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Prior to the 2nd century BCE, the Jewish people spoke little about life after death. The only concept generally abroad was that of "Sheol." Sheol was located in the "middle of the earth." It was not a place of reward or punishment, it was simply the abode of the dead. No one looked forward to it. No one was comforted by it. Everyone who died went to it. If it was described at all, it was described as shadowy or as shades of life, ghostlike with no sense of joy.

When Daniel was written, however, religious persecution against the Jews had reached horrendous proportions. The Jews were forced by their enemies to eat food they regarded as unclean. The Temple was itself polluted with the installation of the head of a swine in the "Holy of Holies," an unclean animal in the very dwelling place of God. The Jews called it "the abomination of desolation." Those Jews who refused to violate their religious practices were summarily executed. The book we call II Macabees, written at the same time the book of Daniel was written, tells the story of seven brothers who, along with their mother, were arrested and were compelled to eat the flesh of a swine. The oldest brother refused and his tongue was cut out. Then he was scalped and his hands and feet were chopped off. Finally, he was taken, still breathing, to a fire and burned up. With this vision still vivid, the next brother was told he should eat the flesh of the swine or suffer the same fate. He refused and was similarly disposed of. This procedure continued until all seven brothers had been murdered. Then the mother died. It is a dreadful story.

That story, however, became a powerful instrument in giving birth to a new concept and a new passion among the Jews for life after death. That is what finds expression in the 12th and final chapter of Daniel. The driving theme was that without life after death for these faithful martyrs the very justice of God was at stake. If faithfulness to God is not rewarded beyond this life then God cannot be just. Then evil does in fact triumph over God. So heaven and hell became the categories of divine justice and the afterlife was employed to make fair this unfair world. The book of Daniel was pivotal in this transformation and, as such, exercised an enormous influence on the development of Christianity as the afterlife became crucial to the human sense of justice in both the crucifixion of Jesus and the later persecution of the Christians in loyalty to their Christ. The Book of Daniel is not a profound book, but one wonders what Christianity might have looked like if it had not been for this book. For me, however, to think of the afterlife as a place of reward or punishment distorts that concept completely. That, however, is the subject for a future column, perhaps a future book.

That story, however, became a powerful instrument in giving birth to a new concept and a new passion among the Jews for life after death. That is what finds expression in the 12th and final chapter of Daniel. The driving theme was that without life after death for these faithful martyrs the very justice of God was at stake. If faithfulness to God is not rewarded beyond this life then God cannot be just. Then evil does in fact triumph over God. So heaven and hell became the categories of divine justice and the afterlife was employed to make fair this unfair world.

harmony wrote:I read it, Roger. It just takes me a while to process it. (and I'm trying to wash all my clothes, so I can pack for my trip next week.)

It seems that people nowadays think only in terms of the present... they/we don't think in terms of how what we have (that seems ancient) actually was, when it was young. We bring presentism to every thought we have.

Roger Morrison wrote:

harmony wrote:I read it, Roger. It just takes me a while to process it. (and I'm trying to wash all my clothes, so I can pack for my trip next week.)

It seems that people nowadays think only in terms of the present... they/we don't think in terms of how what we have (that seems ancient) actually was, when it was young. We bring presentism to every thought we have.

Hi Harmony, I'm with you on the "packing" :-) I've been into it in an organized, scheduled way ;-) over the past 4 days. Wagon 95% packed now, 7:20 PM, rest, including this machine goes in 6:AM then I'm on the way to Florida. Wife left Nov 1, smart gal...

"...thinking in terms of the present...) Good or bad? Could be BIG discussion, eh? I think generally since we live in the present, it deserves the greatest attention IE the time to be kind, happy, helpful, productive, creative, taking initiative, learning, applying; not fretting, fearing, being mean, selfish, abusive, punitive, unpleasant, unhappy, etc. Ya know what I mean?
I agree, we should view the past as being--at one time a present. One that was influenced by understanding & awareness determined by their knowledge base and nurture. In all probability not justified by present circumstances... Great cause of generational disputes in homes & other institutions. None excepted...

Have a safe and pleasant trip to????

Ancient Egyptian civilization was based on religion; their belief in the rebirth after death became their driving force behind their funeral practices.

Roger Morrison wrote:How long before Christianism in general & Mormonism specifically will see the truth??