Judaism and Christianity Are Two Important Religions

Judaism and Christianity are two important religions of the world, which share a common abrahamic origin. Christianity has its roots from Judaism and hence there are many common percepts between the two religions. However, there are some striking differences between them in their appreciation of the attributes of godhead, sin, suffering, atonement, etc. A comparison between the two religions would highlight the commonalities and the differences that exist between them. Let us consider two related aspects namely 'Sin and Evil' and discuss as to how the two religions interpret them.

Treatment of Evil One important difference between Judaism and Christianity is that Judaism does not consider the existence of an evil force. The purely monotheistic stand of Judaism does not consider any opposing force to god. This leaves Judaism wanting when it comes to explaining the underlying cause for evil in this world. However Judaism does offer an explanation for this problem, albeit in a much subtler way.

Though Christianity is also a monotheistic religion it does accept Satan as the personification of all evil and the opposing force of god in the world. All the evil deeds in the world are accepted to be the result of the manipulations of Satan. The Hebrew Bible also has a rare mention of Satan. However, the concept of Satan as perceived by the Jews is entirely different to that entertained by the Christians.

Satan from the Jewish perspective is viewed as an angel (although an accusing angel), a subordinate of godhead and not as personification of evil. The Lurianic Kubbalah mentions that the darker aspect of life or the 'sitra achara' is also an expression of another aspect of god. That is to mean that god creates both good and evil in order that men may have a chance to express their free will.

The central idea of Judaism is that there is nothing extrinsic to god and even evil is a projection of self contracted (tzimtzum) aspect of god. Christianity on the other hand views godhead and evil as two entirely different, opposing, and extrinsic forces that operate in the world. Thus, in the perception of evil there is a fundamental difference between them. [Goldberg, 249] Suffering In general Judaism considers suffering as a retributive action of god.

In the commandments of the Torah we have the declaration, 'I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse, therefore choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19). Hence, man alone is responsible for choosing between good and bad. Christianity offers an explanation for sin and suffering, at least from the point of 'original sin', by using the concept of 'Fall of Man'. So the primeval sin or the original sin was committed by the temptations of Satan.

The stain of the primordial sin committed by Adam affected every being on earth and is responsible for all his evil inclinations. [J. Gresham Machen]. Thus, the propensity for sin began from the moment Adam ate that forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. "Ye shall not surely die," said the serpent "for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4-5).

So Christianity in essence views every man as a sinner. "Wherefore as by one man sin entered into this world and by sin death; and so death passed upon all men." [Catholic Encyclopaedia]. Judaism does not consider the concept of original sin and it has a totally different doctrine for.