Judaism-Back to Basics

Mason examines the history and origin of Judaism. In the study of ancient Judea, there is no more basic category than Judaism. It seems obvious that ancient Jews practiced Judaism. Since there was Greek word, Ioudaismos, which looks like Judaism, some scholars have suggested that Jews were unique among the ancients in embracing an -ism. Moreover, Mason argues that Ioudaismos appears as the countermovement of the Hasmonean priests, who revolt against allohylismos ("foreign-zing") priestly leadership.