difference between christianity and judaism essay

Christianity vs. Judaism

Christianity and Judaism are two Abrahamic religions that have similar origins but have varying beliefs, practices, and teachings.

Comparison chart

About Judaism and Christianity

The definition of Christianity varies among different Christian groups. Roman Catholics, Protestants and Eastern Orthodox define a Christian as one who is the member of the Church and the one who enters through the sacrament of baptism . Infants and adults who are baptized are considered as Christians. Jesus's Jewish group became labeled 'Christian' because his followers claimed he was 'Christ' the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew and Aramaic word for ' Messiah .' Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people, based on principles and ethics embodied in the Hebrew Bible ( Tanakh ) and the Talmud .

Christianity began in 1st century AD Jerusalem as a Jewish sect and spread throughout the Roman Empire and beyond to countries such as Ethiopia, Armenia, Georgia, Assyria, Iran, India, and China. The first known usage of the term Christians can be found in the New Testament of the Bible . The term was thus first used to denote those known or perceived to be disciples of Jesus. The history of early Christian groups is told in Acts in the New Testament. The early days of Christianity witnessed the desert Fathers in Egypt, sects of hermits and Gnostic ascetics.

Jesus gave the New Law by summing up the Ten Commandments. Many of the Jews did not accept Jesus. For traditional Jews, the commandments and Jewish law are still binding. For Christians, Jesus replaced Jewish law. As Jesus began teaching the twelve Apostles some Jews began to follow Him and others did not. Those who believed the teachings of Jesus became known as Christians and those who didn't remained Jews.

Differences in Beliefs

The Religion of Mary and Joseph was the Jewish religion . Judaism's central belief is the people of all religions are children of God , and therefore equal before God. Judaism accepts the worth of all people regardless of religion, it allows people who are not Jewish and wish to voluntarily join the Jewish people. While the Jews believe in the unity of God, Christians believe in the Trinity. A Jew believes in divine revelation through the prophets and Christians believe it to be through Jesus and the prophets.

The Christian Religion encompasses all churches as well as believers without churches, as many modern practitioners may be believers in Christ but not active church goers. A Christian will study the Bible , attend church, seek ways to introduce the teachings of Jesus into his or her life, and engage in prayer. A Christian seeks forgiveness for his or her personal sins through faith in Jesus Christ . The goal of the Christian is both the manifestation of the Kingdom of God on Earth and the attainment of Heaven in the after-life.

In the following video, Christian apologist Lee Strobel interviews Rabbi Tovia Singer and fellow evangelical Christian apologist William Lane Craig about the Trinity of God:

Scriptures of Christianity and Judaism

Judaism has considered belief in the divine revelation and acceptance of the Written and Oral Torah as its fundamental core belief. The Jewish Bible is called Tanakh which is the dictating religious dogma. Christianity regards the Holy Bible, a collection of canonical books in two parts (the Old Testament and the New Testament) as authoritative: written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and therefore the inerrant Word of God.

Jewish vs. Christian Practices

Traditionally, Jews recite prayers three times daily, with a fourth prayer added on Shabbat and holidays. Most of the prayers in a traditional Jewish service can be said in solitary prayer, although communal prayer is preferred. Jews also have certain religious clothing which a traditional Jew wears.Christians believe that all people should strive to follow Christ's commands and example in their everyday actions. For many, this includes obedience to the Ten Commandments . Other Christian practices include acts of piety such as prayer and Bible reading. Christians assemble for communal worship on Sunday, the day of the resurrection, though other liturgical practices often occur outside this setting. Scripture readings are drawn from the Old and New Testaments, but especially the Gospels .

Comparing Jewish and Christian Religious Teachings/Principles

Judaism teaches Jews to believe in one God and direct all prayers towards Him alone while Christians are taught about the Trinity of God - The Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. Jews generally consider actions and behavior to be of primary importance; beliefs come out of actions. This conflicts with conservative Christians for whom belief is of primary importance and actions tend to be derivative from beliefs.

Another universal teaching of Christianity is following the concept of family values, helping the powerless and promoting peace which Jews also believe in.

The View of Jesus in Christianity and Judaism

To Jews, Jesus was a wonderful teacher and storyteller. He was just a human, not the son of God. Jews do not think of Jesus as a prophet . Also, Jews believe that Jesus cannot save souls, and only God can. In the Jewish view, Jesus did not rise from the dead. Judaism in general does not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

Christians believe in Jesus as a messiah and as the giver of salvation. Christians believe that all people should strive to follow Christ's commands and example in their everyday actions.

