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Single Idea 7342

[filed under theme 29. Religion / B. Monotheistic Religion / 2. Judaism ]

Full Idea

The works of Isaiah (740-700 BCE) mark the point at which the Israelite religion began to spiritualize itself, to move from a specific location in space and time on to the universalist plane.

Gist of Idea

Isaiah moved Israelite religion away from the local, onto a more universal plane

Source

Paul Johnson (The History of the Jews [1987], Pt I)

Book Ref

Johnson,Paul: 'A History of the Jews' [Phoenix 1993], p.74

A Reaction

This is necessary if any religion is going to make converts outside the local culture. The crucial step would be to disembody God, so that He cannot be represented by a statue. The difficulty is for him to be universal, but retain a 'chosen people'.

The 15 ideas with the same theme [followers of one god with a chosen people]:

7604 Amos was the first prophet to emphasise justice and compassion [Amos, by Armstrong,K]
19934 Hebrews were very hostile to other states, who had not given up their rights to God [Spinoza]
7663 Judaism and Christianity views are based on paternal, family and tribal relations [Berlin]
7336 A key moment is the idea of a single moral God, who imposes his morality on humanity [Johnson,P]
7341 Sampson illustrates the idea that religious heroes often begin as outlaws and semi-criminals [Johnson,P]
7342 Isaiah moved Israelite religion away from the local, onto a more universal plane [Johnson,P]
7344 Judaism involves circumcision, Sabbath, Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, New Year, and Atonement [Johnson,P]
7345 In exile the Jews became a nomocracy [Johnson,P]
7355 The Torah pre-existed creation, and was its blueprint [Johnson,P]
7597 There is virtually no sign of monotheism in the Pentateuch [Armstrong,K]
23056 Judaism only became monotheistic around 550 BCE [Gray]
7480 Monotheism was a uniquely Israelite creation within the Middle East [Watson]
7479 Modern Judaism became stabilised in 200 CE [Watson]
7481 The Israelites may have asserted the uniqueness of Yahweh to justify land claims [Watson]
20929 Traditionally, God dictated the Torah to Moses, unlike the later biblical writings [Zimmermann,J]