First off, let it be known that there are wonderful people of all religions. I’ve met Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists, and Agnostics who are highly ethical and upstanding members of society.
That said, there are legitimate criticisms to be made of every religion. Each religion I’ve encountered has admirable qualities, and yet also misses the mark in some key ways.
Christianity teaches love and compassion. Jesus forgave those who crucified him while he was dying on the cross, saying “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). He was kind to Jews, Gentiles, the poor, the mighty, the sinners, and the saints alike. This is at the core of what is admirable about Christianity. The sacrifice and example of Jesus enabled the world to move beyond the eye-for-an-eye morality that existed up to that point.
The main critique of Christianity that many have, is that it often mistakes weakness for kindness. Some Christians are too much of a pushover, and are unwilling to fight for their values, even vocally. The other main criticism many have of Christianity is that, in the words of Alan Watts, it is a religion “about Jesus” rather than the religion “of Jesus.” In other words, many Christians fall into the trap of worshipping the finger that is pointing at the moon (ie. Church dogma), rather than looking beyond the finger towards the moon (ie. direct communion with God).
Judaism’s strength lies in its deep sense of community. The Talmud emphasizes living a righteous life, and fulfilling one’s duty to the community. However, this is also the main flaw of Judaism, as The Talmud teaches that it is ok to treat Gentiles differently from fellow Jews. Indeed, there is a long history of Jews charging Gentiles higher interest rates, as usury is not considered a sin for Jews, so long as it is not directed at fellow Jews. This is one of the primary sources of antisemitism, both historically and in the modern era. That is not to say that all Jews adhere to this distinction, but the text of the Talmud is clear: “If one lends money to a Gentile with interest, he is not liable; to a fellow Jew, it is prohibited.” (Bava Metzia 70b).
So what are Judeo-Christian values? Specifically, Jews and Christians both follow a monotheistic faith, adhere to The 10 Commandments, and value the teachings of the Old Testament. These are real commonalities that do differ from Eastern religions, such as Hinduism, which follows polytheism.
However, Judeo-Christian values are not the sum of Christian and Jewish values. They are but the overlapping areas of the venn diagram. Christian and Jewish values are distinct, as are Christian and Hindu values, Jewish and Muslim values, and every other combination of religious values.
Another point worth reflecting upon, is that Judaism before Jesus is not the same as Judaism after Jesus. After Jesus’ death, the defining characteristic of Judaism is the denial of Jesus as God. In this sense, Islam is closer to Christianity than Judaism, for Muslims accept Jesus as at least being a great prophet of God. Hindus and Buddhists, too, consider Jesus (along with everyone else) to be God. In this way, Judaism is unique in its rejection of Jesus, which is why Jewish theology has trended more and more towards atheistic and legalistic tendencies over time.
Regardless of one’s religion, we are all part of the same consciousness collective. These distinctions, while true and interesting to ponder, are dwarfed by our commonalities. For this reason, I urge you, regardless of your religion, to reflect on these words of Jesus: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12).
