The Catholic Approach:
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ExperientialExperiential is an extremely difficult aspect of a religion to grasp. One can truly only know what it means to be a Jew if they in fact are a Jew. Because many of us are not Jews, the experiential element of Judaism can be modeled through the testimonies of Jews themselves.
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Mythic & HistoricalThe historical and mythical elements of Judaism are the foundation of the Jewish faith today. Mythical and historical truths can be derived from scripture, oral tradition, and history books. Some of the most important historical events include the Covenant with Abraham, the Babylonian Exile, the Exodus, and the feast of Passover. People can find information on the historical and mythical events of Judaism in the Nevi'im and the Ketuvim.
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DoctrinalThe doctrinal aspects of a religion are the core beliefs of the faith and where they come from. The primary source of beliefs in Judaism is the Torah. The Torah is also supplemented with the Mishnah, the oral law of Judaism, and the Midrash, the body of exegesis of Torah texts. Lastly, there are also the Maimonides' 13 Principles of Belief, which are the 13 core beliefs of the Jewish faith, as derived from the Torah.
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EthicalEthics are the morals of a religion, or the standards of what is wrong and what is right. In Judaism, Jews take their ethical teachings from the Torah. The Torah is their source for how to lead a good, strong Jewish life. The Jewish faith also teaches ethical standards based on the 613 Mitzvot, or Commandments, listed in the Torah. Jews are also obligated to a life of service, which is one of the most important aspects of the Jewish faith.
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