(June 29, 2017 at 12:31 am)Aliza Wrote:(June 29, 2017 at 12:06 am)Godscreated Wrote: The OT shows us that the Jewish people believed they were tested as individuals and as a people.
Christians myself included seek to enjoy life but for me life would be less enjoyable without God in it.
You are right the two have little in common mainly because of tradition, we do believe in the same God and this is why we are put under one umbrella.
GC
Christians believe that we believe in the same god, but educated Jews would disagree. The descriptions of our deities are different.
Jewish tradition is detailed in the Talmud, not the Torah. To understand how Jews practice the religion and interact with the Torah, you'd have to be familiar with the Talmud.
I was always surprised (but now I am used to) how a person doesn't mind calling himself a Christian while he doesn't take seriously the most crucial teachings of Jesus Christ.
[1] Jesus didn't present any formal ritual to be practiced at certain specific times and/or places. But those who claimed being inspired by Jesus created various rituals (that suit their regions). Therefore, millions in the world, known as Christians, practice these rituals, in groups, at specific times and places with the same joy that Pagans, Muslims and Jews have while they practice their religious rituals.
[2] Jesus didn't approve any rule/commandment to be imposed on men. But those who claimed being inspired by Jesus created various well-defined authorities (that also suit their regions) in the name of Jesus (or God). By the way, living the unconditional love towards all others would lose its great meaning if commanded (ordered as in the army) by any authority... even by God. By the way, the unconditional love as taught by Jesus cannot be found in any known religion, including Judaism.
[3] Jesus didn't mention even one thing (or person) to be considered as being sacred or holy. But those who claimed being inspired by Jesus approved with time many things as being sacred; besides many persons as being Saints (closer to God than all other men).
In fact, saying "Jesus is perfect in his teachings" is considered as one of the greatest blasphemies against today's Christianity (I was banned from a Christian forum for saying it a couple of times). And at the same time, Christians are supposed seeing Jesus as the Living Son of God, hence a perfect divine being and not just a man. The reason it is a blaspheme is: If Christians are supposed to understand and follow Jesus teachings only (which is not easy at all), the various Churches around the world (starting from Vatican-Rome) will almost lose all the big donations from their Christian believers. Many priests I knew confessed me this hidden truth. It was an excuse for not preaching Jesus sayings in the same way Jesus did.