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Prior to the Babylonian Exile, Judaism was strongly committed to its monarchy, believing that legitimate rulers could only come by descent from the legendary King David. After the death of the last kings, the Jews were ruled by a theocracy and Judaism taught that theocracy was the ideal form of government. Even under Roman rule, the authority that enforced local rules was the Sanhedrin. Ethics were based rigidly on the law handed down and interpreted by the priests. Ancient Judaism had no concept of democracy.

Jewish Answer

Going back over 2000 years, the beginning of democracy began to show itself in Jewish history. This could be seen in how the priests lost control of the Sanhedrin to the Pharisees, with no priests at all playing any role in this organisation. By the time of Roman rule, the Saducees (the group that had control of the Temple) had become so supportive of the Hellenisation of Jewish culture, they had virtually no influence over the majority of Jews in Israel. Instead, it was the Pharisees, with their elected head, that the majority of the population looked to in matters of ethics and law.

Additionally, from the beginning of Judaism, concepts that play important roles in democracy were present. Some of these concepts are: individual rights, workers' rights, limitations of punishment for crimes committed, just legal systems with representation for the accused, universal education, and the right for women to inherit. All of these concepts and more were a part of Judaism for over 2000 years, however, most did not enter Western society until well into the 1900's.

In modern history, the ethical views of Judaism had a huge impact on modern democracy. One of the greatest impacts was the Jewish concept of equality of all people and the rights of the individual which led Jews to be at the forefront of the fight for racial equality around the world.

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Henry Feeney

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1y ago
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Alden Kling

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2y ago

Judaism is egalitarian and values all individuals, both men and women. The wealthy have no privileges; and the poor are valued, treated well and their opinions listened to. (Compare this to those societies in which only mature, land-owning males had any legal status.)
Judaism applies laws, and rules of moral behavior, to all its members equally.The laws of Moses form much of Western legal background.
Some of the concepts that Judaism introduced were:

  • The rights of every individual, including the elderly, the unwell, the poor etc. Infants are to be protected and cared for, whether or not they turned out to be the gender you were hoping for. Compare this to societies in which unhealthy babies, or females, were killed. Infanticide was practicedamong classical European nations until it was stopped by the influence of Judaism and its daughter-religions. Professor and former President of the American Historical Association, William L. Langer (in The History of Childhood): "Children, being physically unable to resist aggression, were the victims of forces over which they had no control, and they were abused in almost unimaginable ways." (See: more cruelties of the polytheists)
  • Women's rights also were carefully maintained in Judaism. Israelite women could own property, could initiate court cases, could have their own servants, and could own fields and businesses; and the Torah specifies marital rights for women (Exodus 21:10).
  • The concept that all people are equal.
  • The requirement of all societies to have just legal systems.
  • Limitations on punishments for crimes. For example, a robber repays double to his victim, or works it off. Cutting off the hands of a robber is a punishable crime. Debtors are not imprisoned or harmed. They are made to sell property and/or work to repay what they owe. Compare this to the Roman practice by which anyone could accuse a man of owing them money and the debtor could be killed.
  • Workers' rights, including the obligation to pay them on time.
  • A weekly day of rest for everyone.
  • Illiteracy among Israelites, in every generation, was rare. Universal education in the Western world is taken for granted today, yet this is a recent development. In Judaism, however, it goes back 3300 years. Judaism has always maintained that education is the highest goal of man in his pursuit of godliness. This tradition has now been passed on to Western culture.
  • Western jurisprudence is based in part upon the Torah. A quick look at the Ten Commandments (Exodus ch.20) and the laws that follow (Exodus ch.21-23) gives a good summary of most modern law.
  • It is the responsibility of the community to support the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the stranger passing through.
  • See also:

    How did Jewish ideas spread?

This answer is:
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Wiki User

8y ago

Prior to the Babylonian Exile, Judaism was strongly committed to its monarchy, believing that legitimate rulers could only come by descent from the legendary King David. After the death of the last kings, the Jews were ruled by a theocracy and Judaism taught that theocracy was the ideal form of government. Even under Roman rule, the authority that enforced local rules was the Sanhedrin. Ethics were based rigidly on the law handed down and interpreted by the priests. Ancient Judaism had no concept of democracy.

Jewish Answer

Going back over 2000 years, the beginning of democracy began to show itself in Jewish history. This could be seen in how the priests lost control of the Sanhedrin to the Pharisees, with no priests at all playing any role in this organisation. By the time of Roman rule, the Saducees (the group that had control of the Temple) had become so supportive of the Hellenisation of Jewish culture, they had virtually no influence over the majority of Jews in Israel. Instead, it was the Pharisees, with their elected head, that the majority of the population looked to in matters of ethics and law.

Additionally, from the beginning of Judaism, concepts that play important roles in democracy were present. Some of these concepts are: individual rights, workers' rights, limitations of punishment for crimes committed, just legal systems with representation for the accused, universal education, and the right for women to inherit. All of these concepts and more were a part of Judaism for over 2000 years, however, most did not enter Western society until well into the 1900's.

In modern history, the ethical views of Judaism had a huge impact on modern democracy. One of the greatest impacts was the Jewish concept of equality of all people and the rights of the individual which led Jews to be at the forefront of the fight for racial equality around the world.