Geographical Distribution of Jews vs. Christians

The Jews have suffered a long history of persecution in many different lands, and their population and distribution per region has fluctuated throughout the centuries. Today, most authorities place the number of Jews between 12 and 14 million. Predominantly, Jews today live in Israel, Europe and the United States .

Data suggest that there are around 2.1 billion Christians in the world all around the globe inlcuding South and North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.

Groups/Sects

Jews include three groups: people who practice Judaism and have a Jewish ethnic background (sometimes including those who do not have strictly matrilineal descent), people without Jewish parents who have converted to Judaism; and those Jews who, while not practicing Judaism as a religion, still identify themselves as Jewish by virtue of their family's Jewish descent and their own cultural and historical identification with the Jewish people.

There are many people who follow christianity and have divided themselves into various groups/ sects depending upon varying beliefs. The types of Christians include Catholic , Protestant , Anglican , Lutheran , Presbyterian , Baptist, Episcopalian , Greek Orthodox , Russian Orthodox , Coptic .

• Jews and Christians: Exploring the past, present and Future by Various Contributors and edited by James H. Charlesworth
• Wikipedia: Jewish history
• Wikipedia: Jew#Who is a Jew
• Wikipedia: Christian
• Wikipedia: Christianity

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Comments: Christianity vs Judaism

Anonymous comments (5).

January 10, 2012, 7:53pm A rather poor and static account of Judaisim with no distinction between the period of Temple worship and the evolution of Judaism after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, which involved innovations such as synagougue worship and the codification of the Oral Law. Halakha is merely a term for law or legaly study (see the Penguin Dictionary of Judaims by Nicholas De Lange). No mention of the fact that Judaism deals with how to bevave ethically in a divinely create world whose permissible pleasures and benefits which are enjoined to enjoy. Likwise, no mention of the seven basic Noachic Commandments, the observance of which places non-Jews and Jews on a equal footing. Therefore, I do not stop Christians in the street and try to convert them to Judaism. I wish that they would accord me the same courtesy. Judaism today covers a wide range of groups, some of whom, such as the Chassidim, have beliefs that are coloured by Christian thought such as original sin and the existence of Satan. In traditonal Jewish thought, everything is created by the Almighty and there is no supernatural source of evil. Every human being has an inclination towards good and towards evil and we are all indiviudally rsponsible for our own actions. Human beings therefore are capable of change and no Redeemer who died for our sins is required. I resent the historical treatment of Jews by Christians and their belief that theirs is the one truth faith, despite Christ's statement about the many mansions in my Father's house. I aslo resent Christians' sometimes deliberate misinterpretation of passages in the Old Testament such as "eye for eye" in a literal manner, in order to portray Judaism as a brutal religion that has been supersed by Christianity, the religion of love, although throught the ages we Jews have seen percious little of this virture. Even today, the indifference of most Christians towards animal welfare and animal cruelty is striking. In Judasim, all living beings are part of the divine creation and are to be respected accordingly. I suggest that you do more reading to deepen your knowledge and understanding of our religion, without which Christianity would not have been possible. — 82.✗.✗.178

December 1, 2012, 9:41am Are you talking a out a religion that came years after the Hebrews stopped using the name of God when he told you to keep it and remember it for it is his name forever? If I recall most jews don't even utter or even try to pronounce the name anymore. Jesus the rebel had to come along and use the name,lol, Jesus said Ehyah has sent me, and said he is one with Ehyah and most jews wanted to stone him and if possible kill all his followers or mess with there teachings due to the fact Gentiles after being exposed to Messiah and his culture were being taught that they needed to be circumcised and of that other such. I didn't come to say all jews are bad, in fact there are as many good as there are bad, we are all humans. What I am saying is Judaism formed over the years compared to there predecessors. I mean lets be rash No prophet in the bible was claiming to be apart of Judaism, what they claimed was there tribe and the God. If you ask Moses what's Judaism he wouldn't know what to say because its a religion and if I go to the nearest synagogue over a year I can possibly be called a Jew too. Does that make me Judah's descendant NO. Big difference between tribes and religion — 71.✗.✗.160

