What did the Sadducees believe in?

Israeli Sadducees (c. 167 B.C. - A.D. 73,) generally held important and powerful positions in society and they also held the majority of seats in the Sanhedrin. Israel, during the later years of the Sadducces was ruled by the Roman Empire and the Sadducees generally agreed to whatever decisions were made by Rome. This attitude was not liked by the common people, and they did not think highly of the Sadducees. The Sadducees believed only in the written Law of Moses as prescribed in the Torah, and they did not approve of the Oral Torah. They did not believe in the afterlife and they opposed that the priesthood be given to any other class of people other than themselves.

 
It should be noted that in Bible narratives, neither the Pharisees or the Sadducees wanted to acknowledge a Messiah. The reason being is because it would diminish their place in society as religious leaders; because after all, if there is a unifying Savior in Israel that fulfills all of the law and the prophets, who is also the eternal son of God, and the final authority in all earthly matters concerning righteousness, then what need would Israel have for Pharisees and Sadducees? This probable mode of thinking of the Pharisees and Sadducees, was inspiration enough for them to have Jesus set-up for sedition, tried, and executed.