I have some friends who are atheist Jews, but I don't understand how that is possible.
2007-12-08 03:54:42 · 12 answers · asked by Ohms 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jews come from the tribe of Judah or the land of Judea. Being a Jew is both a birthrite and a religion. Thus, one can be a Jew by Birth and not by religion. Descendency from Judah equals Jewish, regardless of Religion.
2007-12-08 03:59:28 · answer #1 · answered by PaRDeS 2 · 7⤊ 1⤋
The definition of a "Jew" is double-edged.
1. A person can be considered Jewish is he or she believes in Judaism.
2. A person is automatically considered Jewish if she or he is born of a Jewish mother
There's no direct relation between these two definitions. You could be born of a Christian mother, but then convert to Judaism. Similarly, you can be born Jewish, but then become an atheist.
2007-12-08 04:02:46 · answer #2 · answered by Бэлзeбот 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Religions incorporate belief with tradition and culture. Atheist Jews took out the belief part, but continue to hold to their tradition and culture.
2007-12-08 04:44:23 · answer #3 · answered by ameeker 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is quite possible. Unlike Christianity, Judaism is more concerned with what you actually do rather than what you profess to believe. There are even organizations for atheistic and humanistic Jews.
http://www.shj.org
http://www.csjo.org
And Reconstructionist Judaism started off with a conception of God that was quite naturalistic and nontheistic as well.
2007-12-08 04:04:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are also Messianic Jews. Jews the believe Jesus was the messiah. Jews are a people. People can choose what they believe. Judaism is a Jewish religion but that doesn't mean all Jews are into Judaism.
2007-12-08 04:00:26 · answer #5 · answered by Dustinthewind 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Jewish has come to mean, over time, a culture as well as a religion. I consider myself an agnostic Jew. I am Jewish, tradition-wise. However, I acknowledge that it is impossible to know whether or not God is real. I believe in him, yes. But because of faith, not because I believe facts support my argument.
2007-12-08 04:01:44 · answer #6 · answered by mrr86 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Agree with Will. Being a "Jew" is also a race. Pretty self-explanatory.
And wow... Missy must have the IQ of a 10 year old.
2007-12-08 04:00:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
I'm probably going to be shooting an arrow through my foot for saying this.... But in every religion or non religion or whoever you meet yadda yadda yadda you will always find hypocrisy.
Now wheres that chicken and bacon (ooh I said bacon eek what a sin) bagel I bought yesterday.
2007-12-08 04:03:05 · answer #8 · answered by Kingdiana Jones 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They are really not Jews. They may be descendant of Jews, and still hold to some cultural customs. That is the only explanation i can come up with-of course they could be just telling lies.
2007-12-08 04:00:57 · answer #9 · answered by Poor Richard 5 · 1⤊ 5⤋
Everyone is born an atheist. If your parents are Jewish, you are born an atheist Jew.
2007-12-08 03:58:37 · answer #10 · answered by OKIM IM 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