December 14, 2011, 3:04am I am a little late for the discussion here. I find it interesting that with the similar beliefs in the Old testament and the Torah that the two diverge as much as they do. I have yet to find one mention of the trinity in either the Old or New Testament (if I missed it please enlighten me). To me is seems both religions claim to worship the same G-d. One teaches redemption while the other preaches salvation. To me this are a lot alike it is where man is removed from his own sin and evil. I know on a social scale there is much difference. A person is Jewish by birth and or choice. In almost any event they will be Jewish even if they choose not to believe in g-d. In Christianity you are a Christian by choice , you must ask g-d to accept you. You must apologize for a sinful nature that is part of the human condition. You must live the best you can to G-d standards and the 10 commandments. However there were a number of restrictions lifted most notably diet. I am trying to get to the root of the differences myself as I sit and look at the two religions. I know that G-d's people are to be tormented and the Jews have had that throughout history. I see this happening with the Christians now as well. I will keep digging and hope somewhere someone can help me by shedding light on the Jews and Christians. Untill then may G-d bless every one of you as he does. — 71.✗.✗.121

May 2, 2014, 3:33pm no that is a hole different religion that that the cover their hair if you thought that because of the movie gods not dead her family was islamic — 209.✗.✗.254

August 16, 2013, 5:21am Start writing down how many times your prayer have been answered and how they were answered. So next time some one tells you there's no god show 'em the list. They may say that's just a coincidence but they are probably going to start wondering if what they've been told is true and start looking into it. And for those of you who say your prayers haven't been answered, here's some advice. APPRECIATE THE little THINGS. — 72.✗.✗.10

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When Did Judaism and Christianity Part Ways?

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The development of the two religions: Christianity and Judaism, is a topic of much debate. Whereas Judaism and Christianity are known as separate religions, in fact, these two religions developed side by side. While earlier researchers conceptualized a “parting-of-the-ways,” after which the two religions evolved independently, new studies reveal a multi-layered set of interactions throughout the first several centuries CE. In late antique Jewish and Christian texts, admonitions against following borrowed customs are preserved alongside casual references to joint religious practices, depicting a reality in which Jews and Christians lived in close proximity and engaged in a range of relationships. These studies reveal much richer and more multi-layered models of interactions than previously thought.

Explore some of these texts and talk about the “parting of the ways” between the two religious communities.

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Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Essays on the Relationship between Christianity and Judaism

Digital Logos Edition

Print (Paperback)

Explore the relationship between Judaism and Christianity

The question of how Jesus’ followers relate to Judaism has been a matter of debate since Jesus first sparred with the Pharisees. The controversy has not abated, taking many forms over the centuries. In the decades following the Holocaust, scholars and theologians reconsidered the Jewish origins and character of Christianity, finding points of continuity.

Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity advances this discussion by freshly reassessing the issues. Did Jesus intend to form a new religion? Did Paul abrogate the Jewish law? Does the New Testament condemn Judaism? How and when did Christianity split from Judaism? How should Jewish believers in Jesus relate to a largely gentile church? What meaning do the Jewish origins of Christianity have for theology and practice today?

In this volume, a variety of leading scholars and theologians explore the relationship of Judaism and Christianity through biblical, historical, theological, and ecclesiological angles. Readers will have their understanding of this centuries-old debate enriched with current scholarship.

Praise for Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity

This remarkable collection adds its own distinctive contribution to the rapidly emerging picture that places early Christians into their full Jewish context. From there, biblical and historical issues begin to look very different. The collection raises profound and difficult questions about the stereotypes Christians have entertained for so long.

–Gavin D'Costa, professor of Catholic theology, University of Bristol

I am so glad that this book exists. It is the best one-volume overview of Christianity's relation to its Jewish roots that I know of, in any language.

–R. Kendall Soulen, professor of systematic theology, Emory University and author of The God of Israel and Christian Theology

Top Highlights

“This essay has argued for a third possibility—a Paul who regarded Jewish identity and law observance as a matter of calling and covenant fidelity.” ( Pages 49–50 )

“Paul’s bottom line, his rule, is that Jews who follow Jesus, like Paul himself, should remain in their calling as Jews and not assimilate.” ( Page 37 )

“But do these differences indicate a rejection on the part of the author of the Jewish roots of early Christianity” ( Page 52 )

“‘The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?’ The operative framework is sacrifice, the cultic action that effects communion between the sacrificer and the deity.” ( Page 89 )

“Mark Gignilliat uses the most recent biblical scholarship to argue that New Testament authors regarded the Hebrew Scriptures as their grammar for thinking about how the God of Israel could have a divine Son and Spirit.” ( Pages 3–4 )

Studies in Scripture and Biblical Theology

Studies in Scripture and Biblical Theology is a peer-reviewed series of contemporary monographs exploring key topics and issues in biblical studies and biblical theology from an evangelical perspective.

Learn more about the other titles in this series.

