ANCIENT GREEK AND HEBREW THOUGHT

Perhaps the diminution of this so-called Eastern culture came to an end with the emergence of the new Greek culture in approximately 800 BC. When the Greeks pushed southward into ancient Israel, around 200 BC, there seemed to be a collision of the two cultures, with the Greek, or western, culture surviving.

One major difference between these two cultures was the fact that "Greek thought views the world through the mind (abstract thought). Ancient Hebrew thought views the world through the senses (concrete thought)" (no author 2002 1). According to the Ancient Hebrew Studies website (2002) some of the differences between these two cultures are:

Greek: Teach students to trust the state.

Hebrew: Teach children to trust God in everything.

Greek: Examine the world by classifying whole thi

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philosophy and athletics, courtesans and handsome boys, along with a gay sophistication that questioned all moralsàHow could Jewish youth resistà" (Durant 1939 581). The defense of the Jews was religious. They formed a very puritanical group called the Chasidim (which means "the pious"). According to Durant (1939) this sect began by pledging to avoid wine and frowned on all physical pleasure as a surrender to Satan and the Greeks. This might have worked, even as some Jews decided a middle way would be more proper. However, there was an attempt "of Antiochus Epiphanes to force Hellenism upon Judea by persuasion of the sword" (Durant 1939 581). Suddenly, it became more than a cultural clash. It was a war of arms, not words or ideas. Unfortunately, Hellenism won out. Jews were now forced to pay taxes. Greek institutions were now open ed in Judea, and many Hebrew temples and Hebrews began to worship Zeus rather than their own God. The result was shock among many Jews. They then realized that perhaps the Chasidim were right in their refusal to accept Greek culture. When inaccurate news came to Jerusalem that their oppressor, Antiochus, had been killed, there was clear rejoicing. However, Antiochus was not dead, and when he
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Approximate Word count = 1688
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)