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Wiki User

12y ago

Judaism commands equality of opportunity, equality before the law, equality of

the sexes, personal moral conduct, charity, universal education, and ethical

business practices among its adherents. Judaism doesn't "promote" its ideas.

If any of them were promoted outside of Judaism, it was by others who

recognized enough value in them to try them out.

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Wiki User

8y ago

Judaism is egalitarian and values all individuals, both men and women. The wealthy have no privileges; and the poor are valued, treated well and their opinions listened to. (Compare this to those societies in which only mature, land-owning males had any legal status.)
Judaism applies laws, and rules of moral behavior, to all its members equally.The laws of Moses form much of Western legal background.
Some of the concepts that Judaism introduced were:

  • The rights of every individual, including the elderly, the unwell, the poor etc. Infants are to be protected and cared for, whether or not they turned out to be the gender you were hoping for. Compare this to societies in which unhealthy babies, or females, were killed. Infanticide was practicedamong classical European nations until it was stopped by the influence of Judaism and its daughter-religions. Professor and former President of the American Historical Association, William L. Langer (in The History of Childhood): "Children, being physically unable to resist aggression, were the victims of forces over which they had no control, and they were abused in almost unimaginable ways." (See: more cruelties of the polytheists)
  • Women's rights also were carefully maintained in Judaism. Israelite women could own property, could initiate court cases, could have their own servants, and could own fields and businesses; and the Torah specifies marital rights for women (Exodus 21:10).
  • The concept that all people are equal.
  • The requirement of all societies to have just legal systems.
  • Limitations on punishments for crimes. For example, a robber repays double to his victim, or works it off. Cutting off the hands of a robber is a punishable crime. Debtors are not imprisoned or harmed. They are made to sell property and/or work to repay what they owe. Compare this to the Roman practice by which anyone could accuse a man of owing them money and the debtor could be killed.
  • Workers' rights, including the obligation to pay them on time.
  • A weekly day of rest for everyone.
  • Illiteracy among Israelites, in every generation, was rare. Universal education in the Western world is taken for granted today, yet this is a recent development. In Judaism, however, it goes back 3300 years. Judaism has always maintained that education is the highest goal of man in his pursuit of godliness. This tradition has now been passed on to Western culture.
  • Western jurisprudence is based in part upon the Torah. A quick look at the Ten Commandments (Exodus ch.20) and the laws that follow (Exodus ch.21-23) gives a good summary of most modern law.
  • It is the responsibility of the community to support the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the stranger passing through.
  • See also:

    How did Jewish ideas spread?

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago

Prior to the Babylonian Exile, Judaism was strongly committed to its monarchy, believing that legitimate rulers could only come by descent from the legendary King David. After the death of the last kings, the Jews were ruled by a theocracy and Judaism taught that theocracy was the ideal form of government. Even under Roman rule, the authority that enforced local rules was the Sanhedrin. Ethics were based rigidly on the law handed down and interpreted by the priests. Ancient Judaism had no concept of democracy.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago

Judaism is egalitarian and values all individuals, both men and women. The wealthy have no privileges; and the poor are valued, treated well and their opinions listened to. (Compare this to those societies in which only mature, land-owning males had any legal status.)
Judaism applies laws, and rules of moral behavior, to all its members equally.The laws of Moses form much of Western legal background.
Some of the concepts that Judaism introduced were:

  • The rights of every individual, including the elderly, the unwell, the poor etc. Infants are to be protected and cared for, whether or not they turned out to be the gender you were hoping for. Compare this to societies in which unhealthy babies, or females, were killed. Infanticide was practicedamong classical European nations until it was stopped by the influence of Judaism and its daughter-religions. Professor and former President of the American Historical Association, William L. Langer (in The History of Childhood): "Children, being physically unable to resist aggression, were the victims of forces over which they had no control, and they were abused in almost unimaginable ways." (See: more cruelties of the polytheists)
  • Women's rights also were carefully maintained in Judaism. Israelite women could own property, could initiate court cases, could have their own servants, and could own fields and businesses; and the Torah specifies marital rights for women (Exodus 21:10).
  • The concept that all people are equal.
  • The requirement of all societies to have just legal systems.
  • Limitations on punishments for crimes. For example, a robber repays double to his victim, or works it off. Cutting off the hands of a robber is a punishable crime. Debtors are not imprisoned or harmed. They are made to sell property and/or work to repay what they owe. Compare this to the Roman practice by which anyone could accuse a man of owing them money and the debtor could be killed.
  • Workers' rights, including the obligation to pay them on time.
  • A weekly day of rest for everyone.
  • Illiteracy among Israelites, in every generation, was rare. Universal education in the Western world is taken for granted today, yet this is a recent development. In Judaism, however, it goes back 3300 years. Judaism has always maintained that education is the highest goal of man in his pursuit of godliness. This tradition has now been passed on to Western culture.
  • Western jurisprudence is based in part upon the Torah. A quick look at the Ten Commandments (Exodus ch.20) and the laws that follow (Exodus ch.21-23) gives a good summary of most modern law.
  • It is the responsibility of the community to support the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the stranger passing through.
  • See also:

    How did Jewish ideas spread?

This answer is:
User Avatar

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Q: What important democratic idea did Judaism promote through its ethical view of the world?
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