• Introduction
• “Old Testament: How Did the New Testament Authors Use Tanak?” by Mark S. Gignilliat
• “Did Jesus Plan to Start a New Religion?” by Matthew Thiessen
• “Was Paul Championing a New Freedom from—or End to—Jewish Law?” by David Rudolph
• “Jesus’ Sacrifice and the Mosaic Logic of Hebrews’ New-Covenant Theology” by David M. Moffitt
• “Missed and Misunderstood Jewish Roots of Christian Worship” by Matthew S. C. Olver
• “The Parting of the Ways: When and How Did the Ekklēsia Split from the Synagogue?” by Isaac W. Oliver
• “From Constantine to the Holocaust: The Church and the Jews” by Eugene Korn
• “Post-Holocaust Jewish-Christian Relations: Challenging Boundaries and Rethinking Theology” by Jennifer M. Rosner
• “Anglicans and Israel: The (Largely) Untold Story” by Sarah Lebhar Hall
• “Messianic Judaism: Recovering the Jewish Character of the Ekklēsia ” by Mark S. Kinzer
• “Christian Churches: What Difference Does the Jewishness of Jesus Make?” by Archbishop Foley Beach
• “Christian Theology: What Difference Does This Make?” by Gerald McDermott

Product Details

• Title: Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Essays on the Relationship between Christianity and Judaism
• Editor: Gerald McDermott
• Series: Studies in Scripture and Biblical Theology
• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication Date: 2021
• Format: Logos Digital, Paperback
• Trim Size: 6x9
• ISBN: 9781683594611

About Gerald R. McDermott

Gerald R. McDermott is Anglican Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He previously taught at Roanoke College and is an Anglican priest. McDermott is the author, coauthor, or editor of numerous books, including Israel Matters , Famous Stutterers , The Theology of Jonathan Edwards , God’s Rivals: Why Has God Allowed Different Religions? , Can Evangelicals Learn from World Religions? , World Religions: An Indispensable Introduction , and A Trinitarian Theology of Religions . He has written for Christianity Today , the Christian Century , and First Things .

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Christianity vs. Judaism – Major Differences

Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz

Here, in great brevity, is a summary of some of the major differences between Judaism and Christianity.

There are major fundamental differences in the belief systems of Christianity and Judaism.  The following chart outlines these difference within Christianity and . Judaism

For a more in-depth analysis watch the following video:

Nature of God: Unity vs. Trinity

The foundation of Christian theology includes belief that G-d exists as a Trinity, and that Jesus is the bodily incarnation of G-d and acts as a mediator between G-d and man. Hebrew Christian missionaries claim that this theology is totally compatible with Judaism.

Judaism maintains that although certain beliefs may be permissible for non-Jews, they are not acceptable for Jews. The Christian theology concerning G-d is one example of a belief that is absolutely forbidden to Jews according to the Hebrew Bible, as the following biblical sources demonstrate: “ Hear O Israel, The Lord our G-d, the Lord is One .” ( Deuteronomy 6:4 ) Read More

The Messiah

Every King is a Messiah, by convention, we refer to this future anointed one as The Messiah.  The above is the only description in the Bible of a Davidic descendant who is to come in the future.  We will recognize the Messiah by seeing who the King of Israel is at the time of complete universal perfection. Read More

Check out the following video Sin and Atonement.

Non-Believers are Doomed to Eternal Damnation:

MARK 16:16 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be damned.

JOHN 3:36 He that believes in the son will have everlasting life, and he that doesn’t believe the son shall not see life, but the wrath of god abides in him.

LUKE 19:27 And those enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be king over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.

II THES. 1:8-9 8 Bringing judgement on those who don’t know god and on those who refuse to obey the good news of our lord Jesus, 9 they will be punished with everlasting destruction, forever separated from the lord…

REVELATION 21:8 But those who turn away from me, and unbelievers…their doom is in the lake of fire.

The Jews - God's Chosen People

The Jewish belief in being the Chosen People vastly differs from that of Christianity. Judaism believes that being God’s Chosen People has nothing to do with racial superiority or egocentrism, or even of attaining a place in Heaven, but rather, has everything to do with a sense of unique responsibility and the idea of Divine duty and obligation.

The “ Chosen People ” refers to Jews as “ chosen ,” to remind the world of Abraham’s monotheistic message and to remind the world of a moral code, and a system of ethics that has already shaped the world around us, thereby elevating humanity (Jews and non-Jews alike).  Read More

The Jewish People are G-d’s Chosen:

GENESIS 12:3 And I will bless those who bless you (Abraham and his descendants), and those who curse you, I will curse.

