How does your sect differ from the other branches within the major religion?

Orthodox Judaism was founded long before Reform and Conservative Judaism. Their veiw of their scrippture is that the Torah is truth, and man must have faith in its essential and revealed character. Orthodox Jews also believe that a true Jew believes in revelation and the divine origin of the oral and written Torah. They strictly follow all the traditional Jewish laws and rules and pray three times daily. Orthodox Jews also  do not believe in “original sin.” They believe God is spirit rather than form, too. When they are in the Synagogue, all prayers are recited in Hebrew. Men and women sit separately and the officiants face the same direction as the congregants. About 14% of all Jews are Orthodox Jews.

Category	Orthodox (14%)	Conservative (40%)	Reform (35%)
History	Orthodoxy dates back to the days of the Talmud (2nd to 5th centuries). It was the only form of Jewish practice prior to the 18th century and the emergence of Reform Judaism. Orthodoxy today seeks to preserve classical or traditional Judaism.	Conservative Judaism emerged in 19th Century Germany as a reaction to the extreme assimilationist tendencies of Reform Judaism. It tried to be a middle ground, attempting to maintain basic traditions while adapting to modern life.	Reform Judaism emerged following the emancipation from ghetto life in the late 18th century. It sought to modernize Judaism and thus stem the tide of assimilation threatening German Jewry.
Other Terms	Traditional or Torah Judaism	Historical Judaism	Liberal or Progressive Judaism
View of Scripture	Torah is truth, and we must have faith in its essential, revealed character. A true Jew believes in revelation and the divine origin of the oral and written Torah.	The Bible is the word of God and man. It is not inspired in the traditional sense but rather dynamically inspired. Revelation is an ongoing process in the evolutionary sense.	Revelation is a continuous process. Torah is a human document preserving the history, culture, legends and hope of a people. It is valuable for deriving moral and ethical insights.
View of God	God is spirit rather than form. He is a personal God: omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal and compassionate.	The concept of God is non-dogmatic and flexible. There is less atheism in Conservative Judaism than in Reform, but most often God is considered impersonal and ineffable.	Reform Judaism allows a varied interpretation of the "God concept" with wide latitude for naturalists, mystics, supernaturalists or religious humanists. It holds that "the truth is that we do not know the truth."
View of Man	People are morally neutral, with good and evil inclinations. They can overcome their evil bents and be perfected by their own efforts in observation of the Law.	This group tends towards the Reform view, though it is not as likely to espouse humanism. Perfectibility can come through enlightenment. Humanity is "in partnership" with God.	Human nature is basically good. Through education, encouragement and evolution humans can actualize the potential already existing within them. Humankind may be God.

Category	Orthodox	Conservative	Reform
View of Sin	Orthodox Jews do not believe in "original sin." Rather one commits sin by breaking the commandments of the Law.	Conservative Jews do not believe in a sin nature. The individual can sin in moral or social actions.	Reform Jews do not believe in "original sin." Sin is reinterpreted as the ills of society.
View of Salvation	Repentance (belief in God’s mercy), prayer and obedience to the Law are necessary for salvation.	Conservative Jews tend toward the Reform view but include the necessity of maintaining Jewish identity.	Salvation is obtained through the betterment of self and society.
View of the Tradition of the Law	The Law is the essence of Judaism. It is authoritative and gives structure and meaning to life. The life of total dedication to Halakhah leads to a nearness to God.	Adaptation to contemporary situations is inevitable. The demands of morality are absolute. The specific laws are relative.	The law is an evolving ever-dynamic religious code that adapts to every age. They maintain, "If religious observances clash with the just demands of civilized society, then they must be dropped."
View of Messiah	The Messiah is a personal, superhuman being who is not divine. He will restore the Jewish kingdom and extend his righteous rule over the earth. He will execute judgment and right all wrongs.	Conservative Jews hold much the same view as the Reform.	Instead of belief in Messiah as a person or divine being, they favor the concept of a Utopian age toward which mankind is progressing.
View of Life After Death	There will be a physical resurrection. The righteous will exist forever with God in the Garden of Eden. The unrighteous will suffer, but disagreement exists over their ultimate destiny.	Conservative Jews tend toward the Reform view, but are less influenced by Eastern thought.	Generally, Reform Judaism has no concept of personal life after death. They say a person lives on in the accomplishments or in the minds of others. There is some influence of Eastern thought where souls merge into one great impersonal life force.
Distinctives in Synagogue Worship	The synagogue is a house of prayer; study and social aspects are incidental. All prayers are recited in Hebrew. Men and women sit separately. The officients face the same direction as the congregants.	The synagogue is viewed as the basic institution of Jewish life. Alterations listed under Reform are found to a lesser degree in Conservative worship.	The Synagogue is known as a "Temple." The service has been modernized and abbreviated. English, as well as Hebrew, is used. Men and women sit together. Reform temples use choirs and organs in their worship services.
Books to Read	A. Cohen, Everyman’s Talmud (1932); S. Schecter, Some Aspects of Rabbinic Theology (1936)	Conservative Judaism (1945); Mordecai Waxman (editor), Traditon and Change (1958); Robert Gordis, M. Sklare, Conservative Judaism (1965)	S. B. Freehof, Reform Jewish Practice and Its Rabbinic Background (1963); J. Wolf (editor), Rediscovering Judaism (1963)