How do the beliefs and practices of rabbinic Judaism differ and how are they the same as from that of biblical religion?
Responses (3)
You may have to apply hermeneutic methods to establish what the religion of the ancient Israelites and Jews of biblical times were. This is what 'critical' scholars do.
It is now well established that the religion of both Israel and Judah before 722 BCE (when Israel was conquered by Assyria and thereafter ceased to exist) was polytheistic. The Book of Kings (1 Kings, 2 Kings) describes every king of Israel as following in the footsteps of his father and worshipping other gods. The criticism of the early Judahite kings was more muted, for obvious reasons, but the same applies. Polytheism has been confirmed by archaeology.
Mark S. Smith ('The Early History of God') says that according to the available evidence, Israelite religion in its earliest form did not contrast markedly with the religions of its Levantine neighbours in either number or configuration of deities. He says that in the Judges period, Israelite divinities may have included Yahweh, El, Baal and perhaps Asherah as well as the sun, moon and stars. He adds the goddess Astarte for the monarchical period.
In the period immediately preceding the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in 70 CE, Judaism was defined in two quite different strands by the Sadducees and the Pharisees but, in spite of their different beliefs, both groups believed that animal sacrifices must be made in the temple. After 70 CE, the temple no longer existed and the Sadducees, who supplied the priests, faded from history. Rabbinic Judaism evolved out of Phariseeism, but evolved in new directions. The Hebrew canon of scriptures, the Tanakh, was defined and the Talmud was compiled.
Synagogues had already existed as Jewish religious meeting places prior to Rabbinic Judaism, at least in the diaspora, but they now became the places of Jewish worship.
John Dominic Crossan says, in 'The Birth of Christianity' that Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism were each as great a leap and as valid a development from their common ancestry as was the other.
Many times what happens is that the rabbinic class made rules to burden the people
that is why the rabbinic class felt this way John 7:49 But the crowd who do not know the law are accursed people. They thought that they were better than they were that is why they put burdens on the people. For an example GODS law says to wash your hands. What they said wash up to your elbows another one was that on the sabbath Gods law says that you were not to do any work on that day. because Jehovah wanted his people to reflect about him and there relationship with him.. Now in turn they wanted make sure that again to put more of a burden on them by telling them they could not kill a gnat that was considered work. That is why Jesus condemned them.
When we teach someone something make sure it is Bible based not our own. Dont go beyond what is written..