What do Jews think of atheism?

Question

Especially with non-belief running at 60% both here and in Israel. Also,how can a person be Jewish if they don't beleve in Judeaism? To me that makes as much sense as an Anglo-Saxon calling himself a Christian because his grandparents were Episcopalians. Jews are not an ethnic group,so why do atheist Jews call themselves Jews,or more to the point why are they accepted as such by practicing Jews? Also,since secularization diminishes Christianity,at least theoretically, is it viewed as advantageous to Jews who consider Christianity the source of antisemitsm? If so,what about blow-back? Isn't an increasingly secular society going to take it's toll on Jewish youth and in fact haven't we seen that happen? Please serious responses,from both American and Israeli Jews.

Answer 1

Well your right that Jews are not an ethnic group but their are ethnic groups that are Jewish.

Ashkenazim (European Jews) or Sephardi (Spanish/ Middle Eastern Jew)

So a person can be Ashkenazi and an atheist at the same time.


Also you have to consider traditional Jewish law (halacha) that states your Jewish if your mother is Jewish.

This creates a defacto Jewish/religious ethnicity that has stuck to many non practicing Jews due to its cultural aspect.


And as a result of Secularism and other factors yes, the Net Jewish population in the United States has been going down, even when you factor in immigration.

The only place where it is really naturally growing is in Israel.


And as to Atheism-- To each his own.

Answer 2

My experience is non-religious Jews tend to be quickly assimilated. Many Jewish people do blame Christianity for antisemitism,with some justice,although it certainly pre-dates Christianity. In 19th century France a lot of Jews worked with Socialists do secularize French society,so that does occur. Blowback? Well,there was in that case. By the 30's French Jews were very heavily assimilated,so much so that many found it easy to evade the Nazi dragnet. As far as Jews not being an ethnic group,well,that's still kind of murky,DNA-wise. But they certainly are in the cultural sense. It's just,I really don't know that that's enough to preserve identity. I read an article by Judith Rossner who sadly noted that for her and for so many American Jews,their families had been atheist/agnostic for two or three generations,leaving the current crop with no basis for group-identity other than the Holocaust. Mass-murder as a source of group-cohesion. She thought that was kind of sad.

Answer 3

You're right -- a secular society will definitely take its toll on Jewish youth! However, Judaism is also a culture or ethnicity. Jewish children are taught to honor and respect their parents and will often continue the traditions they've been taught out of respect for them.
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Answer 4

I think Jews in the media have done everything they can to discredit and kill off Christianity,and the only thing they've done is to discredit religion in the minds of their own young. Christianity is holding strong but most of the Jews I've known are atheists. I think it's a dying religion,a dying culture and I think they're a dying people. I would imagine 100 years from now it'll be like The Last of the Mohicans

Answer 5

Unlike christians, jews do not care what others believe. They do not need others to accept them in order to feel good about themselves. Also, the notion that jews are not part of a jewish ethnic group is a mistake on your part. Just ask any jew.

Answer 6

A wonderful way to work against other faiths without creating a backlash on Judaism ?



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Answer 7

Atheism is better than idolatry.