Which Religion Is Closest To Judaism
Judaism is one of the oldest religions still actively practiced and is considered a major world religion. It places great emphasis on values such as universal justice, loving kindness and peace, and is said to be a major influence on the ethical standards of many civilizations. Despite its great antiquity, Judaism has been able to survive and remain relevant in the modern world. What are the other religions that are closest to Judaism and the ways in which they differ and/or draw their inspiration from the Jewish faith?
Christianty
Christianity is arguably one of the closest faiths to Judaism. Its founder, Jesus Christ, was a Jew and its teachings are rooted in the Old Testament and some of its core values, such as charity and humility, are taken from the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible. Christianity also acknowledges the importance of the Jewish people as God’s chosen people and His plans of salvation through their lineage. Furthermore, Christianity and Judaism share some rituals and practices such as baptism, the sabbath, circumcision, and the Passover feast. In contrast though, Christianity asserts that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Bible and that through his crucifixion and resurrection, humans can obtain salvation and redemption.
Islam
Islam is a monotheistic religion that is believed to have been inherited from Abraham and his son Ishmael and is viewed as a more reformulated version of Judaism. Like Christianity, its teachings are founded on the Jewish scriptures and its practices such as circumcision, Sabbath, prayers, and charity are deeply entrenched in the Jewish custom. However, Islam fundamentally differs from Judaism in suggesting that Muhammad is the last prophet of God’s word and that salvation is found through his teachings. It also posits that Jesus was not the son of God and was a mortal born to the blessed Virgin Mary.
Baha’i
The Baha’i faith, is a relatively new religion which emerged in 19th century Persia and found its biggest proponent in the Baha U’llah. According to Baha’i beliefs, God has sent progressive revelations to humanity at different points in time instead of making a revelation just once. Baha’i is therefore considered as a spiritual bridge uniting the three major monotheistic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It acknowledges the prophets of all of these religions as genuine manifestations of God and furthermore claims that Baha U’llah is the latest messenger God has sent for the redemption of humanity. Baha’i also refutes the idea that the Bible is the uncorrupted word of God and instead suggests the interpretation of scriptures is the sole responsibility of humanity.
Samaritanism
Samaritanism is an anc
