Both Jewish and Christian history begins with Abraham, who was the first to believe in one God, the Creator of heaven and earth. These two religions started as one and it was only a disagreement in beliefs that set them on their separate paths.
Abraham's Story
When Abraham became a believer in the existence of one God, he tried to convince those around him who worshiped idols. Abraham’s father, Terach owned an Idol shop and one day when Abraham was put in charge he did his best to discourage the customers, making them doubt the importance of idols. Then when it come to closing time Abraham took a hammer and smashed all the idols except one. Naturally when Terach found out he was livid, he demanded to know what had happened. Abraham explained by saying that the Idols decided to hold a competition to see who was the strongest, “And there is the winner,” He said while pointing to the remaining idol. “That’s nonsense, idols cannot move or speak, they couldn’t have done this,” His father retort. “Exactly my point,” said Abraham, “These idols may have eyes, ears, hands and legs but they can’t use them, they have no real power. There is only one God, the Father of all living things.” Thus Abraham was able to turn his people away from worshiping their false gods.
He is remembered as the founder of the Hebrew religion and the first to practice circumcision as a sign of the covenant with God. Abraham was told by God to move to a place which later became know as Israel. However circumstances made it necessary for his descendents to move to Egypt.
To begin with the Egyptians treated the Hebrews (who were now know as Israelites), well. However things disintegrate to a point where the people of Israel became slaves and were ordered to have all their male babies killed. From this came the story of Moses who was chosen by God to free the Israelites.
Moses' Story
When the Egyptians officials decided that all male Hebrew babies were to be drowned in the River Nile one family disobeyed. They put their baby in a basket and let him drift in the river, hoping that someone would take care of him. The princess found the baby and decided to adopt him, and thus Moses, a descendent of Israel grew up to became a prince of Egypt. His family knew what had happened and kept in touch so he did not forget his heritage. He grew up to be the leader of His people and the one to free them from Egypt.
He demanded that the Pharaoh released his people and when the Pharaoh refused the Egyptians suffered many things until the Israelites were allowed to depart.
After the Exodus Moses lead the people to Mount Sinai where he obtained the Ten Commandments and entered the people of Israel into a covenant with God. This was part of both Jewish and Christian history, up till this point they were still the same religion. The disagreement between the two religions occurred with the coming of Jesus Christ, some believed that he was the long awaited Messiah while others believed otherwise.
The Birth of Christianity
Judaism as a whole underwent a major upset with the birth of Christianity, these new Judeo-Christian were seen to be heretics (anti-believers) by some and while others viewed Christianity as a sect of Judaism.
Many converted to this new religion; the Jews in Judaea, Greek Jews of the Diaspora and even pagans. As Christianity began to spread opposition to it grew. The Christians were often persecuted, but “persecution resulted in dispersion and dispersion meant that the gospel spread far and wide” (Acts 8:4). In the early days there were no actual Churches where people met for worship, this was partly due to the persecution and poverty of Christians in the first 300 years of its existence and partly due to the fact that Christians believed that Jesus would return again and the end of the world was very near. Therefore it seemed pointless building places worship. Nevertheless, as time passed, certain people were appointed to look after areas where there were large groups of Christians
The persecution of the Christians continued until third century CE when Emperor Constantine became a Christian and made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. During this time, the Jews were also being persecuted by the Romans who was largely polytheistic and when Christianity became the state religion of Rome under Constantine the Jews suffered persecution in the hands of the Roman Christians.
As a result of this, Jews withdrew into their own communities to build a way of life to preserve their identity as Jews. The religion that emerged from this period became know as Rabbinic Judaism, all modern branches of Judaism descends from this.
Rabbinic Judaism
Rabbinic Judaism grew from the heritage of the past, the Law of Moses and the Messianic hope for the future. It was formed by a group of rabbis who believed that when God gave Moses the Law at Mount Sinai he also received an oral tradition of knowledge that gave more details about the written traditions of the Hebrew Bible and how it should be adapted. The rabbis’ first writings is called the Mishanh, it is a record of the oral tradition so that Jews might understand how to prepare for the coming of the Messiah.
These Religions Today
Judaism and Christianity both continued to develop over the ages. Judaism in the form of Rabbinic Judaism which led to the development of the different branches of Judaism that exists today. And Christianity, first as the official religion of the Roman Empire and then later during the Middle ages where the Church gained enormous power.
There are many different sects in both Christianity and Judaism, these sects usually develop when there is a disagreement in belief or practice. Examples of sects in Christianity include the Catholics and the Orthodox. The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church broke apart in The Great Schism in 1054 CE after much argument between the Pope and the Patriarch. In Judaism sects include the Orthodox and the Progressive (sometimes know as Reform or Liberal). Orthodox Jews believe that they are practicing a religion that has remained unchanged for centuries, while Progressive Jews observe major customs but ignores minor practices which they feel are no longer suitable in today's society.
Despite the different sects of each religion and the slight various on their beliefs Christianity and Judaism are both thriving religions of today. They have both suffered many difficulties and yet always managing to come out on top. These two religions will no doubt survive well into the future of our society.
