My situation is somewhat unusual. The quick version is this: My father is Catholic, and my mother is Jewish. I was baptized and raised nominally Catholic. I never received confirmation as a teen, because I could not in conscience profess wholehearted assent to the teachings of the Church. After I graduated from high school, I went through a period of spiritual searching. I became functionally agnostic, but was seeking Truth. I studied eastern religions and dabbled with a little new age nonsense. I attended a variety of different Christian churches, including a nondenominational bible church on a fairly regular basis with my then-girlfriend. An interest in mysticism led me to the writings of the Catholics such as John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila. Their works led me back to the Catholic Church.
I was confirmed and married in the Catholic Church, and for several years was as orthodox a Catholic as SD, dignan3 and the others. The death of a childhood friend of mine (he was killed by a drunk driver) made me start giving more thoughts to some doubts I had been suppressing. My friend was baptized Catholic, but was not religious in any formal sense. He had gotten pretty messed up as an adult, but was trying to get his life back in order before his untimely death. Yet, according to Catholic teaching, it seemed likely that he died in a state of mortal sin, and thus was condemned to hell for all eternity. I looked to scripture and to Catholic and other Christian writers for answers; I read and reread the gospels. The more I read them, the more confusing it became to me. At one point, it occurred to me that perhaps in order to better understand Jesus, it would be helpful to know more about his religious and cultural background.
I began studying Judaism with this purpose in mind. I had no intention of becoming Jewish. But as I studied it, it struck a deep chord in me. I felt that God was calling me back to the faith of my ancestors. Ultimately, I resolved my problems with Christianity by rejecting its truth claims.
This, in brief, is how a Sicilian formerly-Catholic Jew came to know so much about Christianity. My halakhic status in Judaism is tinok shenishba, a Jew who was raised as a non-Jew. We are cut a lot of slack in terms of following the Law, because of our 'invincible ignorance'. ;o) It is almost like being a little child--there is so much to it that those raised Jewish just take for granted. I'm trying to learn as much as I can as I go along.
In answer to your specific question, I identify spiritually with Orthodox Judaism, but from a practical standpoint I am a Conservative. The nearest Orthodox shul is around 80-90 miles from where I live, and family and business ties preclude relocation at this time. I do hope at some point in the future to formally become Orthodox.
I began studying Judaism with this purpose in mind. I had no intention of becoming Jewish. But as I studied it, it struck a deep chord in me. I felt that God was calling me back to the faith of my ancestors. Ultimately, I resolved my problems with Christianity by rejecting its truth claims.
Since you're the first Jew I've ever engaged in significant religious conversation, you're going to have to answer my questions. :-)
What specifically do Jews deny about Christianity? That there was a Jesus? That he was the messiah?
Thanks for the answers!