At the heart of Judaism are the core dogmas that have defined it and have been held through the ages: There is no God but God; one God, indivisible. God had chosen the children of Israel (Abraham and his offspring) as his people, and he agreed to be their exclusive God. At the heart of God is his love for humanity. Humanity is his crowning work of creation. God is understood in a myriad of ways—as Lord, as nursing mother, as light, anthropomorphic as in changing his mind, beyond comprehension, all powerful (omnipotent), and all knowing (omniscient). Life is understood as sacred—a means by which we are blessed in order that we should be a blessing to others. Suffering is redemptive, and faith is restorative. Faith is passed on through the matrilineal line of descent, as opposed to the prevailing patrilineal line so common in most other religions. Proselytizing is not actively practiced but accepted, as in the story of Ruth.
Question to Answer:
What is unique to Judaism as a religion, and how has it influenced all subsequent monotheistic religions?
