A Comparison of Two Religious Traditions: The Use of Arts in Christianity and in Judaism

Have you ever seen a religious dance or an art piece that had special meaning to a group of people? Many religions have developed different ways of expressing different beliefs through the form of arts, such as dance, visual arts, and music. In this essay I will be comparing the use of arts such as music in Christianity to the use of arts in Judaism. I will also be taking a look as to what has been put into art form, and what impact these stories have had on a religion. These two religions have different interpretations as what is appropriate to put into visual art, however they both place similar importance to the art of music.

To begin with, visual art in Christianity takes on different forms. In some aspects of Christianity, it is appropriate and accepted to interpret the form of Christ in art. One example is that of Christ on the cross, which can be found in a variety of churches around the world. This can symbolize a remembrance of the sacrifice the Jesus made when he gave his life, then later was later resurrected.

Another important piece of artwork that is often seen is that displaying “The Last Supper. ” This image represents a visual of the story where Jesus eats a final meal with his disciples. This story also states that Jesus speaks about how the bread in the meal is his body, while the wine is his blood. This story later influences different aspects of Christianity where individuals eat bread and wine and believe in the same type of representation. There was a moment in ancient times where Jewish individuals interpreted the 2nd commandment in the Bible differently than how a majority of Jewish people interpret it today. This interpretation allowed for some images of religion to be created. Also, in some aspects of the bible there are moments when God directs individuals to create images/ representations. In all, many currently interpret the Hebrew Bible as stating that the creation of images itself is not prohibited, rather the worship of them, as this may be seen as worshipping something other than God.

In contrast, many Christians believe that an image of God only supports the worship of the deity. In comparison, Christianity and Judaism both have a long-standing relationship with different types of music. Vocal music is very important to Jewish traditions. It is believed that singing can be interpreted as a type of prayer. It is believed that music can help set a tone for prayer as well, especially since different types of music are used during different occasions. In Christianity, many believe that music allows for a more emotional and spiritual connection to worship. Some even believe it can help an individual reach a certain state of being. In addition, it is believed that music is a gift from God that should be used first and foremost to worship him. This can be seen in many churches around the world who often use music as a principle mean of worship in addition to the word of a preacher or priest.

In conclusion, there are many different ways to interpret stories, as well as to worship a deity. Judaism and Christianity have placed fundamentally different importance as to what can be interpreted in visual art, In music, however, there are similarities as to the importance of song and it’s meaning in worship. These beliefs have changed and developed over time and will continue to change in the future.