A Critical History of the Doctrine of a Future Life in Israel, in Judaism, and

This book delves into the fascinating evolution of beliefs about life after death, tracing their development through ancient Israel, Judaism, and early Christianity. The author meticulously explores the intricate connection between the concept of God and the evolving understanding of the afterlife, demonstrating how a shift from polytheism to monotheism profoundly influenced Jewish thought. The book examines the ancient, often unsettling beliefs about the dead that were inherited from pre-Mosaic Semitic cultures, including the practice of ancestor worship and the rituals surrounding death. The author sheds light on the complex interplay between religious beliefs and social practices, unveiling the roots of important legal concepts like the levirate law. By situating the evolution of these beliefs within their historical context, the author offers invaluable insights into the roots of religious thought in the ancient world. Through careful analysis of texts from the Old and New Testaments, the book illuminates the gradual emergence of a more developed eschatology, one that emphasizes the individual's ultimate destiny and the role of divine justice in the afterlife. The book offers a unique and comprehensive understanding of the historical development of eschatological thought, ultimately revealing how these beliefs shaped the religious landscape of the ancient world.Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books.This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.This text has been digitally restored from a historical edition. Some aesthetic errors may persist, however it has been deemed that any such will not detract from the work's significant historical value.The digital edition of all books may be viewed on our website before purchase.