From a Sacrificing Society towards a Praying Community: A Movement within Hellenistic Judaism as a Model for Today's Christianity?

Based on his personal experience in India, the au­-
thor studies the transition from a “sacrificing society” to a 
“praying community” within the Hellenistic Judaism. Then
he tries to apply it to today’s church. First the author shows
how the ancient Israelites made and experienced the shift
from a religion of Jerusalem centred cultic offerings to a world­
wide spread Jewish community with common and private
prayers as focus of their identity and solidarity. Then he raises
the question if this process may function as a model for our
future hope, faith and life.
In Jewish history, as opposed to the Jerusalem temple, the
“synagogue universalized official Jewish ritual practice while
democratizing worship by taking it out of priestly hands. Thus
the way was opened for any Jew anywhere to participate and
officiate in the recognized communal ritual. Moreover, the
synagogue radically changed the content of this ritual, shift­
ing the focus from sacrifice and libation to Torah study and
prayer.” Prayer henceforth was seen as the appropriate di­
vine service and not seldom was it called “offering of the lips”.
The author contends that today’s Christianity in principle finds
similar preconditions and chances. Communal as well as in­-
dividual prayers can have the power to build the inner centre
of Christian existence, the gospel offers more than enough 
models of prayerful actions and attitudes in daily life which
at the same time lead to compassion and solidarity.