View source for The Pharisees: The Sociological Background of Their Faith, 2nd ed. (1940 Finkelstein), book

'''The Pharisees: The Sociological Background of Their Faith''' (1940) is the 2nd revised edition of [[The Pharisees: The Sociological Background of Their Faith (1938 Finkelstein), book]].

==Abstract==

In Finkelstein's own words this text is "a comprehensive survey of the economic, social, and political factors which helped to determine the course of Jewish thought in the biblical and post-biblical periods" (1).  The first volume addresses cultural issues; the second is more historical in orientation.  Finkelstein does more than merely quote Josephus on the Pharisees; he interprets them from the perspective of the social sciences.  Finkelstein argues that the prophetic, Pharisaic, and rabbinic traditions were the product of a battle between the landed Jewish aristocracy and the larger unlanded groups.  As such this can be viewed as a text written from a Marxist perspective, wedding ideology and sociology.  The social clashes took over 1500 years and resulted in a religious tradition that has dramatically impacted other traditions such as Christianity and Islam.   --  '''Ronald Ruark''', University of Michigan

==Editions ==

Published in Philadelphia, PA: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1940.

==Table of contents==

*VOLUME I
**1. Introduction
**2. Palestine and Its Divisions
**3. Some Typical Variations of Custom
**4. The Customs of Jericho
**5. The Origin of the Pharisees
**6. The Urbanity of the Pharisees
**7. The Social Background of the Pharisaic Legislation
**8. The Doctrine of the Resurrection and Immortality
**9. The Angels
**10. The Simple Life
**11. Providence, Determinism and Free Will
**12. The Plebeian Paradox
**13. The Oral Law
**14. Reverence for Man
**15. The Prophetic Ideal of Human Equality
**16. The Origin of the Prophetic Doctrine of Peace
**17. The Doctrine of Peace and the Prophetic Movement
*VOLUME II
**18. The Ideals of Peace and Human Equality During the Exile
**19. Social and Political Conflict Under the Persian Rule
**20. The Struggle Against Assimilation:  Judaism Becomes the Synagogue
**21. Hellenists, Hasideans and Pharisees

==External links==
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=N-o4AAAAIAAJ&q=The+Pharisees:+The+Sociological+Background+of+Their+Faith&dq=The+Pharisees:+The+Sociological+Background+of+Their+Faith&cd=1 Google Books (Volume 1)]
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=RcqYQwAACAAJ&dq=The+Pharisees:+The+Sociological+Background+of+Their+Faith&cd=2 Google Books (Volume 2)]


[[Category:1940| Finkelstein]]

[[Category:English language--1940s|1940 Finkelstein]]

[[Category:Second Temple Studies--1940s|1940 Finkelstein]]
[[Category:Second Temple Studies--English|1940 Finkelstein]]

[[Category:Pharisees (subject)|1940 Finkelstein]]

[[Category:Top 1940s| 1940 Finkelstein]]
[[Category:Scholarship--Top 1940s| 1940 Finkelstein]]
[[Category:English language--Top 1940s| 1940 Finkelstein]]
[[Category:Second Temple Studies--Top 1940s| 1940 Finkelstein]]