EXODUS 19:5 …you will be a special treasure unto Me above all peoples.

DEUTERONOMY 7:6 For you are a holy people to the L-rd your G-d; the L-rd your G-d has chosen you to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

PSALMS 135:4 For the L-rd has chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for His special treasure.

ZECHARIAH 2:8 …he who touches you (Israel) touches the apple of His eye. See also Deuteronomy 32:10

From the Christian Scriptures:

ROMANS 11:28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes, but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sake.

ROMANS 3:1-2 1 What advantage then, has the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way- chiefly, because unto them were committed the oracles of god.

ROMANS 9:4 …the Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the law and the temple service and the promises…

Commandments are Eternal:

The Jew recognizes that the commandments of God as expressed in the Torah are eternal ( Psalm 119:144 ). The Jew sees in each of the commandments a God-given opportunity to express faith in God, to express faith in God’s word, and to acknowledge God’s total sovereignty over every aspect of life ( Psalm 119:91 ). Every commandment is a gift of holiness from the divine source of all holiness ( Leviticus 20:26 ). Studying the intricacies of the commandments brings one into contact with God’s own wisdom ( Psalm 19:8 ). Through the study of God’s Law, the Jew attempts to bring the deepest facets of his nature in line with God’s holy will ( Psalm 119:9 ). The Jew sees the Law as the path that God created to enable the Jewish nation to partake of His goodness ( Psalm 119:93 ). Reach more

Of all the world’s unique religions, Christianity and Judaism bear, perhaps, the most similarity. This is because they come from the same beginnings, with both religions having similar conceptions of the nature of God, recognizing some of the same sacred texts, and having many of the same basic beliefs concerning the creation of the world, as well as ideas about heaven, hell, and the necessity of atonement for sin.

Without Judaism, in fact, we would not have Christianity—they share the same root. The Jewish people were one of the first to engage in the worship of a single God who was not only all-powerful and all-knowing, but also perfectly just, loving, and good. This set God apart from pagan deities, who had many of the same flaws as human beings. The God of Judaism and the God of Christianity are the certainly the same being, and both Christianity and Judaism began with the covenantal relationship between God and Abraham, and the subsequent spread of these beliefs through the next generations.

The differences, though, in the stories of these two world religions begin to appear in the Bible that each uses. Each of these faiths has a different version of scripture, with Judaism only recognizing the Old Testament—the Hebrew Scriptures—as the inspired word of God. They know these books as the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. This part of the Bible documents the history, culture, and theology of the Jewish people, but goes no further.

It is here the split from Judaism to Christianity occurs. The Jews believed that God would, one day, send a powerful messenger—the Messiah—to deliver Israel from oppressors and bring in a new era of peace, and even today, believe that this is an event that has yet to occur. For Christians, that promised Messiah came in the form of Jesus Christ—the central difference Christianity and Judaism.

Judaism does not accept Christ as the Son of God, or as the chosen Messiah foretold in the Old Testament. Jews regard Jesus as an excellent teacher, and at most, a prophet. This is, at times, a great source of contention between these two similar faiths as Jews accuse Christians of corrupting the image of the one, true God, and Christians accuse Jews of dismissing the very Son of God.

Christianity began with the teachings of Christ. After the death of Jesus on the cross, His disciples went out into the world, establishing churches. It wasn’t long before this splintered sect of Judaism began to take on its own character, becoming an entirely separate religion, with Christianity teaching that the only path to God—and thus, to heaven—lies in accepting Jesus Christ as one’s personal savior. This is reiterated throughout the New Testament, and is of central importance for every Christian denomination.

As a result of this disbelief in Christ as an aspect of God, Judaism differs from Christianity in that it considers God to be perfectly “one,” rather than existing in the Trinity—the idea that the one God  also exists as God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jews often see the Christian Trinity as being inherently polytheistic, in fact.

Aside from these main differences, there are also traditions, ceremonies, and norms which are unique to each faith. While examining the enormous scope of Jewish customs is beyond the scope of this article, Judaism has its own unique holidays such a Hanukkah, Yom Kippur, and Passover, and has its own unique clothing, symbols, and festivals. Worship practices, too, are different, with Jews attending synagogues or temples, which are often the centers of Jewish communities, social activity, and charity work. Religious leaders, in Judaism, are called Rabbis, while Christian religious leaders are often called priests or ministers.

