Following up on the question to Atheists and Agnostics regarding their choice of Big Three?

Question

Based on this question,
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AixUTeqvbNmX_2lFb7jGmWXzy6IX?qid=20060922061103AAqGJYR
I already see a pattern of people picking Judism.

I myself picked it. What do you think it is about the Atheists and Agnostics on this website that by and large we are all answering that question with Judism, what is the appeal of Judism? Or is it just the other two choices are the sword?

Answer 1

I would pick Judaism because a) there aren't as many radical extremists, b) they have a concept of the Divine feminine, which is important to me.

However, having read a very influential article on Islam and Sharia Law recently, I would have to explore that a bit as well just because, in it's non-bastardized form, it seems very condusive to feminism.

Answer 2

I don't think that many people are familiar with Judaism as its actually practiced. So I'd call for a bit of caution. Reform Judaism is one thing, but the oppression & absurdities of the various Orthodox strains place it second to the Christian fundamentalist tradition.

Judaism in general also has an exclusivity reflex, which unfortunately smacks of tribal & clan culture. I believe that historical circumstances forced Christianity to go beyond the tribal mentality. The "human" condition made you eligible for membership. (Yes, I know not all were considred humans, but that's another point.) This may be the one solid contribution of Christianity to our political evolution.

I think the basic attraction of something like Reformed Judaism is its concern for how we live our lives. You are obliged to do good and avoid doing harm. The fanatical other-word fixations are minimized. You can't get away with just "faith," you have to act like a human here on Earth.

Psycho/Sociopaths notwithstanding, we are inherently ethical. These religious forms meet our need while minimizing stress and abuse of our intellect.

Answer 3

Judiasm has so many sects that effectively are deist in modern times (ie: God exists, he did some neat things, but he's suspiciously absent lately) that agnostics and atheists would fit right in for the most part.

Further, most sects of Judiasm do not believe in the fire and brimstone hell taught by Christianity and Islam, and such a hell is in direct contradiction to their claims that God is all-just, because an infinite duration or infinite pain is unjust punishment for finite sin.

Even further, Judiasm is by its very nature non-evangelical. This means we wouldn't feel like we were joining a religion only to be expected to shove it down other people's throats.

As far as monotheists go, Jews got it right.

Answer 4

I'd go with Buddhism, although I hesitate to call it a religion. If you followed a self-help book, would that be a form of religion too? Buddhist text is the same way. Buddhists don't worship anyone or anything. The text is a means to bring inner and outer peace.

Answer 5

I feel it's a little of both.

I picked Judaism because I have never met an obnoxious Jew, and I know plenty. Also, they have been continually persecuted and misunderstood, much like we atheists are bashed on this board.

They don't bash us nonbelievers, they don't force their religion down our throats, they don't live by the sword.

I have also never met an obnoxious Hindu, Buddhist, Wiccan, Zoroastrian......etc....

Only the Muslims and Christians push themselves upon others with threats of death or damnation, and in all honesty, I'm getting sick of it.

Answer 6

Judaism values education a great deal and eschews ignorance of the world. It doesn't proselytize. It accepts modern science (at least mainstream judaism), etc....

But why isn't Buddhism one of the big three? there are HUGE numbers of people practicing it.

Answer 7

if there was no religion there would be no wars. life would be better. judism is just as stupid as are the other two and all the others too.

Answer 8

I think it has to do with Islam and Christianity being violent, intolerant, idolizing ignorance, and basic snobbiness that makes people dislike them if they have a working brain

Answer 9

Judaism has no particular appeal... it is simply the least noxious of the three choices that were given.

Answer 10

i'm still confused as to what counts as the Big Three.

Doesn't Judaism have a significantly less amount of people practicing it?