F
Fidelis
Guest
The distinction is often made between Biblical Judaism (pre-70 A.D. and the destruction of the Temple and all it’s ritual and ceremonial prescriptions), and it’s successor Rabbinic Judaism, the largely ethical/teaching/cultural based practice of most present-day Jews.
My first question is: What was the belief in Biblical Judaism about the afterlife, specifically eternal reward or punishment? I know that there was the general concept of “Sheol,” this sort of shadowy existence for the dead in general, but how were the fates of the good and the wicked differentiated? (I know we have a Christian insight to all this, but I’m more interested in what the the Jews of that time themselves taught about it) I’ve read that they may have not have had any well defined concept of it at that time, but maybe someone can verify that if it is true.
My second question is related to the first: In modern day Rabbinic Judaism, how has the concept of the afterlife changed, developed or, if you will, evolved? When I hear modern Jews speak of the afterlife (and again, I don’t know if it is an accurate representation of modern Jewish teaching on this point), it seems to be in terms identical to the Christian understanding: an explicit heaven for the righteous, and hell for the wicked. What exactly to modern Jews believe about heaven and hell?
To summarize my questions I guess I could say: What are the differences between ancient vs. modern Jewish understandings of the afterlife, and how and why did they change? Thanks.
My first question is: What was the belief in Biblical Judaism about the afterlife, specifically eternal reward or punishment? I know that there was the general concept of “Sheol,” this sort of shadowy existence for the dead in general, but how were the fates of the good and the wicked differentiated? (I know we have a Christian insight to all this, but I’m more interested in what the the Jews of that time themselves taught about it) I’ve read that they may have not have had any well defined concept of it at that time, but maybe someone can verify that if it is true.
My second question is related to the first: In modern day Rabbinic Judaism, how has the concept of the afterlife changed, developed or, if you will, evolved? When I hear modern Jews speak of the afterlife (and again, I don’t know if it is an accurate representation of modern Jewish teaching on this point), it seems to be in terms identical to the Christian understanding: an explicit heaven for the righteous, and hell for the wicked. What exactly to modern Jews believe about heaven and hell?
To summarize my questions I guess I could say: What are the differences between ancient vs. modern Jewish understandings of the afterlife, and how and why did they change? Thanks.