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Single Idea 7604

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

Full Idea

Amos was the first prophet to emphasise social justice and compassion.

Gist of Idea

Amos was the first prophet to emphasise justice and compassion

Source

report of Amos (30: Book of Amos [c.740 BCE]) by Karen Armstrong - A History of God

Book Ref

Armstrong,Karen: 'A History of God' [Mandarin 1993], p.56


A Reaction

It increasingly strikes me that early religious thinkers were actually working out the rules for good community living, but seeing them through the distorting spectacles of religion as a means to post-life salvation.


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

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