ABSTRACT
The question, "What is Judaism," may be answered by a careful reading of the on Judaism. The various Judaisms can be thought of as essentially the same, essentially different, minimally different, or radically different from today's Judaism and from one another. Each of the various Judaisms represents or represented the faith at various times, and each serves as a foundation stone for contemporary Judaism. Survivors who have their views reflected or quoted in this study do not see themselves as "making laws". For those who think that Judaism transcends the Jew and his/her individual conscience, which surveys disclose, a study such as this which canvasses changes over time in Jewish practices and beliefs is of no importance or interest except, perhaps, journalistically or sociologically. Unlike Judaism, Christianity begins with doctrine. Within Christianity, surveys cannot determine doctrine but can only reveal assent or disclose denial.
