What is the difference be Jews and Christians?

Question

I was raised catholic and I know nothing about what Jewish people believe in. Do they believe in Jesus? How are Jews and Christians different?

Answer 1

While Jews and Christians might agree on the essentials of a golden rule of love of God and neighbor, Judaism, unlike Christianity, is less a religion of correct doctrine and belief and more a religion of communal practices and behavior. That does not mean that anything goes in Judaism when it comes to matters of belief or that there are no behavioral (ritual and ethical) expectations in Christianity. And that is where being an educated member of one's religious community becomes relevant. The Book of Proverbs reminds us: "Zeal without knowledge is not good."

When Nobel Prize winner Isaac Rabi was asked to what he attributed his success, he said he always remembered that every day when he came home from school his mother would ask him, "Did you ask any good questions today?" What he imbibed was that we ultimately gain more from questions than answers. Answers bring a subject to a close; questions open us up to ever more profound and deeper understanding. That perhaps more than anything else may explain Jewish genius. From youth we explore the Torah, Talmud and commentaries with inquisitive minds encouraged to ask even when no clear response is in sight. To do otherwise would be to imply that our faith cannot withstand scrutiny, that our commitment to God is so tenuous that it is afraid of critical analysis.
In Judaism, we are taught to think, to ask questions, and to be skeptical; we are encouraged not to accept things on faith, but to look for proof. This constitutes one of the biggest differences between Judaism and Christianity. While faith plays a vital role, Judaism places great emphasis on learning and education.

faith: We are NOT a race. The myth of a Jewish race originated with the Roman Catholic Church. Google "Limpieza de Sangre" to learn more.

http://www.whatjewsbelieve.org/
http://www.aish.com/
http://beliefnet.com/index/index_10005.html
http://www.jewfaq.org/toc.htm
http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/
www.chabad.org
http://www.asknoah.org/
http://www.askmoses.com/
http://judaism.about.com/
http://www.beingjewish.com/

Messiah:
http://www.judaismsanswer.com,%20www.messiahtruth.com/response.html
http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/jewsandjesus.htm
http://www.aish.com/spirituality/philosophy/Why_Dont_Jews_Believe_In_Jesus$.asp

"Messianic Judaism",
http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/web/personalstories/julius.html

Blood sacrifice:
http://whatjewsbelieve.org/explanation02.html

Reform Judaism – “Statement of Principles”
http://ccarnet.org/Articles/index.cfm?id=44&pge_prg_id=3032&pge_id=1656
.

Answer 2

Judaism and Christianity are profoundly different :)

In brief:

Jews know that Jesus could not have been the messiah, because the Torah gives specific details as to how to recognise the real thing. He/she will:
- be totally human
- bring world peace
-will NOT perform magic or miracles
- will be from the line of King David
- will achieve all the necessary things in ONE normal lifespan: no second chances nor second comings!

Clearly, this could not have been Jesus!

In addition:

Christians believe that one person can sacrifice himself and take on the sins of others
Jews do not believe this; in Judaism the person who has committed the wrong, or the sin, must atone for what they have done, and apologise directly to the one they have wronged.

Christians believe that only those who embrace Jesus will reach heaven.
Jews believe that everyone goes to heaven IF they lead a moral life here on earth; it doesn't matter what religion they follow.

Christians believe in the devil, and in hell.
Jews don't! Our 'haSatan' is very different, and less powerful than G-d; more a type of prosecuting attorney! And we have no version of the everlasting Christian hell.

Christians believe that G-d can become flesh.
Jews don't; G-d is G-d, and man is man. Nobody can be both.

This is of course just a brief outline, hope it was helpful!

For more information, a really good site is: http://www.whatjewsbelieve.org/

- it compares Judaism and Christianity very clearly and is very interesting :)

JUST TO CORRECT JAMES - Jesus is NEVER mentioned in the Torah/Tanakh. Anyone who says he is is relying on wrongly translated Hebrew.

EDIT TO FAITH

Jews are not a 'race'. If we were, nobody could convert to Judaism, and clearly they can and do! And there are Jews from all ethnic backgrounds, so again, we can't be a 'race'.

AND there are NO such things as 'Christian Jews'!

A person is either Christian, or they are Jewish - they can't be both.

Just as you can't be both Muslim and Catholic, or Hindu and Protestant!
Jewish law alone can define who is Jewish and it is clear on this fact: you cannot be both Jewish and any other religion. 'messianic jews' or 'christian jews' are NOT JEWISH. They are Christian, and should be proud of their faith and open about it.

EDIT TO ASKER 'sweet p' is not Jewish and he is giving you the Christian viewpoint. Presumably if you want serious answers to your question then you realise that Jews know more about their religion than any 'messianic jew' such as 'sweet p', who is clearly a Christian. He should be sufficiently proud of his faith to call himself a Christian.

Answer 3

The Jews rejected Jesus. Christians believe in Jesus.

Answer 4

The Jewish Holy Book: The Torah

The Christian Holy Book: The Torah + New Testament

The Torah - Old Testament: Talks about Moses, The Messiah, Abraham, Issac, and Israel and gives the laws which were given to Moses.

The New Testament: Talks about the life of Jesus and his rules given to Earth from God

Answer 5

They both believe in the same One and Only God.
The Jews don't believe Jesus Christ was the Messiah and are still waiting for a messiah to come. They have only the Old Testament (Torah) as their Holy Book.
Christians have both the Old and New Testaments (Jesus Christ teachings) which make up their Bible.

Answer 6

Christians believe Jesus was the messiah and Jews are still waiting for a messiah to come

Answer 7

Jews have no interest in Jesus
Jews don't believe sex is evil
Jews don't believe in original sin
Jews believe actions are more important than beliefs
Jews don't believe in forcing people into their religion
Jews believe people can get a reward in the World To Come / go to heaven if they are good despite not being Jewish

Answer 8

they follow the Torah or Old testament. the New testament is about the arrival of the messiah that is spoken of in the Torah starting, i believe, from Isiah. Christians believe that Jesus is the messiah and the bible accurately records his life and teachings (some go further and claim it to be the very word of God) whereas Jews do not believe Jesus is the messiah so do not follow the New testament and thus follow the old testament, For them the promised messiah is yet to arrive.

Answer 9

Jews are still waiting for Messiah to come, whereas Christians believe that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, and as such, is the "Savior" for all mankind - or at least to all who will repent and put their faith in Him.

Answer 10

Jews are a race of people.
A Christian is a person of any race, creed, color, age, male or female who believes in and is a follower of Jesus Christ. A Christian believes that Jesus Christ is the son of Almighty God, that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, that He lived, taught, healed, loved, and cared for everyone regardless their station, education, race, color, or creed, and that He willingly gave His life, as the only perfect, innocent, and blameless sacrifice for all the sins of mankind, so that mankind would have the choice of spending eternity in Heaven with Him and Almighty God instead of choosing to ignore, dismiss, reject, Jesus Christ's free gift of eternal life and prefer to spend eternity in The Lake Of Fire with Satan and his demons.

Jews who do believe in Almighty God, do believe everything written in the Torah and the Old Testament of The Holy Bible. They do not believe in The New Testament. They do not believe that Jesus Christ is their prophesied Messiah of The Old Testament, nor do they believe that Jesus Christ is the son of Almighty God. They are still waiting for Their Messiah's arrival.

But there are many Jewish people who are Christian Jews, Christian Jews do believe that Jesus Christ is Their Messiah and do believe in The New Testament of the The Holy Bible as well as The Old Testament of the Holy Bible and The Torah.