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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
16 ideas
from 'The History of the Jews'
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7337
|
In Mosaic legal theory, crimes are sins and sins are crimes
[Johnson,P]
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7339
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Because human life is what is sacred, Mosaic law has no death penalty for property violations
[Johnson,P]
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7340
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Mosaic law was the first to embody the rule of law, and equality before the law
[Johnson,P]
|
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7338
|
Man's life is sacred, because it is made in God's image
[Johnson,P]
|
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7336
|
A key moment is the idea of a single moral God, who imposes his morality on humanity
[Johnson,P]
|
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7341
|
Sampson illustrates the idea that religious heroes often begin as outlaws and semi-criminals
[Johnson,P]
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7342
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Isaiah moved Israelite religion away from the local, onto a more universal plane
[Johnson,P]
|
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7348
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The Jews sharply distinguish human and divine, but the Greeks pull them closer together
[Johnson,P]
|
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7353
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The Pharisees undermined slavery, by giving slaves responsibility and status in law courts
[Johnson,P]
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7344
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Judaism involves circumcision, Sabbath, Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, New Year, and Atonement
[Johnson,P]
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7345
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In exile the Jews became a nomocracy
[Johnson,P]
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7347
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Zoroastrians believed in one eternal beneficent being, Creator through the holy spirit
[Johnson,P]
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7349
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Immortality based on judgement of merit was developed by the Egyptians (not the Jews)
[Johnson,P]
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7354
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The main doctrine of the Pharisees was belief in resurrection and the afterlife
[Johnson,P]
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7356
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Pious Jews saw heaven as a vast library
[Johnson,P]
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7355
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The Torah pre-existed creation, and was its blueprint
[Johnson,P]
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