Was Judaism always monotheistic? Does this affect our faith?

[eddietoo]

the question is about judaism. i believe that is a more limited term than hebrews?

that is why i asked how the beginning of judaism was being dated.

 

[eddietoo]

of course every other tribe, culture, whatever you want to call the different peoples of five thousand or so years ago in the middle east were polytheistic.

i fail to see how making that observation determines that judaism began as a polytheistic belief system.

 

[niceatheist]

My understanding, and I’m going from memory, is that monotheism dates back to after the Babylonian Captivity

 

[De_Maria]

Was Judaism always Monotheistic?

Yes. Judaism, as a religion, began with the Mosaic Law.

If not, wouldn’t it affect our faith considering its Catholicsm’s predecessor religion?

The foundation for Catholicism remains the Ten Commandments and the Teachings of Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ refers to Our Lord as one Lord:

Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

 

[niceatheist]

Was Judaism always Monotheistic?

In historical terms, however, Judaism as a religion really is a post-Captivity entity. Prior to that, you had the Israelite tribes, the ancestors of the Jews to be sure, but it’s a good deal fuzzier. There’s no sharp dividing line, so a First Century Jew would have been correct to see themselves as a descendant of the Israelites, but it’s a bit like how a Frenchman might consider himself a Gaul, though obviously a millennia and a half separate the modern French resident from his Gaulish ancestors.

 

[PJM]

Where the Jews always monotheistic? NO

Yahweh took them out of paganism which was the common and diverse worship of many gods. … The EXODUS is both literal and.allegorical

Literal in that they had been the captured SLAVES of Egypt; and did attain freedom by GODS powerful hand.

It is allegorical it that the REASON God freed them was to disassociate them from the pagan practices that many of them to varying degrees had accepted and practiced.

The 40 years in the desert was to TEACH them that their is but One TRUE God, One true faith and that GOD would accept nothing less.[Which is a true today as it was then]

But we find that many times they later resubmitted to other PAGAN religions and other gods beliefs & practices and were punished for doing so.

 

[niceatheist]

Where the Jews always monotheistic? NO

Yahweh took them out of paganism which was the common and diverse worship of many gods. … The EXODUS is both literal and.allegorical

Literal in that they had been the captured SLAVES of Egypt; and did attain freedom by GODS powerful hand.

It is allegorical it that the REASON God freed them was to disassociate them from the pagan practices that many of them to varying degrees had accepted and practiced.

The 40 years in the desert was to TEACH them that their is but One TRUE God, One true faith and that GOD would accept nothing less.[Which is a true today as it was then]

But we find that many times they later resubmitted to other PAGAN religions and other gods beliefs & practices and were punished for doing so.

Except for the problem that there’s no evidence of an Egyptian captivity. Perhaps even that story is allegorical.

 

[De_Maria]

De_Maria:

Was Judaism always Monotheistic?

In historical terms, however, Judaism as a religion really is a post-Captivity entity.

Moses instituted the Mosaic Law well before the Captivity event.

Prior to that, you had the Israelite tribes, the ancestors of the Jews to be sure, but it’s a good deal fuzzier. There’s no sharp dividing line, so a First Century Jew would have been correct to see themselves as a descendant of the Israelites, but it’s a bit like how a Frenchman might consider himself a Gaul, though obviously a millennia and a half separate the modern French resident from his Gaulish ancestors.

No. In fact, they kept strict family records. They knew who was descended from whom. If you read the books of Kings, you will find the understanding you seek there.

The dividing line is the death of Solomon. His sons angered the other tribes and they broke with Jerusalem. That is when they set up their altar on the mountain and began to worship God outside of Jerusalem. Then came the captivity and then the remnant was returned to Jerusalem and they rebuilt and then came Jesus. And He said,

Matthew 23:2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

Thus recognizing that throughout the whole ordeal, the Jews had continued to worship according to the Mosaic Law.