Brian Day writes: PASADENA – Nationally syndicated radio hosts and scholars Dennis Prager, a Jew, and Hugh Hewitt, a Christian, hosted a talk Sunday on the topic of Judaism and Christianity.
The presentation, titled, “Religion on the Line – Ask a Jew,” set out to answer many of the questions Christians and other non-Jews may have about the Jewish faith.
In front of a sold out audience of 700 people at the Pasadena Hilton, Hewitt took on the role of interviewer, asking Prager about the beliefs held by Jews and Judaism in the forum, hosted by talk radio station KRLA 870.
When it comes to “matters of faith,” Hewitt said, “We both have a passion for this that goes back a long time.”
The basic tenant of Judaism is that of ethical monotheism, Prager said – the notion that, “There is a God who demands goodness.”
“The essence of Judaism is fighting evil,” Prager said.
Prager said while he and other Jews don’t believe that Jesus Christ was the divine savior of mankind, as is held in Christianity, Christianity itself appears to be part of a God’s plan.
“Any movement that brings human beings to the God of Israel is divine,” he said.
A major difference between Judaism and Christianity, Prager pointed out, is the differing emphasis each faith places on faith and individual actions.
According to Judaism, he said, “God, first and foremost, judges behavior.”
This contradicts the Christian belief that people are saved only by their faith, Prager said.
