Beliefs
Judaism, alongside Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, is one of the five major world religions. It is also one of the three major monotheistic, or Abrahamic religions. The Abrahamic religions, being Christianity, Judaism and Islam, are called such because the Biblical figure of Abraham is considered to be a central figure in each of them. Abraham is seen as the father of Jewish religion, because it was he who first entered into a Covenant with God. The Covenant recognised God's special rJelationship with the Jewish people. It also brought about the practice of circumcision, which is an important part of Jewish ceremonial and religious life.
Judaism is also one of the religions of the book, which each base their faith on a central sacred text. In Judaism, this book is the Torah, which corresponds to the first five books of the Old Testament in the Christian Bible. There is also the oral Torah, which consists mainly of the Talmud. The oral Torah is largely concerned with Jewish everyday life, laws, rituals and practices. Both are seen as the foundation of Judaism. The major beliefs of the Jewish faith are derived from the Torah.
The Jewish faith emphasises the importance of actions and intentions rather than beliefs or dogma. As such, there is no official Jewish set of beliefs, and much of Jewish rituals and practices are based off of interpretations of the Torah. However, there are a number of core articles of faith that all Jews adhere to. These are derived from the six hundred and thirteen commandments, which are the commandments given from God to the Jewish people about how they should live. The Commandments outline the major Jewish beliefs, and stipulate aspects of Jewish life such as rituals and dietary requirements.
The core belief of Judaism is belief in the existence and omnipotence of the one true God, who sees the Jews as his chosen people. This belief comes of out God's Covenant with Abraham, which established God's relationship with the Jewish people. They believe the God is indivisible, and therefore reject the Christian notion of the Trinity. This also means that they do not believe in the divinity of Christ ,and, as in Islam, regard him as one of the Prophets. Jews are still waiting for the coming of the Messiah.
Traditionally, the main set of beliefs in Judaism were those of traditional or orthodox Judaism. However, a number of differing views have emerged since ancient times, and continue to be active today. These movements include progressive, conservative or zionist Judaism. This site will focus mainly on orthodox Jewish beliefs and practices.
The core beliefs of orthodox Judaism are stated in the thirteen principles of faith. These are:
1. God exists
2. God is one and unique
3. God is incorporeal
4. God is eternal
5. Prayer must be directed to God and no other
6. The words of the prophets are true
7. Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses is the greatest of the prophets
8. The written Torah and oral Torah were given to Moses
9. There will be no other Torah
10. God knows the thoughts and deeds of men
11. God will reward the good and punish the wicked
12. The Messiah will come
13. The dead will be resurrected.
Another core belief in Judaism is that there is an afterlife, and that the living and the dead will be accountable for their actions on Judgement Day. However, the descriptions of this afterlife are less explicit than those found in the Christian New Testament. A recurring theme is 'Sheol', a kind of shadowy underworld where the dead go. Interpretations of this have changed overtime. Originally, it was believed that when a Jew died they went to Sheol, regardless of whether they had lived a righteous life or a wicked one. Modern thought tends to differ from this, saying that Sheol is the place for the wicked, much like Hell, and the righteous go to join God in Paradise.
The exact nature of this Paradise is unknown. The Torah emphasises ancestry and family relationships, and particularly the role of the great Patriarchs like Abraham. Paradise is allude to as 'Abraham's bosom', being a place where all of Abraham's descendants (The Jewish people) are reunited together.
These are the major beliefs of Judaism which are common to all movements and denomination. Although there is debate and differing opinions on the finer points of their beliefs, these views form the core of Judaism.
Judaism is also one of the religions of the book, which each base their faith on a central sacred text. In Judaism, this book is the Torah, which corresponds to the first five books of the Old Testament in the Christian Bible. There is also the oral Torah, which consists mainly of the Talmud. The oral Torah is largely concerned with Jewish everyday life, laws, rituals and practices. Both are seen as the foundation of Judaism. The major beliefs of the Jewish faith are derived from the Torah.
The Jewish faith emphasises the importance of actions and intentions rather than beliefs or dogma. As such, there is no official Jewish set of beliefs, and much of Jewish rituals and practices are based off of interpretations of the Torah. However, there are a number of core articles of faith that all Jews adhere to. These are derived from the six hundred and thirteen commandments, which are the commandments given from God to the Jewish people about how they should live. The Commandments outline the major Jewish beliefs, and stipulate aspects of Jewish life such as rituals and dietary requirements.
The core belief of Judaism is belief in the existence and omnipotence of the one true God, who sees the Jews as his chosen people. This belief comes of out God's Covenant with Abraham, which established God's relationship with the Jewish people. They believe the God is indivisible, and therefore reject the Christian notion of the Trinity. This also means that they do not believe in the divinity of Christ ,and, as in Islam, regard him as one of the Prophets. Jews are still waiting for the coming of the Messiah.
Traditionally, the main set of beliefs in Judaism were those of traditional or orthodox Judaism. However, a number of differing views have emerged since ancient times, and continue to be active today. These movements include progressive, conservative or zionist Judaism. This site will focus mainly on orthodox Jewish beliefs and practices.
The core beliefs of orthodox Judaism are stated in the thirteen principles of faith. These are:
1. God exists
2. God is one and unique
3. God is incorporeal
4. God is eternal
5. Prayer must be directed to God and no other
6. The words of the prophets are true
7. Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses is the greatest of the prophets
8. The written Torah and oral Torah were given to Moses
9. There will be no other Torah
10. God knows the thoughts and deeds of men
11. God will reward the good and punish the wicked
12. The Messiah will come
13. The dead will be resurrected.
Another core belief in Judaism is that there is an afterlife, and that the living and the dead will be accountable for their actions on Judgement Day. However, the descriptions of this afterlife are less explicit than those found in the Christian New Testament. A recurring theme is 'Sheol', a kind of shadowy underworld where the dead go. Interpretations of this have changed overtime. Originally, it was believed that when a Jew died they went to Sheol, regardless of whether they had lived a righteous life or a wicked one. Modern thought tends to differ from this, saying that Sheol is the place for the wicked, much like Hell, and the righteous go to join God in Paradise.
The exact nature of this Paradise is unknown. The Torah emphasises ancestry and family relationships, and particularly the role of the great Patriarchs like Abraham. Paradise is allude to as 'Abraham's bosom', being a place where all of Abraham's descendants (The Jewish people) are reunited together.
These are the major beliefs of Judaism which are common to all movements and denomination. Although there is debate and differing opinions on the finer points of their beliefs, these views form the core of Judaism.