Judaism help please!?

Question

I want to find meaning in my life so I have been looking into religions as of late, and I want to know what the jews believe in. Can anyone give me some real good websites that have good information on judaism? Or even better answer a few of my questions?

Here are some of the main question I need answers for about Judaism:

what is the afterlife going to be like?
Is there heaven or hell?
How is God viewed?
Do I have to believe in God to be jewish?
Can I still believe in evolution and be jewish?
Do I have to take the bible as literal truth?
How do you get into heaven if you are jewish?
and Are convert Jews welcome and accepted in synagogs/Jewish community's?

Answer 1

what is the afterlife going to be like? judaism doesn't have a whole lot to say about the afterlife but if you want to read our strongest speculations about it try here: http://www.jewfaq.org/olamhaba.htm . we don't believe that a person must be a member of the jewish faith in order to get to "heaven". the focus is on being a good person not on your faith

Is there heaven or hell? not really, at least not the cristian idea of either of the terms. read the article above, specifically the parts on Gan Eden and Gehinnom

How is God viewed? G-d is an absolute unity - a jewish person cannot believe in a trinity G-d, because the oneness of G-d is the most absolute and basic part of the jewish faith. the most recited jewish prayer is "shema yisra'el, adonai elokeinu, adonai echad" - "hear O israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One". this is supposed to be the first words a baby hears and the last words of a dying person. G-d in judaism has absolutely no physical manifestation or qualities and never will - this means belief in a human man (jesus) as G-d is completely out. jews believe G-d is merciful, loving, and available to everybody, no matter what their religion.

Do I have to believe in God to be jewish? no. but you have to believe in G-d to CONVERT to judaism. once you are a jew, you're jewish forever, even if you stop believing in G-d

Can I still believe in evolution and be jewish? lots of jews do (i do too). depending on which branch you want to convert into, you will get different views. an orthodox conversion would probably still accept you though, if you could show that your belief in evolution does not contradict your strong belief in the torah as having been literally given by G-d. if you do not believe that the torah was given by G-d, you cannot convert to orthodox. conservative and reform would not care if you believe in evolution. however, most conservatives don't recognize reform converts, and most orthodox don't recognize reform OR conservative converts.

Do I have to take the bible as literal truth? once again, it depends your branch. reform - nope. conservative - nope. orthodox - yes, for the most part. judaism (even orthodox) tends to view many parts of the bible as being highly allegorical and not always saying what it actually means. we believe that the true meaning of the bible is found in the oral torah (G-d's explanation of the torah to moses). you can read about the written torah and the oral torah here: http://www.jewfaq.org/torah.htm

How do you get into heaven if you are jewish? by being a good person, and if you are a jew, by following the mosaic laws

and Are convert Jews welcome and accepted in synagogs/Jewish community's?
yes

Answer 2

what is the afterlife going to be like?
We each get judged, and then either have pleasure in learning in G-d's Heavenly Academy, or first get punished, and then go to heaven
Is there heaven or hell?
Yes.
How is God viewed?
No body, Father/King, merciful at times, but also a Judge
Do I have to believe in God to be jewish?
Yeah
Can I still believe in evolution and be jewish?
That's very complicated, depends who you ask. Most say you can believe a slightly modified version.
Do I have to take the bible as literal truth?
Pretty much
How do you get into heaven if you are jewish?
Follow all 613 commandments. Or just stay non-Jewish and follow your 7 Noahide Laws.
and Are convert Jews welcome and accepted in synagogs/Jewish community's?
They are discourged from converting, but if they do, they are held in very high esteem.

Answer 3

you could read just the torah or you can read the bible and look at it and realize that Jesus that the new testament was writen about points without question or hesitation to Jesus christ, if your not a jew, dont just live under the law, live under grace. the law just keeps you on the right path.
the afterlife will be the same as the christians after life, Heven as discribed in the bible Great beond any imagination.
Yes there is a Hell and it will be a place that is extreeemly horid and you can look up how bad it is and do studys on it, but it makes one kinda glad there not going there (myslef anyway)
yes you have to beleve in God.
God is to be veiwed..youd have to read the Old Testement, (the New Testement wont hurt you ither)
on evelution. No, Natural Selection is fact but evelution is bupkiss.
Test the bible, dont only read it fo what it is, look at the time it was written, the place it was writen, who it was writen to, and the things going on at the time, all of those will help you take a scripture and see it fully for what it was ment to be and not just taken by what it says, beacuse in our sociaty some of those can be totaly diffrient things.
And yes to the last question, again lookinto Christ, he fufilled ALL the prophices as told in the bible, an inpossibility except for he is who he said he is. (and the anti-christ who is yet to come to the sceen)
Oh and are you comoftable being circumsised?

