What happened to those who died before Judaism was introduced?

[UCF Knights]

Seeing as Christianity is an offshoot of Judaism (being one of the first major monotheistic religions under God as we know) what happened to those who died before the advent of Judaism?
It seems very unfair that those who were alive before having the opportunity to "accept the word of god" would be cast into hell as is implied in the bible.
While many of the time in the bible were described as "hedonistic idol worshipers" It's safe to assume that many people in other parts of the world were throughout prior history were morally sound individuals.
Now seeing as the essence of Christianity and Judaism is in upholding a set of moral and societal guidelines, how is it fair to send those from other parts of the world into hell when they have no means to practice/ hear of this creed.
Please explain.

 

[TONI101]

The people who died before the law lived according to their own conscience as mention in Romans as stated below. But because of having an inborn knowledge of right and wrong they will be resurrected. (John 5:28, 29) But remember, before the Law of Moses was given there were periods of times when God judged people for their wrongdoing like in the days of Noah.
(Romans 2:12-16) For instance, all those who sinned without law will also perish without law; but all those who sinned under law will be judged by law. *For the hearers of law are not the ones righteous before God, but the doers of law will be declared righteous. *For whenever people of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. *They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness with them and, between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused. *This will be in the day when God through Christ Jesus judges the secret things of mankind, according to the good news I declare.

By contrast, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah as well as those of Canaanite Tyre and Sidon are spoken of by Jesus as finding “Judgment Dayâ€￾ more endurable than would the people of certain Jewish cities. (Mt 10:14,*15; 11:20-24) Those of pagan Nineveh are similarly spoken of. (Mt 12:41) This of itself implies that people from all such places, including the Jewish cities mentioned, will be resurrected and have opportunity to manifest humble repentance and “turn aroundâ€￾ in conversion to God through Christ. Those failing to do so will receive everlasting destruction. (Compare Re 20:11-15.) Those, however, who follow a course like many scribes and Pharisees, who willfully and knowingly fought the manifestation of God’s spirit through Christ, will receive no resurrection, and so they cannot “flee from the judgment of Gehenna.â€￾—Mt 23:13,*33; Mr 3:22-30.

 

[kaganate]

It was Christianity that invented the notion of a single salvation that must be accepted by all.

Judaism does not have the concept of "salvation" (nor does it have the concept of "etternal damnation"). The whole point of humanity is moral freedom and therefore moral responsibility. People do their best to live their lives in a righteous manner and if they fail, they personaly repent and personaly ask God for forgiveness and do actions to show their repentance.

Judaism is also very clear on the notion that if God wants people to do something he will tell them directly.
So when he wanted "The Jews" to have the laws of Moses he gathered all of the Jews alive at the time on a mountain and told them point blank. This set up the legal structure and organizations which could then self-perpetuate.
According to Judaism - the set of "laws" which he wanted all of humanity to adopt he gave to the ancestors of the whole of humanity -- Noah and his family.
According to Judaism, these are the basic moral structures of human culture --
no killing, no theft, setting up an equitable court system, respectful love/family relationships...

So, according to Judaism, every human being has inside them the capacity and sufficient natural knowledge to be a righteous human being.
This was as true before Judaism was introduced as after (we see clearly at the giving of the law at Sinai, and illustrated more directly in the book of Jonah, as well as and some less well known statements of the prophets -- repentance and righteusness for non-Jews do not at all mean conversion)

For that matter, Moses' own father in law did not become Jewish. He visited, had a nice relationship with Moses -- even gave some advice on setting up the court system ... and then left.
His people continued living as a separate tribal group in Israel and the surrounding areas -- the Kenites (see the story of Jael in the book of Judges).