CHRISTIANITY
& IDOL WORSHIP
There have been some misunderstandings whether Christianity and/or Islam would be avodah zarah (AZ or idol worshipper) according to the Rambam (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon) and others. This discussion started in discussing whether or not Christianity follows the “Seven Noachide Laws” which God outlined for gentiles to have a place in the World to Come, which Jews call Olam Ha-Ba.
The
Rambam stated that Christianity as opposed to Islam is a clear case of avodah
zarah (idol worship). For this reason Jews are not allowed to enter
a church, but they may enter a Mosque.
Now all poskim (rabbis whose legal decisions are authority) agree that
Jews who turn their back to Torah and follow another religion are engaging in avodah
zarah (idol worship). Gentile (non-Jews) are different for they need not
comply with the 613 mitzvos given to the Jews―only the seven obligations
from God to the children of Noach (sheva mitzvos benei Noach, which also
includes the prohibition to worship idols.
So the
question should be whether Christianity and/or Islam are considered to be avoda
zarah (idol worshippers) for a b’nei Noach (children of Noah).
Since
Islam is a clear monotheistic religion, that only worships One God, the One Who
created heavens and earth, most poskim consider Islam as not to be avoda
zarah.
About whether Christianity is avoda zarah for Benei Noach (children of
Noah). The Sephardim consider, following the Rambam, Christianity avoda
zarah, till this very day (Ovadyah Yoseef, just reiterated this stand a few
years ago).
The
Rambam 1 says explicitly that Christianity is avodah zarah: "The Canaanites (the term
Canaanites is a censor's alteration) are idol worshippers, and the day of the
sun (Sunday) is their festival.”
Rabbeinu
Gershom (Me'or HaGolah) holds that Christianity is avodah zarah. And also
R. Moshe Shternbuch says that believing in a god with a human form is … classic
avodah zarah.
So the
bottom line is that Christianity is considered Avodah Zarah.
Messianic
Missionaries always try to distort these things to destroy Judaism and the B'nei
Noach. A B'nei Noach who who accepts upon himself the fulfillment of the Seven
Laws of Noach and is precise in there observance is considered one of the Pious
among the Gentiles―on the level of
a Jewish High Priest, as the Talmud teaches, and they will merit a place
in Olam Haba (the World to Come).
Christianity
is a false religion, as is Islam, for they do NOT worship the Creator, the
God of
Of
course for Jews, there was never any question about Christianity being avoda
zara.