u/Independent-Fix-879

I argue that Judaism heavily influenced Christianity, and that many religions share similar moral themes because they are trying to answer similar human problems: desire, suffering, discipline, morality, purpose, and how people should live.

I grew up Catholic and still consider myself Christian, but I recently realized I do not fully understand Christianity because I have never seriously read the Bible for myself. Most of what I knew came from school, family, church, or other people explaining it to me. I started reading the Bible because I want to understand the faith directly instead of only relying on what I have been told.

As I have gotten older, I have also looked into other religions and philosophies, including Hindu ideas that resonated with me. One thing I notice is that many religions seem to teach similar core ideas: controlling harmful desires, avoiding destructive habits, practicing discipline, showing compassion, and trying to become a better person. My argument is that this overlap may exist because religions are often responding to the same basic human struggles, even if they explain those struggles in different ways.

I also think Judaism clearly influenced Christianity because Christianity comes out of a Jewish historical and religious context. Jesus, the apostles, and the earliest Christian communities were connected to Jewish scripture, law, prophecy, and ideas about God. So Christianity does not seem like a completely separate religion that appeared out of nowhere; it seems deeply rooted in Judaism, even though it later developed different beliefs about Jesus, salvation, and the New Covenant.

My question is whether this is a fair way to understand the relationship between Judaism and Christianity. Is it accurate to say Christianity is heavily influenced by Judaism, while also becoming its own distinct religion? And when people compare religions, is it reasonable to see shared moral themes as evidence that humans are wrestling with similar spiritual and ethical questions?

Hello! I grew up Catholic, went to a private elementary school, and have always believed in Christianity to some extent. I’m 21 now, and while I still consider myself Christian, I’ve realized that I don’t fully understand what that truly means because I’ve never actually read the Bible myself — I’ve mostly just heard stories and teachings from other people.

When I was around 19, I started thinking more deeply about life, purpose, religion, and why humans are here. During that time, I also looked into other religions and philosophies, including some teachings from Hinduism that genuinely resonated with me. At the same time, I still feel connected to Christianity.

From my perspective, many religions seem to share similar core ideas: being a good person, controlling harmful desires, avoiding destructive habits, and living with discipline and compassion. I personally believe that constantly feeding desires can lead people down unhealthy paths or addictions.

Lately, I’ve also been thinking a lot about how religions and cultures have influenced society and America as a whole. One thing I’ve wondered about is Judaism and how its teachings may have influenced Christianity and broader culture. I honestly don’t know enough about it to speak confidently, and I don’t want to sound ignorant or disrespectful — I’m genuinely trying to learn and hear different perspectives from real people instead of just searching random things online.

So I guess my questions are:
- Is it fair to say Judaism heavily influenced Christianity?
- How do you personally approach religion and belief?
- For people who are religious, what made you truly believe in your faith?

I started reading the Bible today because I want to understand Christianity for myself, but I also want to hear different viewpoints and perspectives as I learn.