Judaism and the Afterlife

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that the belief in an afterlife is an almost universal concept, with most major religions around the world providing dogmatic support. The writer points out that while there is no single Jewish tradition concerning the afterlife, a review of the various Jewish traditions concerning the possibility and nature of immortality can provide some useful insights in identifying salient aspects of Jewish beliefs in the afterlife. To this end, the writer provides a review of the relevant peer-reviewed and scholarly literature concerning Jewish beliefs in the afterlife and the general issues of immortality and the resurrection of the good in "the world to come". Further, the writer discusses the specific Pharisees' notions about a future resurrection of the good, followed by a summary of the research and findings in the conclusion.

Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"There is a distinct element of reincarnation to these later Jewish concepts of the afterlife, at least for the time the soul remains on earth, with a departure from the traditions of earlier Hellenistic Jewish authors and suggested that the human soul survives as an individual, conscious being, capable of recalling its past life and able to contemplates (either with joy or sorrow) its eventual eternal destination when God's judgment is passed (Nadler 54). In fact, while the apocalyptic writings during the period 300 BCE to 100 BCE expanded on the earlier themes present in the Hebrew Bible such as Sheol and divine judgment, these authors ensured that their views were consistent with Scriptural teachings but also included observations concerning what was likely implied by these teachings about the afterlife as well. Although these concepts have not been integrated into mainstream Jewish dogma concerning the afterlife, some of the fundamental elements remain highly influential today."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Burland, C. A. "Is There a Life After Death?" In Man, Myth & Magic: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Supernatural, Vol. 1. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation, 1970.
• Grabbe, Lester L. Judaic Religion in the Second Temple Period: Belief and Practice from the Exile to Yavneh. London: Routledge, 2000.
• Nadler, Steven. Spinoza's Heresy: Immortality and the Jewish Mind. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2001.
• Rayner, John D. Jewish Religious Law: A Progressive Perspective. New York: Berghahn Books, 1998.
• Surette, Leon. (1994). "A Matter of Belief: 'Pincher Martin's Afterlife." Twentieth Century Literature, 40(2), 205.

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