[maryz]

are a few hundred Samaritans who still practice Temple Judaism <> How do they do that without the Temple? Serious question -- I never heard of this.

[kosta50]

How do they do that without the Temple? Serious question -- I never heard of this

The holy mountain is considered the Temple. They also have a "holy rock" on it where they pray. Their schism with the exiled Jews goes back to the 5th century BC. If a Samaritan wants to "become" a Jew, he must renounce his belief in the holiness of Mt. Gerizim.

This fact makes John 4:20 a lot clearer. The Samartian woman tells Jesus:

"Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."

Judaism treats Samartians as Jews where their beliefs and practcies coincide with thsoe of mainstream Judaism.