Abraham's Story
When Abraham became a believer in the existence of one God, he tried to convince those around him who worshiped idols. Abraham’s father, Terach owned an Idol shop and one day when Abraham was put in charge he did his best to discourage the customers, making them doubt the importance of idols. Then when it come to closing time Abraham took a hammer and smashed all the idols except one. Naturally when Terach found out he was livid, he demanded to know what had happened. Abraham explained by saying that the Idols decided to hold a competition to see who was the strongest, “And there is the winner,” He said while pointing to the remaining idol. “That’s nonsense, idols cannot move or speak, they couldn’t have done this,” His father retort. “Exactly my point,” said Abraham, “These idols may have eyes, ears, hands and legs but they can’t use them, they have no real power. There is only one God, the Father of all living things.” Thus Abraham was able to turn his people away from worshiping their false gods.
He is remembered as the founder of the Hebrew religion and the first to practice circumcision as a sign of the covenant with God. Abraham was told by God to move to a place which later became know as Israel. However circumstances made it necessary for his descendents to move to Egypt.
To begin with the Egyptians treated the Hebrews (who were now know as Israelites), well. However things disintegrate to a point where the people of Israel became slaves and were ordered to have all their male babies killed. From this came the story of Moses who was chosen by God to free the Israelites.
Moses' Story
When the Egyptians officials decided that all male Hebrew babies were to be drowned in the River Nile one family disobeyed. They put their baby in a basket and let him drift in the river, hoping that someone would take care of him. The princess found the baby and decided to adopt him, and thus Moses, a descendent of Israel grew up to became a prince of Egypt. His family knew what had happened and kept in touch so he did not forget his heritage. He grew up to be the leader of His people and the one to free them from Egypt.
He demanded that the Pharaoh released his people and when the Pharaoh refused the Egyptians suffered many things until the Israelites were allowed to depart.
After the Exodus Moses lead the people to Mount Sinai where he obtained the Ten Commandments and entered the people of Israel into a covenant with God. This was part of both Jewish and Christian history, up till this point they were still the same religion. The disagreement between the two religions occurred with the coming of Jesus Christ, some believed that he was the long awaited Messiah while others believed otherwise.
The Birth of Christianity
Judaism as a whole underwent a major upset with the birth of Christianity, these new Judeo-Christian were seen to be heretics (anti-believers) by some and while others viewed Christianity as a sect of Judaism.
Many converted to this new religion; the Jews in Judaea, Greek Jews of the Diaspora and even pagans. As Christianity began to spread opposition to it grew. The Christians were often persecuted, but “persecution resulted in dispersion and dispersion meant that the gospel spread far and wide” (Acts 8:4). In the early days there were no actual Churches where people met for worship, this was partly due to the persecution and poverty of Christians in the first 300 years of its existence and partly due to the fact that Christians believed that Jesus would return again and the end of the world was very near. Therefore it seemed pointless building places worship. Nevertheless, as time passed, certain people were appointed to look after areas where there were large groups of Christians
The persecution of the Christians continued until third century CE when Emperor Constantine became a Christian and made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. During this time, the Jews were also being persecuted by the Romans who was largely polytheistic and when Christianity became the state religion of Rome under Constantine the Jews suffered persecution in the hands of the Roman Christians.
As a result of this, Jews withdrew into their own communities to build a way of life to preserve their identity as Jews. The religion that emerged from this period became know as Rabbinic Judaism, all modern branches of Judaism descends from this.
Rabbinic Judaism
Rabbinic Judaism grew from the heritage of the past, the Law of Moses and the Messianic hope for the future. It was formed by a group of rabbis who believed that when God gave Moses the Law at Mount Sinai he also received an oral tradition of knowledge that gave more details about the written traditions of the Hebrew Bible and how it should be adapted. The rabbis’ first writings is called the Mishanh, it is a record of the oral tradition so that Jews might understand how to prepare for the coming of the Messiah.
These Religions Today
Judaism and Christianity both continued to develop over the ages. Judaism in the form of Rabbinic Judaism which led to the development of the different branches of Judaism that exists today. And Christianity, first as the official religion of the Roman Empire and then later during the Middle ages where the Church gained enormous power.
There are many different sects in both Christianity and Judaism, these sects usually develop when there is a disagreement in belief or practice. Examples of sects in Christianity include the Catholics and the Orthodox. The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church broke apart in The Great Schism in 1054 CE after much argument between the Pope and the Patriarch. In Judaism sects include the Orthodox and the Progressive (sometimes know as Reform or Liberal). Orthodox Jews believe that they are practicing a religion that has remained unchanged for centuries, while Progressive Jews observe major customs but ignores minor practices which they feel are no longer suitable in today's society.
Despite the different sects of each religion and the slight various on their beliefs Christianity and Judaism are both thriving religions of today. They have both suffered many difficulties and yet always managing to come out on top. These two religions will no doubt survive well into the future of our society.
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