Winners and Losers

In the more than 2000 year old debate between the Sadducees and Pharisees, there seem to be some outright winners, and outright losers.

The Rabbis have won, they have formed Judaism of the masses, and most Jewish learning and practice is now based on Talmudical Judaism.  On the other hand, the Sadducees have lost, they have disappeared from history, and their spiritual heirs, the Karaites remain a small group, that have very little force or presence.

What then does this mean for Karaites, and and those who are interested in Karaism?

There is no simple answer. They could resign themselves and remain the small group. Or proselytize and bring new people to the faith. Or maybe just give up.  On the other hand, orthodoxy is making a great revival, in Israel and elsewhere. 

Do numbers matter?  In a practical way they do. In a spiritual way, they might not. The prophets and their followers were small in number and no longer exist.

If one is secure in the community, then perhaps it is viable to be Karaite, whereas being alone might not be viable.  Perhaps one can integrate in some ways with the wider community.

Also, it is not at all clear what form Judaism will take in its next phase, when a Temple is built and prophecy returns.  Will these issues then be resolved? We may live to see that , or maybe not. Life is short so stick to what you think is true.