Answer 4

Judaism is very much like Christianity, EXCEPT! they don't believe that Jesus is the son of God who saved humanity. Jesus is the one true saviour, so if you want to find a meaning in life, I'll give you mine. I want to touch as many people as possible with my career and with the gospel. There are many different ways to serve the kingdom of God. If you are a great musician, you can help lead worship. If you are a great speaker, you can be a preacher. If you're good at painting, even that can be used by God. So walk into a church and get started today! Look no further for a purpose in life. God Bless You!

To learn more, email me at: [e-mail]

Answer 5

OK short list

heaven and hell are different
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_eschatology

http://www.600000men.com/book/heaven.html

http://www.beingjewish.com/soul/future.html

G-d is viewed as one non corporal eternal entity

Yes

Yes

much of the bible is figurative and the amount varies from person to person.

go to links

yes

Answer 6

Read the Bible and you will learn of the Jews, and find Christ all at the same time.

Answer 7

Here's a Baha'i's perspective on the answers to your questions:

AFTERLIFE

1. "Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of God, His sovereignty, His dominion and power will endure. It will manifest the signs of God and His attributes, and will reveal His loving kindness and bounty."

2. "As to the question whether the souls will recognize each other in the spiritual world: this fact is certain; for the Kingdom is the world of vision where all the concealed realities will become disclosed. How much more the well-known souls will become manifest. The mysteries of which man is heedless in this earthly world, those he will discover in the heavenly world, and there will he be informed of the secret of truth; how much more will he recognize or discover persons with whom he hath been associated. Undoubtedly, the holy souls who find a pure eye and are favored with insight will, in the kingdom of lights, be acquainted with all mysteries, and will seek the bounty of witnessing the reality of every great soul. Even they will manifestly behold the Beauty of God in that world."

3. "... a love that one may have entertained for any one will not be forgotten in the world of the Kingdom. Likewise, thou wilt not forget (there) the life that thou hast had in the material world."

HEAVEN OR HELL

Heaven is nearness to God and hell is remoteness from God.

GOD

4. “Know thou of a certainty that the Unseen can in no wise incarnate His Essence and reveal it unto men. He is, and hath ever been, immensely exalted beyond all that can either be recounted or perceived. … He Who is everlastingly hidden from the eyes of men can never be known except through His Manifestation, and His Manifestation can adduce no greater proof of the truth of His Mission than the proof of His own Person.”

5. “… As a token of His mercy, however, and as a proof of His loving-kindness, He hath manifested unto men the Day Stars of His divine guidance, the Symbols of His divine unity, and hath ordained the knowledge of these sanctified Beings to be identical with the knowledge of His own Self. Whoso recognizeth them hath recognized God. Whoso hearkeneth to their call, hath hearkened to the Voice of God, and whoso testifieth to the truth of their Revelation, hath testified to the Truth of God Himself. Whoso turneth away from them, hath turned away from God, and whoso disbelieveth in them hath disbelieved in God. Every one of them is the Way of God that connecteth this world with the realms above, and the Standard of His Truth unto every one in the kingdoms of earth and heaven. They are the Manifestations of God amidst men, the evidences of His Truth, and the signs of His glory.”

BELIEF IN GOD

Yes.

EVOLUTION

Each species is original. There is evolution within a species.

BIBLE

Everything in the Bible is true ... spiritually, not literally.

ATTAINING HEAVEN

To draw near to God, pray, meditate, love Him, obey His Laws, Commandments and Teachings, perform pure and stainless deeds, and serve His Cause.

WELCOME IN TEMPLES

All humanity is welcome to worship in Baha'i Temples. It matters not what religion one espouses.

For more information go to www.bahai.org

Answer 8

Here are some good websites:
http://www.aish.com/literacy/concepts/The_Chosen_People.asp

http://www.whatjewsbelieve.org/

www.aish.com