Interesting subject but wanting article...

While there are major differences between Judaism and Christianity, you carefully listed only those points where the two religions are actually quite alike.

Judaism:

1. Christians officially believe that the Jewish people are "Chosen" by G-d as well, at least Catholicism does.

2. Judaism and Christianity are both centered around Jerusalem.

3. Judaism is no "birthright". You are free to believe in G-d or believe in whatever you want. But the Jews are also a people and I don't think there is any other ethnic group you can join by conversion.

4. Christianity has that same history.

5. That G-d is the same as the Christian G-d.

Christianity:

1. Jews also believe that anyone can become Jewish. The difference is that Judaism doesn't encourage conversion. Judaism is perfectly happy with letting other people believe whatever they want.

2. Judaism spread through the Empire as well.

3. While Judaism doesn't encourage conversion, those willing to convert are welcomed.

4. You seem to use the word "modern" as "new". When it comes to "modern", I would say that Judaism has been more modern since it encouraged equality between men and women for sooner than Christianity did (for example, according to Jewish law women can own property).

5. Again, it's the same G-d.

i really enjoy reading your posts.  your comments are consistently astute.  although i find myself increasingly less tolerant of religion in general (im an equal opportunity athienostic hahaha), im intrigued by the chronologic threads from which the tapestry is woven.  im aware of just enough to appreciate what a task youve set for yourself--and i congratulate you on your progress (for what that's worth).

a couple months ago i tripped over something that led me to learn more about the the dwindling samaritans. in the process, i found a site called 'into his own' you may find interesting (if youre not already familiar with it).  this is the first paragaph of the introduction:

Into His Own is designed as a tool for the historical study of Christian scriptures. Since the works in the New Testament were composed in implicit & often explicit dialog with first century champions of Jewish tradition, the bulk of the passages included here have been excerpted from works written by Jewish authors, especially those composed after the Hebrew scriptures that can be found in any Christian "Old Testament." But there are also selections from non-Jewish sources that help bring the writings of Christian authors into a clearer cultural perspective.

here's a link link

Andrew, thank you for your comments. I am really glad that you posted.

Have you had a chance to read my first two posts? Respectfully, I disagree with some of what you have said and I think that I have provided reasons.

Christianity actively sought conversions, Judaism at best reluctantly accepted converts.

From the death of Jesus to 313 AD, Christianity went from being a religion hated by Rome (Christians were the scapegoats for the fires in Nero's time, look what Tacitus said about them) to being the state religion of the Empire. Jews would remain a hated and often hunted minority. As I will bring out in future articles, institutional anti-Semitism is not a new phenomena, but is recorded throughout history. As early as the second century AD, Christian bishops are speaking against the Jews.

The center of Christianity moved to Rome. Yes, the Holy Land was a place of pilgrimage, but it was not the center of Christan life.

In Orthodox Jewish synagogues even today, women are separated from the male congregants by physical barrier. Yes, it is different in Reform synagogues, but that is modern Judaism. By the way, as tonight's article will point out, in Gnostic Christianity women were given full religious equality, even being allowed to conduct services.

But let me tackle the "G-d question." Christians and Jews often say that we worship the same G-d. Muslims, of course, say that Allah and Yahweh are the same, as well. But I, respectfully of course, disagree. The G-d that visits destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah, that visits the Plagues on the Egyptians including the death of the First Born, sure seems different than the G-d that urges forgiveness in the New Testament. I am not talking about the actions of his followers, I am talking about what is written in the Torah as compared to the New Testament.

I think that the "same G-d" idea was put forth in an effort to convert Jews to Christianity. When that effort failed, two thousand years of anti-Semiticism ensued.

I am somewhat familiar with the issue, the difference between Judaism and Christianity, being one of the few who regularly (every week) goes to a synagogue in otherwise very catholic Dublin.

It is true that Christians were hated by almost everyone in the first two or three centuries CE, but then they were the only religion insisting that there was only one G-d. Judaism now as today handles dissent much better (or so I think) and was thus no danger to the established local religions which the Roman Empire didn't abolish or to the main Roman/Greek religion of the time.

As for orthodox Judaism and the role of women, it is true that by today's standard, orthodox Judaism isn't at the forefront of equality between the sexes any more. But considering the last 2000 years, Judaism always has been (and Judaism as such still is).

