When Judaism began, how was it different from other religions in the ancient world?
A. Judaism had sacred texts.
B. Judaism did not instruct its followers about how to lead their daily lives.
C. Judaism held that there was one God who set down laws about right and wrong.
D. Judaism held that there was good and evil in the universe.
To determine how Judaism was different from other religions in the ancient world, we can analyze each option one by one.
A. Judaism had sacred texts: This option is correct. Judaism is unique in that it introduced the concept of sacred texts. The Hebrew Bible, consisting of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings, became the central religious scripture for Jews. These texts contained religious laws, moral teachings, historical accounts, and stories of faith.
B. Judaism did not instruct its followers about how to lead their daily lives: This option is incorrect. Judaism does provide guidance on how to lead a moral and ethical life. The sacred texts, particularly the Torah, contain specific commandments and instructions on various aspects of daily life, including ritual practices, dietary laws, and interpersonal relationships.
C. Judaism held that there was one God who set down laws about right and wrong: This option is correct. One of the fundamental principles of Judaism is monotheism, the belief in one God. Judaism taught that this one God, Yahweh, revealed laws and commandments to guide human behavior. These laws encompassed religious rituals, moral conduct, and social justice.
D. Judaism held that there was good and evil in the universe: This option is incorrect. While Judaism acknowledged the existence of evil, it did not attribute a dualistic nature to the universe with equal opposing forces of good and evil. Rather, Judaism taught that human actions could either align with God's commandments and bring about positive outcomes or deviate from them and lead to negative consequences.
Thus, the correct answers are A (Judaism had sacred texts) and C (Judaism held that there was one God who set down laws about right and wrong).