Mystical Traditions between Christianity and Judaism Essay

Mystical Traditions between Christianity and Judaism - Essay Example Similarly, Judaism too relies heavily on the mystical side along with a hard core of established creed handed down through generations. The presence of an omnipotent and omnipresent superpower, high up somewhere, directing all activities of its followers, is the focal point of Judaist traditions. The general belief of all Jews regarding their holy texts, centers on the historical tradition that the laws of living were handed down to them from god directly to Moses. This idea continues to be applied in the belief that a particular geographical area was allocated to them, which constitutes the 'state of Israel'. The monotheistic belief on which the religion of Judaism is built has ensured the strict adherence of all its followers to the laws laid down in the holy scriptures of the Jews. One of the common examples of Judaist traditions that have been studied in great depth, is the golem, which is explained as the transference of power from God (above) to a human-like creature (below) that is brought into being though a series of ritualistic practices. There is an allusion to the transcendental function of spiritual power that flows from the top, to the believers below. Knapp (1979) speaks in detail about the contradictions of good and evil in the golem belief. Judaist traditions, over the years, have undergone a lot of change, understandably so, with the upheavals in history. The daily observances with regard to eating habits, bodily functions, spiritual rites and interpersonal relations have morphed with the influences of not just other religions but also due to the geo-political and economic pressures that have been felt in the recent past. The laws of living or the indigenous traditions that are internalized in Judaism have no doubt adapted to the changing scenario, in the last century. Traditions in Christianity: The traditional belief in the existence of the Trinity (the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit) indicates a foundation of the triumvirate, which is the cornerstone of Christianity. Talking about the traditional practices of this religion, brings us once again to the code of living enshrined in the Old and New Testaments. While the former spoke about the origin of the race of man and his subsequent exile from paradise (caused by temptations),the latter focuses on one of the most important doctrines of the Christian church - that God became man. The belief that Jesus Christ (the son of God) was born on earth as a man, in order to save the world from annihilation is the premise on which the Bible (the New Testament) is written. The belief is that the world was full of sinners who could be saved only if a savior could give up his life. (1977 edition) Whether it is the religious observances of festivals or other occasions, such as the birth, marriage or death of individuals, the Christian religion lays down a set of universally accepted rules provided the demarcations of the various sects are well drawn and noted. In other words, different sects have different traditions that are also impacted with the geographical and ethnic factors that vary with time and place. A comparison and a conclusion: Similarities in the religious traditional practices of Judaism and Christianity are strongly evident. This may be due to the fact that they have distinctly similar origins. The belief about Yahweh or Jehovah