In general, the Christian traditions can seem less complex because, in the Christian tradition, Christ abolished the need for things like dietary laws, feast days, and many other religious norms that are still practiced in Judaism. But despite this, there is no equal in Judaism for Christianity’s multitude of denominations and variance of beliefs. Both religions, in their own ways, are startlingly complex.

These two faiths also differ in the ultimate goal of life: Judaism focuses on living a good life through right conduct as prescribed in the Mosaic Covenant, while Christians focus more on being good through correct beliefs, as illustrated by Christ.

Christians are much more focused on spreading those beliefs, and readily accept new converts. Jesus commands Christians to “make disciples of all nations,” going out into the world and spreading the Word of God, and so, for many Christians, this is an incredibly important part of religious life.

Judaism, on the other hand, is not a proselytizing religion, and accept converts only after they expend a great amount of effort studying Jewish laws and customs for several years. This is a very involved process, with those wishing to become a Jew undertaking a rigorous period of supervised work. Since Jews believe that an individual does not need to be a Jew in order to come to God, they see little need to convert non-Jews.

Interestingly, there is an offshoot of Judaism that combines both faiths—this is Messianic Judaism. This is a movement that combines ideas from both faiths, merging Jewish tradition with the idea that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, and that both the Old and New Testaments are authoritative and inspired by God. Salvation, for Messianic Jews, is attained through the acceptance of Christ. Messianic Jews retain their Jewish lifestyle, culture, and identities, and continue to celebrate their own festivals and feast days, but do so in a way that honors Christ.

Despite the differences, however, these two religions are more alike than not, and share a rich history of interactions with God, as well as a long list of challenges, failures, and triumphs. Both faiths, when followed closely, help inform their adherents’ morality and provide a framework in which people can be moral and good.

Together, these two religions change lives just as much as they have changed history.

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Homepage | Religion | What is the Difference Between Orthodox and Catholic

What is the Difference Between Orthodox and Catholic

The difference between Orthodox and Catholics traces through the very history of Christianity between the East and the West. Let’s explore it.

• 1 The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception for Catholics and Orthodox
• 2 The Orthodox and the Pope
• 3 Purgatory for the Orthodox
• 4 Baptism in the Orthodox Church
• 5 The Russian Orthodox Church

Although Christianity is one of the most widespread monotheistic religions in the world, it would be wrong to speak of a single religious and spiritual expression. Indeed, while its heart and focus remain the life and human and divine experience of Jesus Christ , we can identify within it various professions of faith that differ in often fundamental aspects of doctrine, traditions, and Sacraments. Thus, we have Catholic Christians, Protestant Christians , Orthodox Christians , and in particular, we want to focus our attention in this article on the difference between Orthodox and Catholics .

The main differences between Catholics and Protestants The differences between Catholics and Protestants are fundamental to the history of the Christian religion and the birth…

Orthodox Christianity boasts a number of baptized faithful not too far from Catholic Christianity, placing it as the second-largest Christian Church in the world . It officially emerged with the East-West Schism of 1054 AD , but the date is indicative only. Many historical events and discussions led to this split, from the Sack of Constantinople by the Venetians against the Byzantines in 1204, to the rejection of the Council of Florence, which was supposed, among other things, to heal the divisions between the Latin and Orthodox Churches in 1484, to which the Patriarch of Constantinople, Simeon I, responded by convening a Synod of Orthodox bishops. In any case, it is significant that Western historiography speaks of the East-West Schism , while the Orthodox refer to it as the Latin Schism .

One of the fundamental points that led to this rupture was that the Western Catholic Church claimed the primacy of the Pope , Bishop of Rome and successor of the Apostle Peter, investing him with true jurisdictional power even over the other centers of Christianity at the time, the so-called pentarchy , formed by Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem , the five most important episcopal sees of the Roman world. The other cities of the pentarchy were willing to accept this superior authority of Rome only over Western Christians. Of course, there were other issues on which Eastern and Western Christians did not agree, and some of these differences are still identifiable today between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

Already the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD had brought out the differences and determined the first separations between some Eastern churches, but also the tendency of the Western church to concentrate power in the hands of the Pope, to the detriment of the Eastern patriarchs. On that occasion, the Patriarch of Constantinople also attempted to claim a role of superiority over the other patriarchs, presenting himself as “ecumenical patriarch,” which did not please the Bishop of Rome .

But what are the main differences between Catholicism and Orthodoxy? First of all, Orthodox Christians do not recognize a single religious authority . Individual bishops govern their churches through local synods without being accountable to a single head comparable to the Catholic Pope. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is considered primus inter pares (“first among equals”), but his figure and role are mostly representative of the religious profession.

