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Single Idea 7349

[filed under theme 29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 2. Immortality / a. Immortality ]

Full Idea

The idea of judgement at death and immortality on the basis of merit were developed in Egypt before 1000 BCE. It is not Jewish because it was not in the Torah, and the Sadducees, who stuck to their texts, seemed to have denied the afterlife completely.

Gist of Idea

Immortality based on judgement of merit was developed by the Egyptians (not the Jews)

Source

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

Book Ref

Johnson,Paul: 'A History of the Jews' [Phoenix 1993], p.121

A Reaction

This is the idea considered crucial to religion by Immanuel Kant (Idea 1455), who should be declared an honorary Egyptian. To me the idea that only the good go to heaven sounds like sadly wishful thinking - a fictional consolation for an unhappy life.

Related Idea

Idea 1455 Belief in justice requires belief in a place for justice (heaven), a time (eternity), and a cause (God) [Kant, by PG]

The 16 ideas from 'The History of the Jews'

7337 In Mosaic legal theory, crimes are sins and sins are crimes [Johnson,P]
7339 Because human life is what is sacred, Mosaic law has no death penalty for property violations [Johnson,P]
7340 Mosaic law was the first to embody the rule of law, and equality before the law [Johnson,P]
7338 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 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]
7348 The Jews sharply distinguish human and divine, but the Greeks pull them closer together [Johnson,P]
7353 The Pharisees undermined slavery, by giving slaves responsibility and status in law courts [Johnson,P]
7345 In exile the Jews became a nomocracy [Johnson,P]
7344 Judaism involves circumcision, Sabbath, Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, New Year, and Atonement [Johnson,P]
7347 Zoroastrians believed in one eternal beneficent being, Creator through the holy spirit [Johnson,P]
7349 Immortality based on judgement of merit was developed by the Egyptians (not the Jews) [Johnson,P]
7354 The main doctrine of the Pharisees was belief in resurrection and the afterlife [Johnson,P]
7356 Pious Jews saw heaven as a vast library [Johnson,P]
7355 The Torah pre-existed creation, and was its blueprint [Johnson,P]