1.2 religious groups in palestine Flashcards
1
Q
When did the Pharisees originate?
A
during the time of the hellenisation of the Jews - their aim was to preserve adherence to the Law under the threat of assimilation
2
Q
Were the pharisees influential?
A
- as they were laymen and scribes, they were influential among ordinary Jews and were dominant in synagogues
3
Q
Which law did the Pharisees prefer?
A
- they believed that the Written Law needed to be applied to new situations
- the Oral law was developed, which made God’s will and Temple purity applicable to everyday life
4
Q
What did Pharisees believe in?
A
- an afterlife, angels and demons, and predestination
5
Q
Were the Pharisees a religious or political group?
A
- they were influential in religious rather than political affairs
6
Q
When did the Sadducees emerge?
A
- around the same time as the Pharisees
- they too wanted to preserve the Jewish faith but for them it was centred on the Temple
7
Q
What law did the Sadducees prefer?
A
- they believed only in the Written Law and rejected all beliefs about life after death
8
Q
Who were Sadducees?
A
- mainly the priests in the Temple, and the aristocratic families
- the High priest and many members of the Sanhedrin were Sadducees
- they were a small but influential group
9
Q
Were the Sadducees a religious or political group?
A
- they had more political power than the Pharisees
10
Q
Who were the Zealots?
A
- strongly believed in the kingship of God and so were not willing to accept any earthly ruler
- more of a political group
- wanted to end Roman rule
- reviled the Pharisees and Sadducees
11
Q
Who were the Essenes?
A
- lived in communities separated from the rest of society
- knowledge of their beliefs have been enhanced by the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls
- the male community was celibate
- hoped for a priestly Messiah who would restore the purity of the Temple
12
Q
Who were the Samaritans?
A
- not accepted as true Jews by other Jews as they had intermarried with the Babylonians
- didn’t recognise the Temple
- only accepted Written Law
13
Q
Who were hellenists?
A
- Jews who adapted to the Greek way of life
14
Q
What were some of the philosophies that were attractive to hellenists?
A
platonism and stoicism
15
Q
What is platonism?
A
the material world is only a shadow of the true reality of the eternal world of ‘forms’
