What is are the major differences between Christianity and Judaism?

Answer 1

“Whereas the Christian Bible is a book about God incarnate in a body, the Jewish Bible is a book about man and a history of how he struggled in his developing relationship with God.” “The New Testament is about God (as he incarnated himself on earth), whereas the Hebrew Bible is a chronicle of man, from his earliest efforts to know the invisible God. The Hebrew Bible provides the inspiration that influences men and women of faith to emulate the lives of the great heroes of Jewish history.”

Christianity is oriented toward the next world, Judaism toward this world. Christianity posits that the purpose of man is to achieve the salvation of his soul and to attain everlasting life in Paradise. Monasticism, asceticism, and celibacy had therefore always been central to Christianity, since any attachment to this world impedes a closer relationship with heaven. Man is bidden to remove himself from day-to-day involvement with the world and concentrate instead on building heaven on earth. Indulgence of the flesh is sinful, and the needs of the soul must always take precedence over those of the body.
Judaism is oriented toward this world and steadfastly promotes the idea that man’s purpose is to perfect the world and bring Godliness into an otherwise un-Godly planet. Celibacy is a sin in Judaism; marriage its ultimate happiness. The purpose of Jewish life is the consecration of physical existence by bringing God down into our world and making Him an active partner in our lives. Jewish festivals are celebrated through merriment, food, and drink. Joy is an essential precondition to closeness with God. In Judaism the purpose of man is to uncover and make manifest for all to see the underlying spiritual character of the world.
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Answer 2

The all-important difference between Christianity and Judaism is the Person of Jesus Christ. Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of a coming Messiah / Savior (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Micah 5:2). Judaism often recognizes Jesus as a good teacher, and perhaps even a prophet of God. Judaism does not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Taking it a step further, Christianity teaches that Jesus was God in the flesh (John 1:1,14; Hebrews 1:8). Christianity teaches that God became a human being in the Person of Jesus Christ so He could lay down His life to pay the price for our sins (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Judaism strongly denies that Jesus was God or that such a sacrifice was necessary.

Answer 3

A Christian will nearly always say that the only difference is that Jews don't believe in Jesus as the messiah.

We end up needing whole books to cover all of the differences. Some of the big differences are our conception of the afterlife, our conception of God, our traditions, and our interpretations of history.

Edit: Actually, some Jews don't believe that there was a historical Jesus. Some do. Some (like me) don't think that it matters, because regardless he didn't fulfill the prophecies of the messiah or the requirements of a prophet.

Answer 4

Well, here's how reasonable Christians see our differences, anyway. Hopefully someone more qualified than me will elaborate on the Jewish point of view. =)

The primary difference is, Christianity teaches that Jesus is the Messiah, and Judaism teaches that the Messiah hasn't come yet. Most other differences stem directly from that--especially the Christian doctrine of the priesthood of all believers.

Christianity and Judaism also have quite different understandings of the purpose of the Levitical code, which is most well-known for its dietary restrictions and the Sabbath day but also has numerous other rules and traditions. While we agree that it is a covenant God made with the Jewish people for their salvation, Christians believe that it was a beacon to point the way to Christ. We believe that since this purpose was completed in His atoning work, Jews need not be bound to it anymore but may live under God's grace in Christ. Needless to say, this is not the teaching of Judaism.

Judaism teaches that God reconciles us to Him through covenants that He establishes with men, typically in the context of historical divine acts which direct us to Him. And so Jews are reconciled to God through His covenant with Moses. All persons, Judaism teaches, are reconciled to God through His covenant with Noah, and so Judaism has the concept of the Noahide Laws which are sufficient for the salvation of non-Jews.

In this way, Judaism teaches that there may be multiple covenants existing in parallel. Some Christians believe this as well, but most believe that these covenants are actually in sequence, with each one completing and building upon the one before it.

Christians believe that all valid covenants point to Christ: The Old Testament being a series of covenants that point *forward* to Christ, and the New Testament being a covenant pointing *back* to Christ. Ultimately, all paths to God must lead through Christ.

Many Christians believe that since Judaism points to Christ, salvation through Judaism apart from Christianity is possible at least in theory; but they would still agree with most other Christians that rejection of Jesus as the Messiah is rejection of everything Judaism stands for--and so we are all deeply saddened by Judaism's stance regarding Jesus.

Answer 5

A lot of the original manuscripts of the bible were lost, forgotten, or destroyed by the catholic church. Several (Catholic named "Gnostic") Gospels state that Jesus performed miracles by God working through him, but the foundation of Christian belief was that Jesus was a mortal man, given God status many centuries later.

I think Judaism is wrong in not accepting Jesus whatsoever, but I think Christians are wrong to worship him as God, because in the ten commandments God said "thou shalt not make graven image", and "nor worship any God before me". Idolizing Jesus and proclaiming him as God is the biggest blasphemy the Roman Catholic Church could ever have done.

Also, devout Jewish people don't eat a lot of certain things, Christians are a lot more relaxed.

Answer 6

judaism views G-d as a fully spiritual being with no physical existence, representations, or "incarnations".

we view the messiah as a human man whose purpose is to bring the jews back to their homeland, restore the davidic monarchy, and establish peace on earth and perfect monotheism.

we consider biblical law to be eternally binding on jews.

we are an action-based religion, which emphasizes good deeds rather than just mere faith.

we believe that both jews and non-jews can achieve salvation. jews though the mosaic law, non-jews from the noachide laws.

we view satan as an angel of G-d, whose purpose is to test people's faith and commitment to G-d. he is not G-d's opponent, nor does G-d have any "evil counterpart." there is just G-d.

Answer 7

We believe the the messiah has not arrived yet, whereas Christians believe the Jesus is the messiah. I think both are monotheistic.
Note: Jews don't believe there was no Jesus, some people think that. We know there was a Jesus but we just don't think he's the messiah.
And also, the old testament and the new testament.

Answer 8

Most Jews fail to understand that the Creator must also be the Redeemer, and therefore they also become humanistic, believing that man must achieve salvation by his own efforts. Further, they also fail to acknowledge that God’s objective work of redemption must be made subjective in each person by the indwelling personal presence of the omnipresent Creator/Redeemer.

Answer 9

Looks like most already listed Jesus Christ. So in addition to that fact the Jews still hold to a lot of ceremonial laws and rituals and holiday festivals. Christians do neither.

Answer 10

Is the God of Judaism, Christianity and Islam the same God?
The Jewish and Christian God are the same. Islam has a man-made god which is false. Jewish and Islam believers, if they were to die today, would not go to heaven.

How do the Jews and Christians have the same God? Good question, the Christians believe God came to earth as a man named Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus was the perfect sacrifice without sin. Jesus shed His blood for us. Without blood there is no forgiveness of sins. The Jewish belief has animal sacrifices to cover their sins and do not acknowledge Jesus as the Savior. Once Jesus died on the cross for us, He did not allow blood from animal sacrifices to cover sins anymore.

As for Muslims, they believe Jesus was a prophet and not God. They believe that good works has to outweigh the bad works, which is a works based religion. Christians believe salvation is a gift of God. (Once we are saved though, we will have evidence of it with good works, but our works do not save us.)

If you are not following Jesus you are following a thief. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

The devil is this thief that comes up with false teachers and religions. False teachers and religions only come to steal, kill, and destroy. So this makes the devil a liar. We have already learned that Jesus is the truth. Do you want to follow a liar or the way, the truth, and the life?