Jewish belief in afterlife

[Anonymous]

I have read several books that mention that the Hebrew/Jewish religion didn’t gain a concept of an afterlife until quite late in the game. Not sure exactly, but I think perhaps they say it was around the time of Lehi or shortly after.

I think our common conception in the church is that the idea of an afterlife was always there, from Adam on down. I’m guessing if the church were pressed on this issue, they would say that the doctrine may have been lost at certain times, but it was always true and known to the true servants of God.

My question is what is the basis for these books ascertaining that the Jews did not believe in an afterlife? Is it simply the absence of such references in the Old Testament?

[Anonymous]

silentstruggle wrote:

Is it simply the absence of such references in the Old Testament?

Yes! Every society going, just about, with the exception of some modern people has had some kind of a concept of an afterlife, from tribal shamans to Muslims. There is even some evidence that Neanderthals had belief in an afterlife.

It’s just that the traditional Jewish concept of the afterlife is actually quite different to the mainstream Christian one. They had an idea of sheol, somewhat like our spirit world in Mormonism.

[Author]

Posts