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Single Idea 7354
[filed under theme 29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 2. Immortality / a. Immortality
]
Full Idea
Belief in resurrection and the afterlife was the main distinguishing mark of Pharisaism, and thus fundamental of rabbinic Judaism.
Gist of Idea
The main doctrine of the Pharisees was belief in resurrection and the afterlife
Source
Paul Johnson (The History of the Jews [1987], Pt II)
Book Ref
Johnson,Paul: 'A History of the Jews' [Phoenix 1993], p.161
A Reaction
Belief in an afterlife seems to go back to the Egyptians, but this development in Judaism was obviously very influential, even among early Christians, who initially seem to have only believed in resurrection of the body.
The
16 ideas
from Paul Johnson
7337
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In Mosaic legal theory, crimes are sins and sins are crimes
[Johnson,P]
|
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
|
Mosaic law was the first to embody the rule of law, and equality before the law
[Johnson,P]
|
7338
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Man's life is sacred, because it is made in God's image
[Johnson,P]
|
7336
|
A key moment is the idea of a single moral God, who imposes his morality on humanity
[Johnson,P]
|
7341
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Sampson illustrates the idea that religious heroes often begin as outlaws and semi-criminals
[Johnson,P]
|
7342
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Isaiah moved Israelite religion away from the local, onto a more universal plane
[Johnson,P]
|
7348
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The Jews sharply distinguish human and divine, but the Greeks pull them closer together
[Johnson,P]
|
7353
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The Pharisees undermined slavery, by giving slaves responsibility and status in law courts
[Johnson,P]
|
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]
|
7347
|
Zoroastrians believed in one eternal beneficent being, Creator through the holy spirit
[Johnson,P]
|
7349
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Immortality based on judgement of merit was developed by the Egyptians (not the Jews)
[Johnson,P]
|
7354
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The main doctrine of the Pharisees was belief in resurrection and the afterlife
[Johnson,P]
|
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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