Reply To: There always was an opposition

Shein: Look at the Mishnayos in Yadayim. Most of the cases where the Tzedukkim accused Chazal of being wrong were where the Tzeddukim wanted to be more Machmir in Tumah V’taharah cases and Chazal said no. (Also, read any of the historical works (including the Frum ones) that will tell you that a lot of the anti-Mesorah sects in Bayis Sheni were actually more Machmir than the Mesorah, which was why they were against Mesorah. They felt they were better than Mesorah. That’s why the whole community was in Kumran. They wouldn’t live in an area with other Jews because they felt they were all Tamei.)