Judaism and Christianity

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Judaism vs. Christianity
Judaism and Christianity come out as two major aspects of religious diversity in the contemporary society. Christianity and Judaism tend to have similar origins, but diverse practices, beliefs, and teachings. The purpose of this research essay is to compare and contrast the basic beliefs of Judaism and Christianity. In the course of achieving this purpose, the essay will focus on the primary focus of each religion, perception of the afterlife, basic rules of the two religions, and major resemblances, as well as differences between Judaism and Christianity.
Firstly, the basic belief of Christianity is that Jesus is the Son of God as evident in the second person of the Trinity of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In addition, Christians tend to believe that the life of Jesus on earth, his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into heaven are essential in demonstrating God’s love for humanity, as well as forgiveness of the human sins. On the other hand, Judaism focuses on teaching the Jews to believe in one God, thus the need to direct all prayers towards Him rather than the aspect of Trinity in agreement with the perceptions of the Christians. Judaism views Jesus as wonderful teacher and storyteller, but just a human rather than being the son of God. Also, the Jews do not perceive Jesus as a prophet. Christianity teaches that Jesus saves souls while Judaism believes that only God has the powers to save souls.
In Christianity, there is an afterlife.

According to this perspective, the way individuals behave on earth will determine their destination in relation to the afterlife. For instance, Christians believe that there is hell for the wicked personalities, as well as heaven for the individuals who uphold the demands and expectations of God. In this context, Christians believe on the need to live consistent with the philosophies, dogmas, and practices of Christianity to life an eternal life in relation to the facets of the afterlife.
On the other hand, traditional Judaism tends to believe in the fact that death is not an end of the human existence. Nevertheless, since Judaism focuses on the present life on earth rather than the afterlife, the religion does not integrate much dogma in relation to the afterlife, thus incorporation of substantive room for opinion. It is highly possible for the Jews to believe that wicked life on earth undergoes substantive punishment following the end of the individual. On the other hand, Godly life undergoes absolute rewards after death.
Christianity focuses on the incorporation of practices such as prayer, sacraments, worshiping in churches, reading of the Bible, and engagement in the acts of charity, as well as communion. On the other hand, Judaism integrates practices such as praying three times on daily basis and incorporation of a fourth prayer on Shabbat and holidays. In addition, Judaism uses Torah and Tanakh as the scriptures, which demonstrate teachings of God. Christianity and Judaism also differ in accordance with the means of salvation. From Judaism perspective, salvation is only possible through belief in God, as well as complete faith and good deeds. In the case of Christianity, salvation is possible through Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, as well as through the Holy Spirit.
Christianity tends to incorporate personalities believing in the deity Jesus Christ, thus integration of the term Christians to refer to the followers. On the other hand, Abraham did provide the platform for the development or creation of Judaism through his descendants of Isaac and Jacob. From this perspective, the founder of Christianity is Jesus Christ while the founders of Judaism include Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. Christians worship on Sunday, which is the Lord’s Day. On the other hand, Jews worship from Friday at the sunset through to Saturday sunset in relation to Sabbath.
In spite of the existence of these diversities or differences between Christianity and Judaism, the two religious practices tend to have various similarities in relation to their beliefs. In the first instance, both religious practices believe in God as a power and divine being. The two religious practices believe that God is all knowing, as well as the creator, thus the only one to be worshiped. In addition, Judaism and Christianity practices believe in the existence of Adam and Eve, thus the story of creation by God. Judaism and Christianity followers have the tendency of adhering to the Ten Commandments.
According to this perspective, the Ten Commandments are essential in the determination of the behaviors and practices of the Jews and Christians in pursuit of a Godly life. Christianity and Judaism teach about the Promised Land for the Jews in relation to the agreement between God and Abraham. Christianity, like Judaism, teaches about the role of Moses in guiding the Jews out of the bondage in the foreign land. Christianity and Judaism tend to look forward to the coming of the Messiah in accordance with the practices of the two religious practices. Similarly, it is valuable to note that Christianity and Judaism teach on the fact that we are children of God.