An Atheist Jew?

Question

Can someone be an Atheist Jew please explain?

Answer 1

Actually, yes.

A jew is a person whose mother was of Jewish descent. It has nothing to do with the religion of Judaism, as a Jew is not a race, nationality or religion...but a people.

Jewish people are a "matrilineal" people. If your mother was a Jew, then you are a Jew...regardless of your beliefs.

Hope this helps!

Best to you.

Answer 2

A Jew that has not excepted the Son of God is the same as an Atheist,read 2 John 1:7-11

Answer 3

As pointed out in many other responses, "Jew" can be both a religious and cultural term. One may identify with Jewish culture, but not believe in the tenets of Judaism. Thus one could be an atheist Jew. There is also a small subset of Judaism called Humanistic Judaism, which is essentially a non-theistic version (though not all atheist Jews would consider themselves part of this tradition).

Answer 4

If you understand or accept, at least for the length of this point, that religion is supposed to be reality, not just belief then you can understand this.

By being a Jew it is who you are. Completely part of you. Like your DNA this is transfered into your kids (at least if the mother is Jewish). Whether or not the child follows the faith, he is still what he is. Perhaps an analogy would be a child born with certain skin: He can not change it. Or an American born child. He is born as an American and thus must follow the laws of U.S. even if he never wanted to be American.

Thus our Jewish born child (or converted technically and then decided in the future to be an atheist) would still be Jewish.

Answer 5

A Jew is a race of people. To be of the Jewish faith is to believe in God's Holy Bible of the Old Testament. You can be a believer of the Jewish faith without being one of the 12 tribes of Jews which is a particular race of people. Throughout the Old Testament the Jews have been pagan's at different times.

Answer 6

It is possible. I consider myself an atheist but technically I'm a Jew. One can be a Jew and not believe in god. The only prerequisite to being considered Jewish apparently is having a Jewish mother.

I never attend temple, follow holidays, heck, i don't even keep kosher anymore... but I'm still considered Jewish. I'm willing to bet Judaism is the most open minded religion there is.

Answer 7

depends on your definition.

part of being Jewish is beliving in a singular God.

but some do not feel that God is very active or present, but distant and more of a "watchmaker" that just set things up and let it roll, rarely if ever actually watching in detail or effecting the world.

but as said, Jewish is both religion and heritage, so theres kinda-sorta in some cases, where atheism and jewish would both apply. ... at least sorta.

edit: >>"Jewish people are a "matrilineal" people. If your mother was a Jew, then you are a Jew...regardless of your beliefs."<<

unless you actually convert out. if you convert to something else... you've mostly disowned that heritage. this is why "Messianics" are in fact no longer jewish.

Answer 8

Yes. 'Jew' is a very vague term, and not everyone agrees on the definition. Jews can be atheists and still keep Jewish traditions, which they will generally do out of a sense of family/community.

Answer 9

Being Jewish is primarily an ethnic identity. That is, your parents were Jewish or of Jewish descent. Originally the Jews were an ancient people, a nation with a king, etc., originally in the land of Israel. Due to persecution they have been dispersed around the world. A Jewish person could be any religion or none.

Answer 10

It depends. If you are a Jew by religion the answer is no. If you are a Jew by birth and just don't believe in any God then the answer is yes. Did I pass this trick question?