Citing Quote by Edith Starr Miller
“According to Miller, Pharisee Judaism is not a religion at all, but a secret society posing as a religion, a "sect with Judaism as a rite." She cites Moses Mendelssohn who wrote "Judaism is not a religion but a Law religionized."”
About This Quote
An assertion that certain Jewish sects function more as secret societies than religious communities, citing a historical figure to argue that Judaism is a legal rather than spiritual system.
In simple terms: Some Jewish groups act as secret societies.
Key Takeaway
Religion can be framed as a legal structure rather than faith.
Themes
religion
Jewish history
secret societies
law
philosophy
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
historical analysis
theological critique
When to use this quote
- academic paper
- historical lecture
- religious studies class
Key Concepts
Miller's critique
Mendelssohn's view
Practical Applications
- scholarly article
- curriculum design
Questions to Reflect On
- How does legalism affect religious identity?
- What evidence supports or refutes this claim?
A Different Perspective
Some scholars argue that this perspective oversimplifies diverse Jewish practices and ignores spiritual dimensions.
![“[Moses] Mendelssohn was a religious Jew. I felt sorry for him.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/823/elie-wiesel-341_felt_moses-mendelssohn-was-a-religious-jew-i_1164649.jpg)
![“I developed an anger at [Moses] Mendelssohn. Later, I read the book. I realized there was nothing subversive in it.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/133/elie-wiesel-341_anger_i-developed-an-anger-at-moses-mendelssoh_640846.jpg)
![“I became one of [Moses Mendelssohn] defenders. But then I heard the words "Biblical criticism" again. And, of course, afterward, I studied it more closely.” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bd4/elie-wiesel-341_biblical_i-became-one-of-moses-mendelssohn-defend_468432.jpg)
![“Some [intentional communities], like the Shakers and the Harmony Society, have endured for a century or even longer. The Hutterians, to cite an extreme example, are today still strongly committed to communal living after practicing it, punctuated only by occasional lapses into private enterprise…” quote by Benjamin Zablocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3ac/benjamin-zablocki-164471_business_some-intentional-communities-like-the-sh_110542.jpg)
