Covenant with God. The nation's identity, laws, land, and purpose were defined by a sacred covenant with Yahweh. Society was a theocracy (God-ruled).

Revealed Divine Commandments (Torah).

Law was moral, civil, and religious-all intertwined. Sin was primarily a vertical offense against God.

Collectivist & Patriarchal.

Identity was tribal and familial. Multi-generational households were the norm. Marriage was a social/covenantal duty.

Dreams were aligned with God's purpose for the nation (e.g., entering the Promised Land, faithfulness). Personal ambition was subsumed under the covenant.

Strictly regulated by kinship laws and holiness codes. Adultery, fornication, and certain unions were capital offenses, tied to maintaining ritual and social purity.

The bedrock of society (Proverbs 1:7). This fear meant awe, obedience, and terror at the consequences of breaking covenant. It was publicly reinforced.

Stewardship with limits. Hoarding was discouraged (e.g., Jubilee laws, gleaning rights for the poor). Wealth was seen as a blessing from God, with responsibilities

Sacred, commemorative feasts (Passover, Tabernacles) to remember God's acts. Pagan practices were strictly forbidden and punishable.

Clothing carried moral & religious significance (e.g., laws on mixed fabrics, tassels as reminders). Modesty was part of holiness.

Sin had severe, tangible penalties (exile, plague, death) seen as divine judgment. Repentance (teshuvah) was a communal turning back to the covenant.

Freedom was found in obedience to God's perfect law. True liberty was liberation from sin and idolatry to serve Yahweh.

Social Contract & Individual Rights. Society is based on secular laws, constitutions, and the principle of individual liberty. Purpose is self-defined.

Subjective/Relative Morality & Evolving Human Rights. Law is separated from religion. Morality is often based on personal choice, consensus, or utility. Sin is often dismissed or redefined.

Individualist & Egalitarian.

Identity is personal. Independence is prized. Moving out early is a rite of passage. Marriage is a personal romantic choice, often delayed or foregone.

Pursuit of Personal Fulfillment is a primary goal (career, passion, self-expression). This is seen as a fundamental right.

Personal Autonomy is paramount. "Hooking up," cohabitation, and diverse relationship structures are widely accepted as matters of personal freedom.

Largely absent or privatized. Faith is often a private hobby. The dominant public sphere is secular. Fear of God is replaced by fear of social judgment or legal consequences.

Hoarding as a virtue (Consumerism). Success is often measured by material accumulation. Economic systems depend on endless growth and personal acquisition.

Secularized or pagan-origin holidays dominate (Christmas as a commercial season, Halloween, Valentine's Day). Celebrations focus on family, fun, or commerce, not sacred remembrance.

Self-expression and comfort are key. Fashion is an industry of personal identity, with few taboos outside of public decency laws.

Sin is often medicalized or normalized. The penalty is often seen as personal guilt or social awkwardness. The cycle of "repent and return to sin" is common, as the concept is unmoored from a fixed standard. The attitude is "live your best life now."

Freedom is defined as absence of restraint

-the ability to choose one's path, beliefs, and lifestyle without external (especially religious) imposition.