I am trying to search for sources on Jewish sectarianism. I understand religious sectarianism was an unusual occurrence within ancient Judaism.
I understand religious sectarianism was an unusual occurrence within ancient Judaism
I hope you simply mean that it was unusual to document it within the Bible and that we have few documents preserved outside the Bible. There is nothing about the sectarianism in the 2nd temple period that would lead us to believe it was seen as unusual. I am fond of this book which is actually on sectarianism as applied to interpretation: Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Opening the Sealed Book: Interpretations of the Book of Isaiah in Late Antiquity. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2006. Otherwise, I second whatever DMB recommends as this is her area of expertise.
Blenkinsopp, Joseph. Opening the Sealed Book: Interpretations of the Book of Isaiah in Late Antiquity.
You're right.
Unrelated to Christian's specific question above (which is anything but), the book below turns ones mind upside down with no apologies. I read it yesterday, got busy, then re-started, thinking, seriously? Especially when he re-wrote the Christian literature to look like Judaism literature (illustrating).
Rabbinic Literature & the New Testament: What We Cannot Show, We Do Not Know
Neusner has a whole bunch of interesting upside-down (good) points, before he finally lets loose; a chapter heading "If We Cannot Show It: Pseudo-orthodoxy and Pseudocriticism" proceeding to skewer the assumptions about Judaism.
