Judeo-Christian tradition

The term Judeo-Christian tradition is an American term used to describe the concepts and values that the public at large believes to be shared between Christianity and Judaism.

Its origins are in American politics, in an attempt to create a non-denominational American Christian religious consenus that did not appear anti-semitic by excluding Judaism.

In point of fact, Judaism and Christianity have sharply defined ethical and religious systems that are in many areas polar opposites. Many religious Jews and Christians find the phrase "Judeo-Christian tradition" to be an oxymoron, just as the phrase "Capitalist-Communist tradition" would be.

Examples of major doctrinal differences between mainstream Judaism and Christianity:

God

Christianity posits a trinity, in which the Godhead possess three distinct persons; In that three there are one and in that one there are three. Judaism sees God as a strict unity, and views trinitarianism as both incomprehensible and heretical.

Messiah

Christians posit that Jesus was in a literal sense the son of God, and also part of the Godhead, and also the messiah. Most teach that the only way for a person to become close to God is through Jesus and that all those who do not worship Jesus will suffer eternal damnation. Judaism posits that any person in any faith system can have a close relationship with God.

Salvation/Attaining? an afterlife

Christianity posits that the only way that one can be saved is through the acceptance of Jesus as a saviour; salvation comes strictly through faith, and not through actions. Judaism holds the polar opposite view and claims that whatever salvation may exist is found only through ethical action; beliefs play no role.

Abortion

Most branches of Christianity have historically held abortion to be murder. Judaism claims that the fetus is not yet a full human being, and thus is not murder, and therefore abortion has always been legal under Jewish law.

The Bible

Judaism holds that the only biblical books that express God's will are those in the Tanach (Hebrew Bible, aka Old Testament). Christians hold that this is incorrect, and that many more books (collected in the New Testament) express the final and authoritative word of God.