News

Christianity vs Judaism Explained: Key Differences and Similarities

Published

1 month ago

October 28, 2023

Judaism and Christianity are both monotheistic religions that are among the oldest and largest faiths in the world. Even with those similarities between Judaism and Christianity, these two belief systems are more different than they are alike. To better understand how these faiths differ, review some key differences in Judaism vs. Christianity.

Role of Jesus

Beliefs about Jesus are the most widely known difference between Judaism and Christianity. Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah. In Christianity, Jesus is the son of God who took human forms to save believers from their sins. In Judaism, Jesus is not viewed as a divine being. Some view him as a Jewish teacher and the founder of Christianity, but not as a savior.

The Old Testament

The Old Testament of the Hebrew Bible is a central religious text in Judaism and Christianity alike. However, the two religions do not interpret the Old Testament in the same ways.

Christians view the Old Testament as the first part of a story, which is completed in the New Testament through the Salvation of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
In Judaism, the central message of the Old Testament focuses on how God called Abraham to lead and set an example of obedience to the word of God.

The New Testament

The New Testament of the Bible is integral to Christianity but is not part of Judaism at all. It focuses on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Torah

The Torah represents the first part of the Jewish Bible. It is made up of the first five books of the Old Testament. Because the Old Testament is part of Christianity, Jews and Christians alike accept these books.

Jews believe that the Torah specifies God’s instructions for how Jews should live. They believe that the Torah was dictated to Moses directly by God.
These five books are simply considered part of the Old Testament in Christianity. They aren’t any more or less significant than the rest of the Old Testament.

Trinity vs. Oneness

Judaism and Christianity do not share common beliefs about the nature of God as a divine being.

In Christianity, God is viewed as a Holy Trinity, consisting of the Father, the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. Christians believe that Jesus became man.
Judaism is based on the concept of the Oneness of God as a sole divine being.

Religious Significance of Jerusalem

In both Judaism and Christianity, Jerusalem is viewed as a sacred place of great religious significance.

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is the most sacred site in Judaism, largely due to the temples that once stood there. Jewish people face Jerusalem when they pray.
Jerusalem is important in Christianity because of its role in the life of Jesus. It is where he lived and ministered as well as where he was crucified and resurrected.

Recognizable Symbols

The most recognizable symbol of Judaism is the Star of David. The most recognizable symbol of Christianity is the cross.

Judaism vs. Christianity: Significant Similarities

There are a few similarities Between Judaism and Christianity. Key aspects of faith shared by both religions include:

monotheism (belief in a single God)
the Old Testament of Hebrew Bible
the 10 Commandments

Key Similarities and Differences: Judaism vs. Christianity

The chart below provides a quick overview of the key similarities between Christianity and Judaism. In the table below, the “X” symbol indicates that the listed item is part of a particular religion, while the “-” sign indicates that it is not.

	Judaism	Christianity
Jesus as Messiah	–	X
God became man	–	X
Monotheistic (one God)	X	X
Old Testament	X	X
The 10 Commandments	X	X
New Testament	–	X
The Torah	X	–
Holy Trinity	–	X
Significance of Jerusalem	X	X
Star of David symbol	X	–
Cross symbol	–	X

Explore More Major Religions

Now that you understand the key differences between Judaism and Christianity as well as some of the similarities between these faiths, take the time to learn more about their basic beliefs, as well as those of other major religions. Start by exploring the five major world religions and their basic beliefs. Then, focus on learning the 5 pillars of Islam.

Courts

Ex-cop Rashid’s murder trial to start on March 14

Published

2 hours ago

December 7, 2023

KSN Reporter

On March 14, 2024, the murder trial hearing for former Eastleigh police officer Ahmed Rashid will begin.

This comes after the state finished providing the defense side with a partial disclosure of witness statements and documentary evidence on Thursday.

Rashid was accused in April of killing Mohammed Dhair Kheri and Jamal Mohammed, two adolescents, on March 31, 2017, in Amal Plaza in Eastleigh, Nairobi.

After denying the two murder charges in front of Justice Diana Kavedza, he was freed on a Sh200,000 bond.

Prosecution attorney Alla Mulama informed Justice Kavedza at pre-trial on Thursday at the High Court in Kibera that the state will call 25 witnesses to testify during the trial, 12 of whom were prepared to do so.

Education

CS Machogu says no exam printing contract was cancelled in reply to Raila

Published

8 hours ago

December 7, 2023

KSN Reporter

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has denied assertions made by Raila Odinga, head of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya, that anomalies in the recently revealed results are due to the termination of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) tests printing tender to a UK firm.

During his appearance before the Parliamentary Education Committee, Machogu stated that tenders for publishing national tests are sent out every year.

”We have not terminated anybody’s contract. Each and every year a contract is made,” he said.

He insisted that Kenya, like any other nation, is capable of producing exam papers domestically.

The Education CS said that his ministry did not violate any laws and that the examinations printing tender was awarded using due process.

However, Machogu recognized that applicants’ difficulties receiving their results were caused by the company’s noncompliance with KNEC guidelines regarding the management of the QR code used for transmitting and accessing the KCPE results.

“As a CS I have learnt lessons because basically you can see as a ministry everything was right. Somebody we can call an outsider was given the contract but did not really conform and do to the required standard. Moving forward when we release the KCSE examinations we will not be able to make use of the same service provider,” he added.

Odinga had on Wednesday alleged that the government illegally revoked the printing tender from a UK based firm to a printer based in Mombasa road and later to India.

”We have established that early this year, the Kenya Kwanza administration suddenly and abruptly stopped this contact because the UK firm refused to give kickbacks. Without following any legal procurement processes, due diligence procedures and attention to examination timelines, the Kenya Kwanza administration awarded the KCPE and KCSE exam printing contract to a politically correct printing company based in Mombasa road,” Odinga said.

Kenya News

Ex-KCB top manager Leonard Mwithiga arrested in US trying to kill wife

Published

14 hours ago

December 7, 2023

KSN Reporter

A Kenyan man is being charged in the US with murder-for-hire after authorities thwarted his plan to have a woman, with whom he has a long-running legal dispute, assassinated.

The 52-year-old former top banking executive Leonard Thuo Mwithiga was charged in Putnam, Connecticut, after he instructed a friend to find a hitman for him so that he could “finish that woman” or “inject something into her food or water to kill her slowly like cancer.”

In order to avoid being connected to the woman’s death, Mwithiga allegedly intended to have her killed between January 28 and February 3 of the following year while he would be in Kenya. He assured the hitman he would give him $4000 (Sh609,000).

Mwithiga, the prosecutor claims, found a would-be killer, whom he gave $300 (Sh46,000) “in good faith”, not knowing he was dealing with an undercover police officer. He had also given the associate $100 (Sh15,238).

Both the associate, an Uber driver, who turned informant for the police, and the woman who was supposed to be the victim have not been identified.

According to local media sites, the informant informed a state police officer, who then went up to Mwithiga and pretended to be the hitman-for-hire he required.

According to investigation files submitted to the court, the undercover police officer “spoke with Mwithiga for more than an hour on Monday night, finalising the details of” the scheme while wearing audio and video monitoring, according to CT Insider, a Connecticut-based news site.

The Kenyan man was apprehended right away by the officer after they met at a motel in Putnam, the capital of Connecticut.