Christians and Jews do not only say that they worship the same G-d, the Christian bible makes it very clear that it is the same G-d by incorporating the "old testament" and continuing it with the "new testament". There is only one G-d that made the world.
If that G-d has changed His behaviour in time, He probably had His reasons. It doesn't mean we are talking about two distinct deities.

The idea was not put forth in an effort to convert anybody. Jesus (if he existed) was just one of many Jewish kids who taught people his own opinion of G-d, and this time the opinion stuck. But it was always the Jewish G-d he was talking about. Jesus was a Jew, afterall.

The centre of ONE particular sect of Christianity moved to Rome. The centre of others are located in other places. Jerusalem is still the most holy city of Christianity (I don't think Rome is considered holy at all). Istanbul, for example, is another centre of (this time orthodox) Christianity with equal status to Rome.

Judaism btw does not at all reluctantly accept converts. Judaism is glad about anybody who wants to convert. But the Jewish religion simply gives no reason to actively seek out converts, since Judaism merely imposes more rules on the individual without giving him anything in return. It is, according to Jewish faith, easier for a non-Jew to go to "heaven", because he only has to follow seven laws rather than 613. Christianity teaches (officially) that only those who accept the "truth" of Jesus will go to heaven. Judaism doesn't have such an axiom. (Islam lies in between, teaching that Jews and Christians can go to to heaven too, but only Muslims can go to the best part of it.)

2. Judaism and Christianity are both centered around Jerusalem.

I would take issue with this statement as well. Both Judaism and Christianity are religions that are temporal in nature, that is that they are historical and take place within teleological history. God, somehow, entered into time from his eternal perch and gave birth to history and its ulitmate end. This is in contradistinction to oriental and sub-continental religions where the divine and profane life is cyclical, basically outside of time and history.

One of the predominant distinctions between Judaism and Christianity is that the former is also the religion of a people and strongly rooted by a divine geography. There are earthly places that represent direct links or conduits to God. I am pretty sure that this is what determined the location and construction of the Great Temples. Christianity uprooted itself and became universal, being tied to no land and no people, and it is this that allowed it to be intensely evangelical in its orientation and function.

By the way, i am so glad to see that someone would go through the bother and suffer the meager reward (in the eyes of others) to bring such a series of posts into the JU fold. I give you my applause.

Marco

Thanks Larry and other posters here. Interesting topic. I don't mean to quibble too much, but my interest was piqued by a particular arguement by Andrew. I'd argue that one of the things that makes Christianity somewhat different from Judaism is that they don't really have a well defined holy place. Bethlehem is important to Christians (as the birth place of Jesus) almost as much as Jerusalem is (as the site of his crucifiction).

The interseting thing about this is that it is another way the New Testament differs fromt the Old Testament: That being that in addition to not being a vengeful God, He is also not nearly so particular or finicky about rules (I don't mean disrespect by this, I hope you get the gist of what I am saying). I would argue that this is another example of a concerted effort by the early father's (the people who wrote the Bible) of the church to gain membership and thus, power.

In any case, as a Roman Catholic born and bred, I would aruge that while the other sects of Christianity have varied or no holy places at all, the most holy place for "us" is Rome, or more specifically, the Vatican. As the seat of the Bishop of Rome who is, by far, the most influential of all our holy men, it is also a place that people of all nationalities make pilgrimage too, though most in order to see the great works of art done in the Jesus's name.

How did this ever get to be a featured article?

By the way, i am so glad to see that someone would go through the bother and suffer the meager reward (in the eyes of others) to bring such a series of posts into the JU fold. I give you my applause.

Marco, the reward is far from meager! I wish you could see the smile on my face!

I am somewhat familiar with the issue, the difference between Judaism and Christianity, being one of the few who regularly (every week) goes to a synagogue in otherwise very catholic Dublin.

Andrew, you and I will continue to disagree on this, but I hope that you will continue reading the succeeding posts. Just so that you know that I treat this with the utmost respect, I had my Bar Mitzvah at Temple Adeth Jeshuran, an Orthodox synagogue in New York, almost 37 years ago. Since that time, and even before, I have studied religions, particuarly my own. I would like to point out to you and to others that in our six thousand years of history, there has been and continues to be a wide diversity in beliefs and practices. Judaism, as is practiced in your synagogue is different than how it is practiced in a Reconstructionist Havarot and different from a Lubovitcher schul.

But rather than try to settle this issue now, please continue to read. And to post your replies!

Shalom.