The Qur'an talks nonstop about non-Muslims! And in parts it is quite accepting of Jews and Christians, indicating that they will be judged by their adherence to the Torah and the Gospel. One of my favorite ayat: "We have appointed a law and a practice for every one of you. Had God willed, He would have made you a single community, but He wanted to test you regarding what has come to you. So, compete with each other in doing good. Every one of you will return to God, and He will inform you regarding the things about which you differed." (5:48)
As for that form of universalism in Christianity, I think it exists, although of course Christianity has been more eager than Judaism to condemn non-adherents to hell. But there is a strain of univeralism also. Take Romans 2:14-16: "When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all." I think this is somewhat a parallel to the Noachide laws: non-Christians can still do the will of God.
I think where Judaism differs from Christianity and Islam is that, in Christianity and Islam, I think these inclusive verses have been seen as applying only to nonbelievers who never heard about the True Faith. Once you've heard about the True Faith, I think the traditional interpretation is that you can't just reject it and keep being a law unto yourself. Whereas Judaism says that non-Jews abiding by the Noachide laws are doing what they're supposed to do, and there's no need for them to convert to Judaism. (Except, of course, that they have to accept the Jewish understanding of what non-Jews should be doing!)
Could you answer a conversation Leland and I were having IRL, and tell me whether you believe it is even possible for a Gentile to "convert" to Judaism? In your mind, what would my (to use me as an example) best spiritual path be? Ought I to be a Jew, or would the best course of action be for me to abide by the Noahide laws (and, presumably, stop talking about this Jesus nonsense. :-) In particular, askmoses says it would actively be WRONG for me to observe the Sabbath. Do you agree?
Re: Say again?
As for that form of universalism in Christianity, I think it exists, although of course Christianity has been more eager than Judaism to condemn non-adherents to hell. But there is a strain of univeralism also. Take Romans 2:14-16: "When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all." I think this is somewhat a parallel to the Noachide laws: non-Christians can still do the will of God.
I think where Judaism differs from Christianity and Islam is that, in Christianity and Islam, I think these inclusive verses have been seen as applying only to nonbelievers who never heard about the True Faith. Once you've heard about the True Faith, I think the traditional interpretation is that you can't just reject it and keep being a law unto yourself. Whereas Judaism says that non-Jews abiding by the Noachide laws are doing what they're supposed to do, and there's no need for them to convert to Judaism. (Except, of course, that they have to accept the Jewish understanding of what non-Jews should be doing!)
Could you answer a conversation Leland and I were having IRL, and tell me whether you believe it is even possible for a Gentile to "convert" to Judaism? In your mind, what would my (to use me as an example) best spiritual path be? Ought I to be a Jew, or would the best course of action be for me to abide by the Noahide laws (and, presumably, stop talking about this Jesus nonsense. :-) In particular, askmoses says it would actively be WRONG for me to observe the Sabbath. Do you agree?