Judaism (Jewish religion) — a comparison of the doctrine of 17 current religions
Prepared by and presented by Rex Bennett
An overview of the beliefs of the Jewish faith
- Judaism (Jewish religion):
- Atonement — They do not believe in incarnation (God becoming flesh). They do not accept salvation through Jesus. Every man is responsible for his own salvation. There is no mediator between God and man, even symbolically.
- Baptism — Do not believe in the ordinance of baptism. Do not have any kind of ordinance that equates to baptism. Baptism represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and they do not accept any of these beliefs or doctrines.
- Did Christ organize a church while on earth? — Jesus did not organize his own religion when he lived on the earth. He was just another Jewish teacher who happened to have followers and nothing more. They do not believe that he was the Son of God.
- Ecclesiastical authority — There is no religious hierarchy in the Jewish faith. The Rabbis’ (teachers) authority is based upon his learning. A rabbi’s influence depends upon the respect given him as an interpreter of Jewish law.
- God — God is the Father of men, is spiritual in nature, not physical. He admits to no human attributes, nor possesses any human attributes. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-merciful.
- Heaven and Hell — These places used to be accepted in Jewish theology but no longer. Do not believe in a literal heaven or hell. Believe in the immortality of the soul but the nature of this immortality is known only to God.
- Holy Bible — The Old Testament is the basis of this creed. They may read the New Testament. The Torah is the hand-printed scroll containing the 5 books of Moses. Talmud is composed of 63 books of legal, philosophical, ethical, and historical writings of the ancient rabbis, and is considered scriptural.
- Holy Ghost — There is no such concept in Jewish theology. There are no references to or teachings of a “Holy Spirit”.
- Holy Trinity — They believe in the “Oneness of God”. There is only 1 god, not a combination of Gods which are canonically called “The Trinity” in Christian theological circles.
- Is membership in a church needed for salvation? — Jewish people do not judge the honest worshipers of other religions. Our prayer book states: “The righteous of all nations are worthy of immortality.”
- Life after death — The future state of the immortal soul is known only to God. Some believe that the reward for virtuous living is the good life itself, as state by Maimonides, a 12th century philosopher.
- Marriage — They believe that people should marry within their own religion for a greater chance at a harmonious and lasting marriage. Recently many Reform Rabbis have officiated at interfaith marriages. Divorce is permitted.
- Miracles — They believe in the miracles performed anciently and also believe that there are still miracles today, just as there were in Bible times.
- Future status of non-believers in Christ — They do not believe in the divinity of Jesus, and thus whether or not one believes in Jesus has no bearing upon his or her salvation. Every man is responsible for his own salvation and no one else’s.
- Pre-existence of man — The Reform Jews believe that there is no such thing as a pre-existence. The Orthodox Jews believe in the immortality of the soul, and that the soul exists eternally, even before birth.
- Purpose of life — Life’s purpose is to imitate God’s qualities in personal life. To be merciful, compassionate, tolerant, just, to have a love of learning, to worship God, and do good deeds. There has been no missionary effort for centuries.
- Resurrection — Some Jews believe in physical resurrection of the body, though it is probable that most contemporary Jews do not hold to the bodily resurrection. Much of this is left to the individual to decide.
- Revelation — God has revealed his will to man through prophets as recorded in the Old Testament, but has never manifested himself physically to man.
- Sacrament — They do not believe in the taking of the sacrament. They do not have any ordinance that contributes to the concept that God would become flesh and live with man. Christians believe that he did and therefore take the sacrament.
- Satan — Satan is an evil spirit created by God. His purpose is to try to lead the souls of men astray. Do not believe that he is a physical being.
- Second Coming of Christ — They do not believe in the divinity of Jesus. The idea that God would make himself flesh and live among men is not acceptable to them. Jesus has died and will not come again.
- Vicarious work for the dead — Righteous acts of the family can have a positive influence on those that have died in the sense that it can give them joy. Probably does not have any influence on the salvation of these individuals though.
- Virgin birth, immaculate conception — They do not believe that Jesus is the literal son of God. Do not accept any doctrine of the virgin birth or immaculate conception.
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