Do Jews believe in the heaven/afterlife? If not, what is the point of keeping their religion?

[MP_Kid]

I have been told that Jews do not believe in the afterlife or heaven. If this is the case, what is the point of them keeping their Jewish religion?

 

[Brendan]

That was even covered in the Bible.

The Saducees did NOT believe in a Resurrection. The Pharisees did.

Historically, the Pharitical school won out, and thus modern Jews hold to an afterlife in Heaven.

Note the 13 essential principles of Judaism

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/332555/jewish/Maimonides-13-Principles-of-Faith.htm

Specifically, 11 and 13

That said, a lot of modern Jews are more secular and cultural than traditional Jewish and tend to avoid discussions of Heaven and Hell.

 

[MP_Kid]

I guess my question for today is how many sects of Jews are there today in this world? I know there is a hardcore sect that isolates themselves away from everyone else and make people marry at a very young age.

 

[dochawk]

Historically, the Pharitical school won out, and thus modern Jews hold to an afterlife in Heaven.

But even today, the split remains–most, but not all, believe in the afterlife.

hawk

 

[TigerLily-1]

Read through these 2 threads – I believe your question and many related ones were asked and answered in these threads (the first thread is closed. The second one is still open and active if you want to ask your question in that thread)

Ask me anything (almost) about Judaism Non-Catholic Religions

I have been urged by several members to initiate a thread on this topic although it is against my better judgment for three reasons. One is that it may embroil us in debate rather than dialogue. The former usually generates only heat, while the latter may generate light. The second reason is a matter of my time. Since I still work full-time, I may not get around to answering a lot of questions and comments all at once, so please be patient. And thirdly, I in no way am typical or representat…

Answers from an Orthodox Jew Non-Catholic Religions

Not having visited the site since before Passover, I see many questions and comments directed toward me in the now-closed thread Ask me anything (almost) about Judaism Therefore, I am just making known that I plan to address these questions in brief in this space, either later tonight or tomorrow. Thank you all for your interest.

 

[Karen]

 

[fide]

Let me ask a related question: if you (anyone reading this) truly, deeply, sincerely believed in God, and believed that you and your people were chosen by God as a witness to all the nations -this One God, the only God who IS - and further, that you belonged to Him in a special way in a unique and Holy Covenant - AND you learned in your walk with Him that this present creation, including you, will end on a Last Day, and ALL will be totally destroyed then - would you then reject God and your holy Covenant with Him?

God is not God, in other words, only as long as He will do good things for me. God is not God only as long as He remains in my good graces, or favors me and keeps my approval. He is God, and He is true, because He is God.

Job 2:9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God, and die.”
Job 2:10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

 

[Mary888]

Christians we too are expected to resurrect hence we MUST die in order to do so, and also accept our work on this earth may be judged as vain and we also believe we have a unique relationship to God and a duty from Him to others and that our efforts may not be enough in the end.
To answer your question - no.
God is God, I always believed that and I am not inspired by the pink shiny image of “Jesus” that Modern Christianity promotes probably by a desire to please people more. The NT is just as scary as the OT even not even more so. Jesus said His Day will come without notice and most of us will reject Him then.
So any Christian who still holds themselves loyal to God are just as worthy as a Jew who stays by God’s side no matter what, because we are not promised Heaven for certainty, not without certain conditions to be met. We all know we have to pass through tribulations.

 

[meltzerboy2]

Not all Jews abide by the 13 essential principles compiled by Maimonides. Indeed not all Jews even believe in G-d although they may still consider themselves Jewish, and some fiercely so. Likewise, some Jews, perhaps many, believe in an afterlife, whereas some do not, and still others are undecided. We are taught NOT to speculate too much about the afterlife anyway, but rather to live THIS life as fully and in the best possible way we can, which means not only making the most of our G-d-given talents but also helping others to lead happy and fulfilling lives. How can those Jews who do not believe in an afterlife still maintain their religion? Again, the answer lies in the focus on the here and now in Judaism, and trusting that the rest will be taken care of by G-d. This, I think, is the ultimate in performing G-d’s will, that is, living by the belief that doing good is its own reward, in particular as it is commanded by G-d, regardless of whether or not G-d sees fit to reward us beyond our earthly existence. Judaism is one of the very few religions that do not see human life as meaningless or unjust even if it should be the only life we have. Christianity, on the other hand, is so much more appealing to the typical person (just look at the difference in numbers of believers!) since it offers without any doubt the potential gift of eternal life with G-d. On the other hand, Judaism does not dwell on the possibility of going to hell in the same way Christianity does. So while Judaism may be less appealing to most, it is, in a way, also less frightening.