The Sadducees: no resurrection, no judgment, no afterlife, no angels/spirits; aristocratic minority of educated elites; publicly pretended to be faithful Jews while privately rejecting core beliefs. Modern progressives follow the exact same pattern.

From Josephus, the Talmud, and the NT: (1) No resurrection — souls die with bodies; (2) No judgment/afterlife; (3) No angels/spirits; (4) Rejected God's sovereign control; (5) Aristocratic minority of highly educated people; (6) Josephus: because they were unpopular, they would pretend to be Pharisees in public and reveal their true views only in private. Modern parallels: Alisa Childers describes a pastor who taught orthodox Christianity from the pulpit on Sunday but ran a private group to reindoctrinate people with progressive theology. Rob Bell made "Nooma" videos that sounded Christian before finally revealing he rejected core doctrines. Progressive "sleeper agents" infiltrate living churches. The Sadducees redefined terms — "resurrection" meant your kids live on. Progressives do the same: "resurrection" becomes a metaphor, hell becomes a metaphor, love replaces judgment.