Five religious responses

There were five religious responses to anomalies in the first century Palestine under the Roman imperial world. 

1. Essenes withdrew to a desert called Qumran, waiting for their own messiahs in the near future. The characteristics of this group are twofold: apocalyptic orientation plus sectarian in nature. 

2. Jewish aristocrats (Sadducees and Jewish elite) accommodated foreign domination and maintained their prerogatives. They sought their prerogatives and kept their status by cooperating with the imperial power.

3. Pharisees emphasized Torah observance with a coexistence mode with the power. They were moderate reformers who did not directly oppose the imperial government.

4. Militant opposition groups such as Zealots formed armed resistance against the empire and took revolutionary action.

5. Jesus (also John) focused on the moral and spiritual transformation of people.

The above types of reaction are not limited to first-century Palestine. In different ways, they may be seen in other cultures throughout history: 1) an apocalyptic-emphasis group denying this world and leadership; 2) local leaders and elites seeking to maintain their status; 3) educated middle-class people seeking to reform society with co-existence with the power; 4) radical activists and reformers; 5) those who seek non-violent transformation of people and society.