Comments:
* More speed!!!
Several of the diares had this comment or something to that effect. Cannot but agree. Slow speed was totally my fault. Must do better next time!

* I have studied Judaism earlier but paid attention only to Pharisees, Sadducees and Essenes, but not to the ordinary folks.

* What you learn seems to depend on the professors you listen to or the books you read.

* Psycological, anthropological and social issues may offer a better understanding of what is Judaism.
 

Questions:
* Could we define new concepts right in the beginning?

* I did not quite understand Sanders and his concepts.
-"Covenantal nomism" deals with the "ideology" of Judaism. Sanders' book "Paul and Palestininan Judaism" gives the impression that it (covenantal nomism) is the basic idea of the whole religion called Judaism, but it is perhaps more accurate to say that it is the basic structure of idea of salvation in Judaism. In Judaism you do not try to get saved by doing good works since you are already saved by God's election. You just try to "stay in" the religion through obedience. The structure of covenantal nomism is: (1) God has chosen Israel and (2) given the law. The law implies both (3) God’s promise to maintain the election and (4) the requirement to obey. (5) God rewards obedience and punishes transgression. (6) The law provides for means of atonement, and atonement results in (7) the maintenance or re-establishment of the covenantal relationship. (8) All those who are maintained in the covenant by obedience, atonement and God’s mercy belong to the group which will be saved.
-"Common Judaism" simply refers to the religion of the ordinary folks. It is the religion of the ordinary people. In Sanders' common Judaism priests and ordinary people run the religion, not Pharisees or Essenes.

*What is the difference between Judaism and Christianity?
-We'll study that more next time (I planned to do that already today, but had  too slow speed!!)

* I was wandering (on the basis of the Text 3 that was written by Neusner) what is the difference between Sanders and Neusner?
-I can't see there any difference! I can't help thinking that Neusner's criticism (in text 2, for instance) has also some other motivation besides the scholarly one. Sanders clearly states in his book that he does not see Judaism as a uniform religion but he wants to trace something that unites all Jews.

* I learned that Sanders is not always right
- Well, I am not sure if I wanted you to learn that! Perhaps I  emphasized N.'s crtiticism too much. Usually I agree with S.

* Perhaps Sanders viewpoint is too general
In his book Sanders  also tells quite a lot about everyday life. Therefore, it is difficult to understand why N labels it as too abstract. The concept of covenantal nomism could perhaps be labeled as abstract, but surely not the religions Sanders describes in his  Judaism. Practice and Belief that deals with everyday life of ordinary people and their religion.

* I was happy to learn something about Hengel since his works are not so well presented in English literature.