Orthodox Christians consider bishops the direct successors of the Apostles , and as such, they are invested with the mandate wanted by Christ himself when he created the Church. They thus refer to the early Church and the original Christian faith , based on holy tradition : Holy Scriptures, teachings of the Church Fathers, dogmatic principles elaborated in the seven historic ecumenical councils.

Orthodox Christians consider the seven Sacraments valid, show devotion to the Virgin Mary Theotókos , Mother of God, and also venerate the Saints.

Regarding Original Sin , which they call Ancestral Sin, they do not consider it: humans are born pure, not tainted by the guilt of Adam and Eve, but naturally predisposed to sin by their very nature.

Who were the 12 apostles and discover the difference between apostles and disciples Who were the 12 apostles, companions of Jesus in the short span of his…

The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception for Catholics and Orthodox

A difference between Orthodox and Catholics concerns the dogma of the Immaculate Conception . Orthodox and Catholic Christians hold in high regard the figure of Mary, Mother of Jesus , whom the Orthodox call Theotókos , Mother of God. But Catholics maintain that, although born to ordinary man and woman, Joachim and Anne, the Virgin Mary was conceived free from Original Sin , as she was destined to bear Jesus Christ in her womb. For the Orthodox, however, Mary was conceived with Original Sin and was purified precisely at the moment when Jesus was placed in her womb. The Orthodox do not recognize the dogma of the Assumption of Mary .

The Assumption of Mary and the most characteristic celebrations 15 August is not just an occasion for partying and outings. We remember the Assumption of Mary into heaven…

The Orthodox and the Pope

As for the figure of the Pope , we have already seen how the fundamental difference between Orthodox and Catholics from the dawn of time is precisely the refusal by the former to recognize the authority of the Supreme Pontiff or any religious authority superior to the Bishops , heirs, and successors of the Apostles. Instead, we know that for Catholics, the Pope is the sole descendant of Peter, head of the apostles and representative of Christ on earth, chosen by Jesus himself as the guide of His church.

The symbolic value of bishop rings The Bishop is among the priests, one of the most important and invested figures with meaning for the faithful…

Purgatory for the Orthodox

Western Catholics consider Purgatory a place between Heaven and Hell where men who have sinned can atone for their sins, at least in part, to purify themselves and ascend to Heaven. For the Orthodox, however, who also encourage prayers for the deceased , Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to save all men, or at least those willing to live according to God’s laws. However, when the body dies, the soul must undertake a journey through the stars, during which it must stop at various stations, the telonia , where evil spirits interrogate it and demand payment of a toll for actions committed, true or presumed. In this journey, the virtuous soul is helped and supported by angels. The more a person has loved God and lived a holy life, the easier it will be to pass the trials and reach Heaven.

Baptism in the Orthodox Church

Orthodox and Catholic Christians both practice baptism , the former by immersion , completely immersing the baptized in sanctified water to be reborn to new life, the latter by infusion , where the priest pours sanctified water over the baptized’s head. The Orthodox refer to the Greek term baptisma , which means “immersion,” and their rite involves three full immersions . For the Orthodox Church, baptism is the moment a person is born in Christ, receiving a new name, exclusively that of a saint.

Baptism: meaning, symbols and how to organise one Baptism is the first of the sacraments that enshrine the true birth of a Christian…

The Russian Orthodox Church

The Orthodox Christian Church is still widespread mainly in Southeastern and Eastern Europe and in the nations of the former Soviet Union. Russia has its own autocephalous Orthodox Church, headed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia . In the past, this Orthodox Church was also linked to other patriarchates, including the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Patriarchate of Antioch, and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. But the Russian Orthodox Church has always maintained a strong bond with secular power . Especially after the end of the Soviet Union, Russia entrusted its church with the custody of ancient traditions and imperial vestiges, and Muscovite Orthodoxy became part of the cultural and political project of the “ Russian world. ” Today, Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, has come under EU sanctions for blessing Putin’s war against Ukraine.

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Comparing Christianity and Judaism

• Written by  Super User
• PETER KREEFT

Kreeft outlines the main theological and practical differences, as well as the important common elements, between Christianity and Judaism.

This is surely Jesus' point of view too, for He said He came not to destroy the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them. From His point of view, Christianity is more Jewish than modern Judaism. Pre-Christian Judaism is like a virgin: post-Christian Judaism is like a spinster. In Christ, God consummates the marriage to His people and through them to the world.

