Judaism: Did you mean...?

Answer

Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions, dating back about 4000 years, and is the precursor to Christianity and Islam. It developed significantly during the period of early Judaism (6th century BCE to 70 CE), when Judean religion moved toward strict monotheism and codified traditions central to Jewish religious identity, such as the Hebrew Bible. The Hebrew Bible, including the Torah, served as an authoritative text, though interpretations and practices varied among different Jewish groups. Judaism centers on the worship of Yahweh, the one God of Israel, who commanded exclusive worship and forbade the veneration of other gods, even though the existence of other gods was acknowledged. The religion's historical development includes key events such as the Babylonian exile and the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BCE, which deeply influenced Jewish religious practice and identity. Early Christianity initially emerged as a sect within Judaism before separating as a distinct religion.