why in Judaism there is no heaven or hell, but in Christianity there is? It's the same God, right?

Answer 1

davey boy the jews do believe in heaven not hell cause they say a loving god wouldnt create a hell

Answer 2

Because the Jewish concept of the afterlife is sompletely different. There is no heaven replete with angeks and life on earth just without the bad stuff. That is a Christian concept that is tied into the theological ramifications of having a messiah that failed to produce peace on earth- they had to move that achievement elsewhere, so it got moved to the afterlife.

In Judaism the world to come is a sompletely spiritual realm. Souls revolve aroung God- their proximity to him dependent on the spiritual level achieved during their life in this world. There cannot be hell- because every soul is redeemable- sheol and gehinnom are temporary situations, needed to help purify the soul for entry into the next world, but not a permanent abode. The "eternal burning" of gehinnom os understood by the Rabbis to be allegorical- it feels like an eternity to the soul- after all, it left God to come to this world in a completely pure state, and look how it has returned! Look at how it blemished itself! The burning is the burning of shame- think of how you feel when caught out doing something you shouldn't have- however long you have to face the people in judgement, it always feel much longer than it was- the same for the soul, but as something in the spiritual realm with nothing to intercede and lesson the impact, that feeling is magnified to the point that it feels like it is an eternity- even though in actuality it is never more than 12 months.

Answer 3

In Judaism there is the concept of an afterlife, but it is fairly vague. There is a concept almost analogous to heaven, and some concept of a purgatory, but the idea of eternal damnation is entirely foreign to Judaism. It seems to have been borrowed at a later date by the young christian splinter group that was emerging, probably from the Persians or some other nearby religious group.

As a purely historical note, the Zadokim did not believe in any afterlife since it is not explicitly mentioned in the Torah, but the rabbinical Judaism that prevailed did.

Edit: For those of you trying to 'prove' that hell exists in Jewish sources, note that you're using Christian translations and interpretations. Don't try and tell me what my religion says. Judaism has no concept of eternal damnation, so at worst it could be a kind of Purgatory. Where Saddam, Hitler, Stalin & Co. will be for a very long time, but not forever.

For the second part of the question, although being based on the same texts there are shared concepts, the Jewish G-d and Christian Trinity are different in several ways. For example, Judaism is monotheistic; Christianity has a trinitarian view. Jews cannot picture G-d, since to be so would be to limit Him, and it is a fundamental part of Jewish theology that G-d is incorporeal; Christians picture all parts of their trinity. In general, although many ascribe similarities between the two, the Jewish view of G-d is probably slightly closer to the Muslim (monotheistic incorporeal) than the Christian (Trinitarian corporeal-ish).

Answer 4

In the biblical Creation account found in the book of Genesis, no mention is made of a place called hell. Everything that God made during the time of Creation was good. However, the Bible tells us in Matthew 25:41 that hell was later prepared for "the devil and his angels" (see also Isaiah 14:12). God did not create hell for man; it was never His intention that any man or woman should go to hell. In 2 Peter 3:9, we learn that God does not want "anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Judaism started before the New Testament. Thus the non-believe in Hell. Same God, but not the same believe in Christ.

Answer 5

If there's no heaven or hell in Judaism, why do the books of the old testament talk about Sheol (Isaiah 38:18, Psalms 6:5 and Job 7:7-10)? And Gehenna?

Answer 6

Good question. That is kinda weird. I don't know too much about Judiasm cause I'm Christian. It's especially odd sounding cause in the Old Testament, God is depicted as a very vengeful war-like god. You'd think he'd have a place to send all those bad people.

Isn't there some quote from the Old Testament or is it Revelations about God seperating the lambs from the goats and sending the goats to the fiery pit or some such thing?

Answer 7

You're off to a great start! Keep learning and pass the word!

Very few Jews share the same "beliefs." We debate with each other and respect others' beliefs. You'll find many versions of the afterlife on this website.
http://www.jewfaq.org/olamhaba.htm#Resurrection
.

Answer 8

That belief is going to vary depending on Which group of Jewish believers you ask.

The early Christian faith was from the group that believed in life after death.

Answer 9

You seem to ask alot of spiritual questions and give way to signs of wishing to go door to door on bikes with others in suits preaching by the avatar of bike-helmet.

I am sure it will work out fine for you..

Answer 10

Just cos you don't believe in something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Where do you think Hitler and Saddam are now? Where do you think Osama should be?

Just cos one doesn't think s/he is going to tell, doesn't mean they're not going. Just cos some asshole who runs a read light doesn't think s/he is going to cause an accident and kill someone, doesn't mean it won't happen. It's a good thing you're wearing your helmet.