|
|
| One
Religion
Both Jewish and Christian history begins with Abraham, who was the first to believe in one God, the Creator of heaven and earth. These two religions started as one and it was only a disagreement in beliefs that set them on their separate paths. Abraham’s
story can be found in a collection of books written by early teachers of
Judaism know as the Midrash. He is remembered as the founder of the
Hebrew religion and the first to practice circumcision as a sign of the covenant
with God. Abraham was told by God to move to a place which later became
know as Israel. However circumstances made it necessary for his
descendents to move to Egypt. To
begin with the Egyptians treated the Hebrews (who were now know as
Israelites), well. However things disintegrate to a point where the people
of Israel became slaves and were ordered to have all their male babies
killed. From this came the
story of Moses who was chosen by God to free the Israelites. He
demanded that the Pharaoh released his people and when the Pharaoh refused
the Egyptians suffered many things until the Israelites were allowed to
depart. After the Exodus Moses lead the people to Mount Sinai where he obtained the Ten Commandments and entered the people of Israel into a covenant with God. This was part of both Jewish and Christian history, up till this point they were still the same religion. The disagreement between the two religions occurred with the coming of Jesus Christ, some believed that he was the long awaited Messiah while others believed otherwise.
|