Is it because they have learned the dangers of religion? Am I being ignorant or disrespectful in asking this question?
2007-02-09 19:12:09 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Judaism is both an ethnicity and a religion. It's the only group that can claim this.
Hence when a Jewish person (of the ethnicity) becomes a Christian, they are called "Messianic Jews," to symbolize that while they are of the ethnic group, their faith is Christian.
Not a bad question at all.
2007-02-09 19:15:12 · answer #1 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
No you are not being disrespectful. You are being very complimentative towards Jews and you haven't said anything disrespectful towards any other religious group so no worries!
I would argue that Judaism is primarily a religion in that you can convert to Judaism and be considered a Jew just as much as someone born into the religion. However, many would consider Jewishness to be an ethnicity as well as Jews at one point lived in close proximity before the Diaspora, and it is part of people's cultural identity as much as religious identity.
As to why some Jews are kind, that's very nice of you to say about Jews. I think it has to do with one's upbringning, primarily.If you're taught to be kind as a kid and learn from example by those that raised you in a loving home, you will most likely be a kind adult. Judaism does focus on treating others with respect- this is considered THE ideal to strive for in life, and is considered a commandment from G-d, so Jews who take this lesson to heart will strive to be a good person. Sadly, I've met Jews who have ignored this basic tenet and are not such nice people, and wonder if they realize how much they are going against their own religion.
2007-02-10 03:23:29 · answer #2 · answered by hj55f 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Both. Anyone can become a member of the Jewish religion regardless of race, but to be a Jew, you have to be born into a Jewish family. All Jewish people do not belong to the Jewish religion. I think there are kind people in all races of people. Maybe you have just been lucky enough to meet kind Jewish people. I think Jews who are serious about the Jewish religion are some of the most devout people in the world. I wish I could believe in anything the way they believe in their religion. I don't think it has anything to do with the dangers of their religion. Christians have also been prosecuted over the ages as have many religions. Any religion can be dangerous in a certain time or place.
2007-02-10 03:23:07 · answer #3 · answered by nesmith52 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My grandmother was Jewish, but she considered herself Polish first. I asked a Rabbi not too many years ago this same question. This guy was one of the best educated men I've ever known. He told me there were theories about the Jews being direct descendants of Abraham, but as far as he knew, in anthropological terms, there was no such thing as a Jewish "race." There were people who were Jews, like there were people who were Catholic.
And no, I don't think you're being disrespectful in the least. How else do you learn if you don't ask?
2007-02-10 03:51:20 · answer #4 · answered by weary0918 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lots of good answers here. Jews are people... religious Jews and people who have descended from Jews who are no longer observant. You aren't being particularly disrespectful, but do sound a little patronizing.... how do you know that Jews are some of the kindest people in the world? What does that mean? Who did the survey?
God bless.
2007-02-10 03:19:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
They're both an ethnicity and a religion. Theoretically they all descend from Abraham. This of course isn't even close to true because there have been too many times in history when there were Gentiles allowed to enter their ranks.
The single greatest influx was in the Exodus itself. If you look at 6:14-25, you'll see that only 4 generations passed from the 72 who entered Egypt with Jacob to the 2 million who left with Moses:
Jacob's son was Levi (from Genesis 46:8-27)
Levi's son was Kohath (verse 16)
Kohath's son was Amram (verse 18)
Amram's son was Moses (verse 20)
I figured it out once. In order for 72 to grow to over 2 million in only 4 generations, every woman would have to averate 22 children in every generation! (The number would have to be higher if any of them died.)
Since Moses ordered the Jews to allow into their homes during the first Passover any Gentiles who wished to leave Egypt with them, I figure their numbers swelled as a result of slaves of all races wanting in rather than just the normal birth rate.
When they left Egypt, they were all Jews, and they all left their old ethnicities behind.
2007-02-10 03:27:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
This can get very confusing & since I'm not Jewish I might be wrong but someone told me that it's both. If you come from Isreal your nationality is Jewish, but there's also the Jewish religion. One really nice Jewish lady explained it to me on here that you can come from Isreal &choose to be Catholic so you're a Jewish Catholic. Jewish by nationality, Catholic as a religion. I'm sorry to the Jews if I am wrong, that's how it was explained to me
2007-02-10 03:18:40 · answer #7 · answered by gitsliveon24 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Jews are a people of many faiths, including Christian.
2007-02-10 03:19:32 · answer #8 · answered by Ask Mr. Religion 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Jews are a people. Judaism is the religion.
The Jewish people have suffered a lot. Practicing Jews would see no danger in religion, rather in not practicing their faith.
I am not here to judge your question.
2007-02-10 03:16:22 · answer #9 · answered by Susan M 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The definiton of a jew if someone who lives in judea or their mothers line was a jew! But there are 12 tribes of Abrahams decendants that are jews!
2007-02-10 03:15:52 · answer #10 · answered by bungyow 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
What do you mean why are they some of the kindest people in the world? Becasue they are human beings. Don't seem so shocked. They are PEOPLE!
'-)
2007-02-10 03:16:00 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