[writmeister]

Plus, from my reading of history, the condemnation of Jesus came from the elite in Jerusalem who by that time had become highly secularized or hellenized by their three centuries of contact with Seleucid and Ptolemaic Empires. This elite were Jews who had pretty much abandoned the traditional teachings of Judaism for more "cosmopolitan" cultural values.

[Slyfox]

This elite were Jews who had pretty much abandoned the traditional teachings of Judaism for more "cosmopolitan" cultural values.

Yes, the conditions of Judiasm was similar to what we find today by just looking at the Christian church. There are mixtures of Christians who are closer to the Christian ideal and then their are other faiths who have willingly accepted a watered down approach.

A good example of what affected Judiasm during the time of Christ would be the Samaritan's of Samaria. They had Rabbi's and temples but they enjoyed a mixture Judiasm and other beliefs. I remember reading an account where a young couple were looking for a place to have their newborn blessed and were not satisfied with the local temple's rabbi for his non-Judaic beliefs.