They both preach peace, kindness and doing onto others as you would have them do onto you.
Well, if that's the criteria we're going by, then all religions are basically the same.
But that's not fair because the beliefs derived from religions manifest themselves in the daily lives of people in completely different ways. If they are "basically" the same, why do the societies who practice these "same" religions differ so greatly?
Good points. I agree with your first point, all religions are basically the same.
Societies, I think, appear to differ so much because these basic religious virtues do not manifest themselves in peoples daily lives.
Exodus is an interesting look into this phenom. With in weeks, or months, or hours of receiving the Commandments on Mt Sinai the people had broken every one. People are much better at not having religion influence their daily lives than the other way around.
God understands that. That is why sinners can ask for atonement. In Judaism on Yom Kipper, in Catholicism at confession, and in many modern Protestant sects simple by accepting Jesus you are forgiven for past and future sins.