearly the two religions differ on many core beliefs. Again, remember there are many other differences; this is only a partial list.

It is, of course, true that Christianity began life as a tiny fringe sect within Judaism. But the followers of Jesus were not 'Christians' in the sense that we use that word today. Many of the Christian doctrines did not develop until much, much later, by which time Christianity was already an entirely non Jewish faith.

Another answer:

Christians believe that Jesus has come to earth. [gospel accounts of Matthew, mark, Luke & john in the new testament]
Jews believe that the messiah is still to come, after Elijah.
there are many differences between Jews & Christians, the above being the more theological one.

Jewish people don't believe Jesus was the son of God

Another answer:

The difference between Jews and Christians are that Jews are still waiting for the promised messiah (there then not believing that Jesus is the Messiah). Christians on the other hand believe that Jesus is the promised Messiah. However, the Christian concept of messiah does not exist anywhere in the teachings of Judaism. Also, Christians have the Old Testament and the New Testament (Jesus Ministry) where as the Jews only have the Hebrew Bible.


Another answer:

The Christian concept of 'messiah' does not exist in Judaism. The Christian Old Testament is based on the Tanach (Jewish Bible) but was largely altered to support the teachings of Christianity. Christianity is different from Judaism because at the core, it was created around a messiah. The Talmud and Zohar are not holy texts although play important roles in Judaism.

Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah; the Messiah is one who brings peace to the earth (this has not happened yet!). Jews have different holy books, in addition to the Tanakh (the Christians call this the Old Testament), they have the Talmud and the Zohar (and possibly more).

Another answer:

Christianity grew out of Judaism - Jesus and the first disciples were all Jewish, as was Paul, the main missionary to the Gentiles (non-Jewish people). Therefore, they share a lot of common heritage such as the Old Testament, the 10 Commandments, the belief in prophecy, etc.

The major difference is centered around the person and work of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that the prophecies of the Old Testament about the coming Messiah were fulfilled in Jesus and that he ushered in a new way of relating to God, by dependence on God's grace rather than by obedience to the Law. Jews respectfully but firmly disagree. Christians also believe that Jesus was and is God. He is held to be co-eternal with God, uncreated, and partakes of the very essence of God. At the same time, Christians will also assert that God is one (see the doctrine of the Trinity). Jews strongly object to this and see Christians as polytheists, worshipers of many Gods, who worship Jesus Christ rather that God alone.

Another Answer
Christianity disregards the "old testament" and says that as long as you have faith in Jesus Christ you will be saved... Jews believe you have to live and enjoy your life but employ restrictions so that the whole society improves

Another Answer
Both Christianity and Judaism come from the same roots. Both religions are a development from the teachings of the Tanakh / Old Testament. The translation of the Old Testament into English follows the Hebrew text of the Tanakh (rather than the text of the Septuagint - a very early Greek translation of the Hebrew), so it can be said that Jews and Christians are dealing with the same texts here.

We can see from Acts of the Apostles that, from the beginnings of the Church, Christians had a very high view of Jesus. Peter's message about Jesus was that Jesus is God's Messiah. He went on to say that God raised Jesus from the dead, and that there is no other name under heaven by which men and women can be saved.

In another way of looking at it, Jesus can be considered to be a Jewish rabbi, whose teachings were so radical that they divided the Israelite nation. This division became firmly fixed soon after the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans in AD 70.

At that point, those who accepted Jesus implicit claim to be the Messiah (the Christ), a claim explicitly made by Peter and the other Apostles, came to be definitively separated from those who rejected this claim.

As a result, Christians went their own way, and Judaism, which was not a unitary system at that point, become united under the leadership of those who belonged to the Jewish party of the Pharisees.

So Christianity differs from Judaism on the ground of their respective attitudes to Jesus. Those who follow Judaism do not explicitly follow Jesus' teachings, although on many issues Jews and Christians agree, reflecting their shared holy texts.

Both Jews and Christians put great emphasis on right behaviour, and the role of the individual conscience in guiding behaviour. However, they differ in that the Christian conscience is primarily shaped the works of the New Testament, whereas Jews do not treat the New Testament as authoritative.