Which beliefs do you associate with legalism?

Answer 1

Judaism has long been insulted by others through the canard of calling it overly legalistic. The religious Jewish view, on the other hand, is that it is only by clarifying and carefully obeying God's commands that we can avoid straying from Him. In First Temple times, those Israelites who dabbled in idolatry, a single prohibition, eventually slackened in all the other ways of God, and were sloughed off from the body of the nation (except for those who repented). This process was repeated with the Hellenizing Jews, the Sadducees, and other non-traditional groups.

Answer 2

By definition, legalism is a strict, literal or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious/moral code. A biblical example of this would be the Pharisees which many interpret as a excessively strict branch of Judaism which was dominant during the lifetime of Jesus Christ. The Pharisees added many of their own man-made rules and regulations as they interpreted God's Law, which distorted the original purpose of God's Law rendering it ineffective (Matthew 15:6).

In today's world particularly in the Western Hemisphere, legalism is defined in any form of biblical law-keeping is legalism and should therefore be avoided. The term is viewed pejoratively especially with those who keep the 7th day Sabbath, dietary laws etc. found in the Old Testament - mimicking (disciple meaning) the ways and words of Jesus Christ.


One must recognize that it is not legalistic to obey God's laws correctly. To the contrary to misuse God's laws in a way never intended is indeed legalistic.

Answer 3

Legalism is a political philosophy that does not address higher questions, it is concern with the most effective way of governance. Legalism has no followers. And the founder or originator is unclear.

Answer 4

belief that minor offenses should be punished severely