Principal Beliefs in Judaism Essay

The principal beliefs of a certain religion are the ideas and inspirations that define the how it is depicted. For Judaism, the principal beliefs are central to the commitment of its adherents to a single God who acts as the source of moral humanity. The beliefs are founded on sacred texts of Judaism that guide adherents on the traditions of this religion and how they affect their lives. Moreover, the sacred texts give the Jewish people their cultural and social heritage that describes past events and current issues in relation to Judaism. An analysis of the principal beliefs of Judaism helps establish the extent to which they are influenced by Jewish sacred texts.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Monotheism is one of the distinct beliefs that define the Jewish religion. According to the Jewish tradition, there exists one God who is indivisible, and unique. This belief is evident from the Shema prayer that declares the Jewish faith (Green, 2016). One of the phrases from this prayer declares that the God of the Jewish people is one. The monotheistic nature of Judaism means that those who adhere to this religion should not engage in any form of idolatry. This notion is also present in the Torah, which is one of the components of the Jewish text. Adherents of Judaism thus believe in one God to whom they are exclusively committed.

The observance of the Sabbath is founded in the commandments in the Torah. According to this sacred text, the Sabbath is the most significant days of the week since it is ordained by God as a holy day. Adherents of Judaism are therefore not allowed to engage in any form of work during this day. The tradition of Jewish people includes the setting aside of each Saturday to worship in the Synagogues (Friedman, Warter, & Warter, 2016). Other activities that signify this day are spending time with family and studying the Jewish sacred text. Observing the Sabbath is thus one of the principal beliefs that guide the religious faith and actions of the people adhering to Judaism.

Another principal belief that is representative of Judaism is Judgement day. The books in the Torah make reference to a day of judgement that follows an individual's earthly life. On this day, the inhabitants of the world will be judged by God based on their actions on earth. The Torah describes this judgment as righteous and filled with mercy and justice. One's afterlife depends on how they lived their lives since those with good acts are offered happiness while those practising evils acts suffer torture in Gehinnom (Brenk, 2017). The belief in judgment and an afterlife thus guides how the adherents live their lives regarding obedience to the Jewish laws.

Free will of the people is another principal belief that relates to the sacred texts of Judaism and how the adherents of the Jewish tradition practice their faith. Sacred texts upon which Judaism is based acknowledge that God gives people the freedom to do as they please, He is aware of their actions prior to the execution. With free will comes accountability where the actions chosen have consequences that the executors must face (Wasserman, 2012). The ethical teaching provided in Jewish sacred text obligates adherents to choose good actions such as charity. Jewish people are thus guided in their decisions between good and bad by the laws in the law offered in the sacred text.

The principal belief of disobedience of God's laws as an act against His goodness and love is another characteristic of the Jewish faith. Sacred text describing creation indicates that everything was intended to be essentially good. Acting against this goodness therefore acts as a form of disobedience whose consequence is pain and suffering (Wasserman, 2012). People adhering to Judaism are thus obligated to practice goodness and follow the Jewish law to avoid the consequences.

One of the books in the Torah is Exodus and it describes how Moses was given the commandments by God. According to the sacred text, the teachings and commandments given to Moses are the foundation for civil and religious laws of Judaism (Brenk, 2017). The encounter by Moses indicated a covenant between God and the people. Consequently, the encounter indicates the significance of Jewish law and obedience in the relationship between God and the people. Following the commandments were given to Moses meant protection for the people of Israel. The adherents of Judaism thus believe in the promises associated with following the current Jewish laws.

Conclusion

Essentially, the principal beliefs of Judaism are founded in each of the sacred texts related to this religion. Judaism's central belief may be monotheism but other beliefs that guide the adherent on the relationship with God and what is expected from their faith. Understanding the basis of Jewish beliefs provides insights on how the Jewish people choose their actions and live their lives. It is evident that the sacred text of a certain religion not only guides their beliefs but also has a significant influence on their culture and beliefs.

References

Brenk, F. E. (2017). Plutarch, Judaism and Christianity. In Studies in Plato and the Platonic Tradition (pp. 115-136). Routledge.

Friedman, H. H., Warter, I., & Warter, L. (2016). What are the Essential Core Values for Individuals and Organizations? Lessons from Judaism. Journal of Applied Ethics and Biolaw, 1, 4.

Green, A. (2016). Jewish studies and Jewish faith. Tikkun, 31(3), 46-47.

Wasserman, M. (2012). The New Middle Ground: A Challenge to Conservative Judaism. Conservative Judaism, 63(3), 3-13.