by Randi J Task

Created on: March 28, 2009   Last Updated: March 30, 2009

Writing as an unbeliever in any of these traditions (as usually interpreted), I have a lot of space for Judaism given that many modern Jewish people have space for those outside their creed. What makes modern Judaism so distinctive and appealing to a total gentile/infidel like myself? This is not the space to explain all the reasons - but let us at least summarize some points - read between the lines if you will. The problem with Judaism compared to the other two monotheistic religions is that there are not enough Jews in the world. I would be so much happier if there were more as the world would then be a safer place rather than a nasty tug of war between the Christians and Muslims, the fundamentalists of both groups vying to take over the world. Judaism has many teachings that don't fall easily into US and THEM ways of looking at the world. I as an infidel would feel free and happy in a Jewish country because it is live and let live, even if I was regarded as an Untermench. The Nazis did something horrible by killing so many intelligent, bright, productive individuals - cry that there are now only about 15 million Jews in the whole world.

Popularly, we are lead to believe that these three "great" monotheistic faiths derive from the same God although there is some debate taking place whether Jehova, God and Allah are - relatively speaking the same. At their very core, all three monotheistic religions insist that there is one God that needs to be believed in. Naturally, differences in interpretation between what God wants gives enormous room for disputes and conflicts - who can argue about what God actually says based on what other people say he actually says, if the sayings are contradictory? What strikes me superficially is how similar Islam and Judaism seem to be for starters:

Prohibition of Pork and other unclean foods. Wearing a veil traditionally for women. Keeping the ten commandments up to a point. Making distinctions between believers and unbelievers. Similarity in language/foods/environment/culture. Traditionally Animal sacrifice - still found in Islam.

Undoubtedly connections exist, Islam took most of its creeds from Judaism, but there was a split akin to the split between the Maoist communists in China and the communists in Russia. Whereas the original Muslims were prepared to turn towards Jerusalem, later they turned towards Mecca. The distinction between Israel and Islam is summarised as follows: arguing with God as opposed to submission to God.

Judaism

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