Copexodius Maximus
Mentally destroyed by reality
★★★★★
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- Jul 21, 2020
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It is commonly known to many people the Judaism does not have any real concept of a hell. But modern scholarship mostly agrees with the idea that there was no concept of the afterlife in the ancient Israelite traditions, and that these beliefs came in later. However, based on my study of the Torah I think this is incorrect. Both many in modern scholarship, modern Jews, and ancient theories like by the Sadducees who rejected an afterlife were all incorrect.
Earliest Traditions: According to modern scholars ancient Israelite texts like the Torah have no afterlife or mention of one. This is why in some ancient sects like the Sadducees rejected the idea of an afterlife at all. So the point of religion and worshipping God in this older tradition is that you can make a better life for yourself while still alive. When you die, you just go straight to the grave (sheol) and that’s it.
Incorrect rebuttal from modern Jews
There is pushback from modern Jews as well who try to denounce the modern scholarship and Sadducee claims of there being no afterlife. The common rebuttal is:
The book of Deuteronomy mentions a Day of Retribution for the wicked.
There is nothing about this that talks about a resurrection, but if you don’t believe in such a concept then this idea seems very mysterious and nebulous. However when you look at this in the context of the passage, it clearly is talking about the Israelites facing a day of retribution for going against God, and face punishment as a nation. There is no evidence this is talking about a personal judgement by God, but rather a retroactive reinterpretation by copers.
Why modern scholarship is wrong and a better understanding
There are a few problems with the modern scholarly view though.
Sorcery could summon and communicate with the dead as ghosts
This is probably the strangest part of the Bible where the afterlife is concerned. Even in modern Judaism there is no real explanation of how this can be done. In the book of Deuteronomy resurrection of the dead and communication with them is considered sorcery and required the subject to be stoned to death. So the Torah does believe it’s real, but this would make no sense with the view of no afterlife (unless they are zombies or something).
This isn’t just because they believed sorcerers were scam artists according to these beliefs. In the book or Samuel (part of Deuteronomy), a sorceress called the Witch of Endor summons the ghost of the prophet Samuel so Saul can communicate with him.
Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”……..”Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.” 20
Based on this reading, we see that Samuel describes himself as being disturbed and brought up. So Samuel was aware that he was dead, and was aware of the events of the world. Either he still has his prophetic powers due to God and was told these things while being brought back as a ghost, or he knew what was going to happen due to being dead and it’s just something the dead know.
Samuel couldn’t be seen but could be heard by Saul, which means that it was a ghost rather than a zombie. Samuel (who was a righteous prophet) saying that Saul (who disobeyed God) would be in the same place after death debunks the idea that people go to a different place for their deeds. Modern Judaism tries to put moral stance of somehow a soul will be purified and kept away from God, but Samuel mentions nothing about being with God and says Saul and his sons will die tomorrow and be with him (no time in between for a purification).
So what do we make of all of this? The best explanation for this case is actually:
Cross-Cultural references to Mesopotamia
In the Bible the word Sheol is used to describe the place the dead go to. This word in Hebrew just means grave, but it has other connotations in other religions nearby, like the Mesopotamian religions with other terms. In there the concept of Sheol is where it’s just a realm underground where the dead exist experiencing nothing pretty much (laying down and rotting like many of us, and completely over). However, you are aware of what happens in the world above and what will happen. There is no judgement of souls, there is no resurrection, there is no being with God. You are just in this mysterious world of the dead that everyone goes to, without a body but you don’t cease to exist completely.
Earliest Traditions: According to modern scholars ancient Israelite texts like the Torah have no afterlife or mention of one. This is why in some ancient sects like the Sadducees rejected the idea of an afterlife at all. So the point of religion and worshipping God in this older tradition is that you can make a better life for yourself while still alive. When you die, you just go straight to the grave (sheol) and that’s it.
Incorrect rebuttal from modern Jews
There is pushback from modern Jews as well who try to denounce the modern scholarship and Sadducee claims of there being no afterlife. The common rebuttal is:
The book of Deuteronomy mentions a Day of Retribution for the wicked.
There is nothing about this that talks about a resurrection, but if you don’t believe in such a concept then this idea seems very mysterious and nebulous. However when you look at this in the context of the passage, it clearly is talking about the Israelites facing a day of retribution for going against God, and face punishment as a nation. There is no evidence this is talking about a personal judgement by God, but rather a retroactive reinterpretation by copers.
Why modern scholarship is wrong and a better understanding
There are a few problems with the modern scholarly view though.
Sorcery could summon and communicate with the dead as ghosts
This is probably the strangest part of the Bible where the afterlife is concerned. Even in modern Judaism there is no real explanation of how this can be done. In the book of Deuteronomy resurrection of the dead and communication with them is considered sorcery and required the subject to be stoned to death. So the Torah does believe it’s real, but this would make no sense with the view of no afterlife (unless they are zombies or something).
This isn’t just because they believed sorcerers were scam artists according to these beliefs. In the book or Samuel (part of Deuteronomy), a sorceress called the Witch of Endor summons the ghost of the prophet Samuel so Saul can communicate with him.
Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”……..”Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.” 20
Based on this reading, we see that Samuel describes himself as being disturbed and brought up. So Samuel was aware that he was dead, and was aware of the events of the world. Either he still has his prophetic powers due to God and was told these things while being brought back as a ghost, or he knew what was going to happen due to being dead and it’s just something the dead know.
Samuel couldn’t be seen but could be heard by Saul, which means that it was a ghost rather than a zombie. Samuel (who was a righteous prophet) saying that Saul (who disobeyed God) would be in the same place after death debunks the idea that people go to a different place for their deeds. Modern Judaism tries to put moral stance of somehow a soul will be purified and kept away from God, but Samuel mentions nothing about being with God and says Saul and his sons will die tomorrow and be with him (no time in between for a purification).
So what do we make of all of this? The best explanation for this case is actually:
Cross-Cultural references to Mesopotamia
In the Bible the word Sheol is used to describe the place the dead go to. This word in Hebrew just means grave, but it has other connotations in other religions nearby, like the Mesopotamian religions with other terms. In there the concept of Sheol is where it’s just a realm underground where the dead exist experiencing nothing pretty much (laying down and rotting like many of us, and completely over). However, you are aware of what happens in the world above and what will happen. There is no judgement of souls, there is no resurrection, there is no being with God. You are just in this mysterious world of the dead that everyone goes to, without a body but you don’t cease to exist completely.