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0 pointsCoastalCoder1mo ago0 comments

I've recently started listening to a podcast from a retired Anglican Bishop, "Ask N.T. Wright Anything".

IIUC, he claims that the concept of "soul" is something that the wasn't really present in the Jewish worldview of Jesus' time. Rather, it's something that later theologians (Aquinas?) picked up from Greek philosophy (Platonism?).

I wonder if that means Wright would have a different take on the whole "only humans have souls" idea. (Beyond just differing on the choice of terminology, I mean.)

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AlanYx1mo ago· 2 in thread

>he claims that the concept of "soul" is something that the wasn't really present in the Jewish worldview of Jesus' time

That's a broadly accepted take among religious historians, although it's off by a half century, roughly, if you include the Jewish diaspora. Philo of Alexandria did begin to integrate Jewish scripture with Greek philosophy on the soul during his lifetime.

CoastalCoderOP1mo ago

Interesting. Thanks!

> although it's off by a half century, roughly, if you include the Jewish diaspora.

Mind expanding on this part?

AlanYx1mo ago

Most of the soul ideas that eventually made their way into Judaism (and many years later becoming heavily influential in sects like the one founded by Baal Shem Tov) originally came from diaspora Hellenic Jews who were familiar with Platonism. There was about a half century+ lag before these ideas diffused. That is, they existed but were not yet mainstream.

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