Factors contributing to the origin and success of the pre-Christian Jewish missionary movement.

Although Judaism is not known as a missionary religion, there is evidence that before the Christian era missionary movement added multitudes to the Jewish faith. This dissertation sought to discover why that movement began and why it succeeded. A secondary objective was to see whether it is possible to construct a theory to help explain why any religious group succeeds at missions. Two chapters dealt with preliminary questions: (1) Was there a missionary movement? The evidence favors an affirmative answer. (2) What was that movement like? Attention was given to its background, terminology, origin, motives, message, methods, messengers, and termination. Then possible causes were considered in three chapters. One concerned theological developments which helped produce a missionary impetus. Another discussed five historical and sociological factors which contributed to the success of Jewish missions: (1) an environment hospitable to missions; (2) contact with the outside world, resulting from the Dispersion; (3) the creation of a sect-like mentality among the Jews; (4) the availability of models of communication; (5) the development of high morale. A third chapter investigated receptivity: why were Gentiles receptive to the Jewish message? Theories from missiology and the social sciences relating to receptivity were examined. It was concluded that: (1) the age had the characteristics which accompany receptivity; (2) Judaism would have attracted many because of its contribution to their "social identity." Next, reasons for the origin and success of other missionary movements were considered and compared with the Jewish movement. The major conclusion of this study was that no one cause is sufficient to explain the movement; its success must be attributed to a combination of circumstances. Finally, six factors were identified as requirements for the success of any missionary movement: (1) Exclusivity--the belief that the religion has "light" denied to others. (2) Identity--an underst and ing by the religion that it is "special." (3) Exteriority--an eagerness to share the light with the outside world. (4) Adaptability--the ability to adapt to the circumstances of a mission. (5) Accessibility--contact between the missionary religion and its mission objective. (6) Receptivity--willingness of the hearers to accept the missionary message.Ph.D.Religious historyAncient historyUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/161969/1/8821644.pd