Is anyone else out there like me? (Any Religion/anyone)?

Question

I was brought up Jewish, and i honestly have never believed in god, or organized religion for that matter; just a personal preference. I DO, however, feel a very strong connection to Israel, and the Israeli people..after visiting for a month, i fell in love with everything about it.

I guess my question is, (to any religion). If someone asked you what religion you are, do you tell them a certain religion without fully believing in it? I usually just tell people I'm jewish but don't pracice judiasm.

Answer 1

First, you are Jewish because your mother is Jewish or you have converted.

By your description, you are Jewish but not religious. In Israel. practicing Orthodox Jews are religious.

Remember your children will be Jewish, just a your mother's children are.

Judaism is both a culture and a religion. Most non Jews just think Judaism is just religion and get very surprise about culture. For example, there is no reason to convert to Judaism unless your husband is Jewish and your not or if you wife is Jewish and your not. Why? Because both need to be Jewish to have a Jewish ceremony.

As a Jewish woman, you have no prayer responsibility; your duty is in the home taking care of your family. It is the family unit with its children that has keep Judaism alive all these years.

Answer: You a Jew who is not religious. This may change when you marry and have children.

Answer 2

Judaism (a religion) and the Jewish nation (a people) are often looked upon as two separate entities. Sounds like you identify yourself with the latter.

I used to call myself Christian, but couldn't honestly say that I believed 100% in the teachings of any one denomination. Then I investigated the Baha'i Faith (if you've been to Israel I'm sure you're familiar with it) and found it to be 100% accurate. I have always, however, believed in the existence of God. A painting cannot exist without a painter, nor can a creation exist without a Creator.

www.bahai.org

Answer 3

Your religious predicament is not new, however, the only irony is that while people worry about being in the right religion, you seem to worry greatly about whether not pratcicing judaism qualifies you to be a full jew....First i would like to mention that the belief and faith in God is not just an argument but an affirmative confirmation of Humanity as a superior platform in this world. But that does not answer your question it is only meant to add weight to the answer itself.

If you dont believe in God then religion, being the tool that channels every being towards some form of spiritual union with God, is inessence and empty in your life. Once you decimate that factor from all your doubts related to judaism etc, then you can only be summarised as an Atheist.

So until you start believing in God, then through whatever prefferences you have redolent to religion, like Judaism for that matter, then only can you affirmatively answer with all confidence, that you are the true worshiper of Yaweh, through the practice of judaism, or any other religous ships around the world like Christianity, Islam......Until then, please respond and give your status as an Atheist!

Answer 4

I am a Christian,I am also a student of history. I do not prescribe to a certain Religious affiliation. I attend a church that is not affiliated with any set denomination. I also feel an affinity for the Jewish people and Israel. Not just because of religious reasons but historically, as they have suffered much to have a homeland and have suffered much over the centuries.

Answer 5

Yes. I would tell them I am a Christian if they asked. But I would Also say I disagree with the nature of God as described in the Old Testament. Nor do I believe that those who are not Christians are all going to spend eternity in hell. That in the minds of fundamentalist, would make me not a Christian. And that's OK because I do not believe that they are anything like Jesus in their attitude towards others and therefore are not themselves Christians.

Answer 6

I will tell someone if they ask that I am a Christian. I try to practice it but sometimes I backslide but I am never ashamed to tell someone I believe in God and his son Jesus. And I must say i have never heard of a Jew that did not practice judaism. That must make for some really interesting family gatherings. How do you cope?

Answer 7

I kinda do. I am a strong atheist but when people ask, depending on if they're an ancient relative thats going to freak out on me, I give different answers. "Non religious" or "agnostic". I don't like and say I'm a christian, but since especially older people freak out over the atheist word, I try to go lightly there.

Answer 8

Judaism, you should know, is both an ethnicity and a religion.
That is why we have special labels for Jews, like Jew but not practicing, and messianic Jew (meaning a Christian Jew).

No, I would never tell someone I am of a religion that I don't fully believe in, that's blasphemy.

Answer 9

Maybe just the opposite for me, but nobody ever asks me my religion. I say maybe I'm the opposite in that I pretty much never tell anyone my religion.

Answer 10

Considering there is also a whole culture behind being Jewish, no reason not to say you are, even if you aren't practicing religiously.