"One point about the Pharisees: though they controlled Jewish society at the time, their views did not represent the views of all Jews of the time, any more than Al Qaeda represents the views of all Muslims today. "
Careful now, todays Jews are the direct descendants of the Pharisees.
Concerning the fact that Jews today are "descendents of Jews then," some are, some are not. Besides, like most sensible peoople I do not believe in hereditary guilt. Children are not responsible for the sins of their parents.
This maxim applies in a number of areas -- theology, race relations, American Indians, the Irish.... Though come to think of it, the Irish tend to commit the same sins in each new generation, so the chain IS unbroken. (And don't get on my case for the Irish remark. I'm part Irish also.)
John / Billybob