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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 '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]