A comparison of Judaism and Christianity provides many interesting perspectives on the issues of faith that characterize and separate them. These two faiths have much in common, but there are also fundamental differences between them-such polarizing factors that some misguided Christians-if Adolf Hitler and people like him can be considered veritable Christians-have persecuted, horrifically tortured, and murdered Jews. There has, curiously, been little hostility on the part of Jews toward Christians, but even today-many decades after Hitler's regime-there is an understandable sensitivity on the part of Jews to any suggestion, real or perceived, of persecution on the part of Christians; the harsh specter of the prison camps still lives on in the hearts of the Jews. What makes the contrast between Judaism and Christianity so fascinating is that, in spite of the much later origin of Christianity, the two faiths were in essence "separated at birth," because Christianity arose out of Judaism. An exploration of them both highlights where they have remained the same and where they have grown apart.

             The similarities between Christianity and Judaism are easy to identify. Both faiths believe in one god-the very same God, in fact-the God of Abraham and the Bible: .

             This God is the origin and source of all that exists. God cares about the entire creation and desires the well-being of all. God is just and has provided basic rules for our guidance so that we may be good and righteous, according to God's intention. God is also merciful; by means of God's grace we are given strength to be more like what we ought to be ("Judaism, Christianity, and Islam").

             Both faiths also accept the validity of Scripture, although Christianity is predicated on the entire Bible, Old and New Testaments, while Judaism is based primarily on the Torah, which consists of the first five books of the Bible. Christianity, regarding the Bible as of divine origin, does not recognize any other texts as the basis for its beliefs; Judaism, however, adds to the Torah the Talmud and various other writings of Jewish prophets ("The Abrahamic Faiths: A Comparison").