What have Christians inherited from the Jews? Everything in the Old Testament. The knowledge of the true God. Comparing that with all the other religions of the ancient world, six crucial, distinctive teachings stand out: monotheism, creation, law, redemption, sin and faith.

Only rarely did a few gentiles like Socrates and Akenaton ever reach to the heights and simplicity of monotheism. A world of many forces seemed to most pagans to point to many gods. A world of good and evil seemed to indicate good and evil gods. Polytheism seems eminently reasonable; in fact, I wonder why it is not much more popular today.

There are only two possible explanations for the Jews' unique idea of a single, all-powerful and all-good God: Either they were the most brilliant philosophers in the world, or else they were "the Chosen People" — i.e., God told them. The latter explanation, which is their traditional claim, is just the opposite of arrogant. It is the humblest possible interpretation of the data.

With a unique idea of God came the unique idea of creation of the universe out of nothing. The so-called "creation myths" of other religions are really only formation myths, for their gods always fashion the world out of some pre-existing stuff, some primal glop the gods were stuck with and on which you can blame things: matter, fate, darkness, etc. But a Jew can't blame evil on matter, for God created it; nor on God, since He is all-good. The idea of human free will, therefore, as the only possible origin of evil, is correlative to the idea of creation.

The Hebrew word "to create" ( bara ) is used only three times in the Genesis account: for the creation of the universe (1:1), life (1:21) and man (1:27). Everything else was not "created" (out of nothing) but "formed" (out of something).

The consequences of the idea of creation are immense. A world created by God is real, not a dream either of God or of man. And that world is rational. Finally, it is good. Christianity is a realistic, rational and world-affirming religion, rather than a mythical, mystical, or world-denying religion because of its Jewish source.

The essence of Judaism, which is above all a practical religion, is the Law. The Law binds the human will to the divine will. For the God of the Jews is not just a Being or a Force, or even just a Mind, but a Will and a person. His will is that our will should conform to His: "Be holy, for I am holy" (Lev. 11:44).

The Law has levels of intimacy ranging from the multifarious external civil and ceremonial laws, through the Ten Commandments of the moral law, to the single heart of the Law. This is expressed in the central prayer of Judaism, the shma (from its first word, "hear"): "Hear O Israel: the Lord, the Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" Deut. 6:4).

Thus, the essence of Judaism is the same as the essence of Christianity: the love of God. Only the way of fulfilling that essence — Christ — is different. Judaism knows the Truth and the Life, but not the Way. As the song says: "Two out of three ain't bad."

Even the Way is foreshadowed in Judaism, of course. The act brought dramatically before the Jews every time they worshiped in the temple was an act of sacrifice, the blood of bulls and goats and lambs foretelling forgiveness. To Christians, every detail of Old Testament Judaism was a line or a dot in the portrait of Christ. That is why it was so tragic and ironic that "He came to what was His own, but his own people did not accept Him" (John 1:11). Scripture is His picture, but most Jews preferred the picture to the person.

Thus the irony of His Saying:

You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf" (John 5:39-40).

No religion outside Judaism and Christianity ever knew of such an intimate relationship with God as "faith." Faith means not just belief but fidelity to the covenant, like a marriage covenant. Sin is the opposite of faith, for sin means not just vice but divorce, breaking the covenant.

In Judaism, as in Christianity, sin is not just moral and faith is not just intellectual; both are spiritual, i.e., from the heart. Rabbi Martin Buber's little classic "I and Thou" lays bare the essence of Judaism and of its essential oneness with Christianity.

Christians are often asked by Jews to agree not to "proselytize." They cannot comply, of course, since their Lord has commanded them otherwise (Matt. 28:18-20). But the request is understandable, for Judaism does not proselytize. Originally this was because Jews believed that only when the Messiah came was the Jewish revelation to spread to the gentiles. Orthodox Jews still believe this, but modern Judaism does not proselytize for other reasons, often relativistic ones.

Christianity and Judaism are both closer and farther apart than any two other religions. On the one hand, Christians are completed Jews; but on the other, while dialogue between any two other religions may always fall back on the idea that they do not really contradict each other because they are talking about different things, Jews and Christians both know who Jesus is, and fundamentally differ about who He is. He is the stumbling stone (Is. 8:14).

Additional Info

• Author: Peter Kreeft

Kreeft, Peter. "Comparing Christianity & Judaism." National Catholic Register . (May, 1987).

Reprinted by permission of the author. To subscribe to the National Catholic Register call 1-800-421-3230.

• Publisher: National Catholic Register
• Alternate: http://catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0007.html

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