Antecedents Of Jewish Faith
Judaism is one of the earliest recorded religions of the world, dating back to the Babylonian exile in 6th century BCE. At its core, Jewish faith is based on monotheism, meaning that it recognises only one God. This fundamental belief has maintained its dominant influence on Judaism throughout its long and varied history. Although the exact origins of this monotheistic faith are disputed, a number of theories have been put forward that explain its origin. Scholars suggest that the reformed monotheism could have arisen as a combination of beliefs from the ancient Semitic religions and the Egyptian monotheism.
Judaism was also strongly influenced by passages in the Hebrew Bible (known as Torah to Jews), which has remained at the core of the religion, providing moral and ethical teachings throughout generations. These passages not only tell the history of the Jews, but also outline the rules and regulations of the faith. Subsequently, the Pentateuch (the five books of Moses comprising the Torah) is considered the ultimate source of the Jewish faith and has been used as the foundation on which several other religions have been established.
Influence on Early Christianity
Christianity is believed to have evolved out of Judaism, with Jesus of Nazareth being a Jewish teacher and prophet. Therefore, as Jesus preached his message, he not only had an impact on Jewish culture, beliefs and values, but inadvertently influenced the development of early Christianity. His teachings began to be seen as a fulfilment of Judeo-Christian prophecies, leading to the belief that the Messianic Age had finally arrived, and his followers began a movement to spread his ideas.
The Jewish background and heritage of Jesus, as well as the Jewish beliefs and traditions he embraced, helped establish a major foundation for the beliefs of early Christianity. The Gospel of Matthew, for example, follows a more Jewish style when compared to the other two Gospels, reflecting the heritage of Jesus and his teachings. Similarly, Pauline Christianity, which viewed Jesus as the fulfilment of Jewish prophecies, also demonstrated the strong Jewish influence on Christianity in its early development.
Adherence To Jewish Laws
In its infancy, the early Christian Church heavily adopted Jewish customs. Many Christians continued to observe the Sabbath, celebrate Jewish festivals and adhere to dietary laws, such as those found in the Book of Leviticus. This is evident in the New Testament, in which there are references to Jesus’ love of the Temple in Jerusalem and his other close interactions with the Jews.
Furthermore, Christianity adopted several Jewish traditions in its liturgical practices. For example, the earliest Christian churches used Hebrew titles for Jesus and incorporated the Jewish Shema prayer into their services.
However, as Christianity evolved, it began to break away from its Jewish influences and certain laws were introduced that contradicted certain Jewish customs. Although the Sabbath was still observed, Christians began celebrating Sunday as the first day of the week to honour Jesus’ resurrection. Furthermore, Christianity began to reject Levitical dietary laws.
Evolution Of Christianity
As Christianity began to spread beyond the Jewish community, it started shunning traditional Jewish practices. This led to tensions between Jewish and Christian communities, which continued for centuries. During this period, Christianity absorbed several pagan customs and traditions and integrated them into its practices. This gradual transition in beliefs not only drove a rift between Judaism and Christianity, but has also had a significant influence in how the world perceives Christianity today.
Nevertheless, despite their differences, Christianity and Judaism share a long and intertwined history. Although Christianity has moved away from its Jewish faith, many aspects of Jewish traditions can still be seen in Christianity today.
Rites and Rituals
While Christianity has mostly distanced itself from Jewish customs and traditions, there are still certain religious rituals and ceremonies that are shared by both religions. For example, baptism, a ritual of purification, is present in both Christianity and Judaism, with both religions having slight variations in the ceremony. Additionally, prayer to seek divine intervention and religious services of worship such as liturgical readings, singing of hymns and sermons, are common in both religions.
Furthermore, both religions have left an indelible mark on many aspects of culture and history. From philosophical thought to ethical teachings, the influence of these two religions has help shape and develop ideas that are still relevant and meaningful in today’s society.
Art Forms and Musical Influence
Apart from religious aspects, both Christianity and Judaism have also been influential in art and music. Art forms such as stained glass, which originated in the Jewish communities, are still heavily employed in the churches of Christianity. Similarly, several of the psalms, hymns and other religious songs that were created by Jewish composers were later adopted by Christians. Additionally, the two religions share similar musical instruments, such as the lyre and the bagpipe, and have adapted them according to their own religious needs and preferences.
Literary Influence
Finally, Christianity and Judaism have had a profound influence on literature. Some of the earliest works that are considered to be part of the literary canon can be traced back to these two religions, with books such as the Bible and the Talmud being two of the most important and influential works.
Both Christianity and Judaism have left a mark on the world’s literary landscape, with countless authors and poets turning to religious texts for inspiration. From the works of great poets such as John Milton and William Shakespeare to modern authors such as J.K Rowling and Cormac McCarthy, religious teachings have had a huge influence on books, movies, TV shows and other form of art since long time ago.
Philosophical and Ethical Impact
In addition to literature, both Christianity and Judaism have had a significant impact on philosophical and political thought. The holistic approach of Judaism, where believers are encouraged to be virtuous, serve their communities and seek meaningful connections with God, has seen a resurgence in various aspects of Christendom, in the forms of Christian ethics, moral philosophy and social thought.
Throughout the centuries, Christianity and Judaism have provided the people of the world with a set of norms, values and behaviours that were meant to guide them humanity, justice and righteousness. Today, these religions continue to shape the way in which people think and act.
