As a historian of religions I have taught Christian Origins for the past 43 years at three major universities. Looking back  here are some thoughts on what I see as the essential differences between Judaism and Christianity, or more properly, the kind of religion reflected in the Hebrew Bible and that of the Greek New Testament. I am interested in religious and philosophical truth, but my training is that of a historian, so I have in mind here the ancient forms of these traditions–namely the Hebrew faith as formulated by the Prophets and final redactors of the Hebrew Bible, and earliest Christianity as reflected in the New Testament. The following are some of my very personal reflections, taking off my academic hat.

In considering these two “religions” or ways of thinking about God, the world, and human purpose, I find that I am much more drawn to the former than the latter. Why is that so? What is it about the Hebrew Bible, even on a purely-mythological level, that seems to draw me so? Conversely, what is it about early Christianity, especially the systematic interpretations of Paul or the Gospel of John, that puts me off so?

The Hebrew Bible’s Ambiguity

As for the Hebrew Bible, the whole notion of the One, true and living Creator, the God of Abraham is most appealing. Humans are seen as mortal, made of dust. Consequently, death and human history are taken very seriously. They are made in the image of God, capable of reason and free choice, of good as well as........

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