As a Humanistic Jew, I can tell you that it's all about community, education, and traditions that are meaningful or made meaningful in a modern society.
You didn't put a shirt on or comb your hair before making a video? Why should xews be able to join the Gentile world at their whim? Fill out an application.
Great post - thanks! I'm also Jewish - as i like to describe it - "by default" - i.e. my mother is jewish, but i can't kid myself long enough to believe. And, although i think the religion itself is archaic/exclusive/impractical, I do value jewish culture - and I am not ashamed of having a jewish heritage and beonging to the jewish people.
I am also a lapsed Jew. I briefly thought that Humanistic Judaism was for me, but I don't necessarily believe in inventing new reasons why the old meshugas rituals are somehow still necessary even without god. I do sometimes read secular Yiddish language short stories and novels, and that replaces all of my former Jewish religious beliefs and rituals and prayer.
It is fascinating to learn you have Jewish background. The only thing wrong I found with Rabbi Wein's talk is that Judaism is NOT a culture, it is a PEOPLE. And, ironically, he validates this with his own discussion. I would love to discuss Jewish prayer and ritual with someone who thinks it is simply religious nonsense and point out that it is carefully authored to motivate Jewish people to action - its primary purpose.
@bunsinspace i don't see these as mutually exclusive... the Jewish experience is many things to many people. One or multiple categories apply to any given Jew: a culture, a people, a religion, a heritage, a race (am I allowed to say that?). For Humanistic Jews, I would imply that to them it is a heritage and a culture, variant and disjointed as it may be. There's room for that distinction in our religion, maybe not so much in Islam...
Sorry for my ignorance, and my rather poor English, but I don't see anything special in this gentleman's speech. Judaism has always had more to do with the way we treat our fellow human beings, than with a belief in a personal God. For example, the great sage Hillel summarized the whole Torah (Jewish religion) as: "That which is hateful to you, do not do onto others".
Still, congratulations for bringing such an interesting subject. Shalom
This is really fascinating. I think it's perfectly reasonable for someone to enjoy the traditions with which they grew up in a secular context. Culture is the expressive aggregate of choices that we all make as individuals. Culture enhances our experience of life. This goes way beyond just judaism, of course - there being tons of beautiful and interesting things about all kinds of cultures with a religious background. It's positive overall as a means of deriving essential human satisfaction.
It might depend upon to what you are comparing.. If you are comparing to secular humanism, its not a step forward, but if you are comparing to religious culturalism, it is most definetly a step forward, and since it is most relevant to the religious,. yes.. forward.
A step forward to what? Not to get into a fight here, but why a "cultureless" secular humanism (if such thing exist) is "better" than something like Secular Humanism? I am a secular Jew. According to this, if I drop my history, my traditions, a big chunk of my identity, then I become a "better" humanist? This is nonsense.
@L0C0Gato If the goal is a secular humanist society, chaning from dogmatic theistic, to secular "theistic" (well.. you know what i mean) is a huge step forward. However if the goal is secular humanisitc and you move from secular humanism to secular "theism", is by definition a step back in regards to that goal.
@L0C0Gato My point was that if you ask if this is "better" or "a step forward" you need to define a goal for wich the definition "forward" applies. My response therefore had to include such a definition for me to be able to answer.
@sp4zzer I meant "Secular Judaism" instead of "Secular Humanism" in my post. But now I agree with you. To me, of course, being "Jewish-less" is not better than being "Jewish-full".
Good vid! I guess, to answer your question, it depends on what you think the "humanist project" or what have you, is about. If you think it's about secualrism and freedom of conscience, then it shouldn't really matter what sort of communal practices, within reason, people undertake together. I, for example, don't find anything hypocritical about a former Christian celebrating Christmas; though I don't.
If, however, you're threatened by the very idea of dogma, cultural or otherwise, you might come to a different conclusion. Hitchens often talks about this sort of thing, though I still think of him as being rather "militant".
Also, Jews are somewhat unique, in that they have a cultural foundation based on common ancestry, ethnicity, history and community, in addition to faith. So far as I can tell, often the ONLY thing many Christians or Muslims have in common is belief.
I don't recall ever seeing Hitchens waving a gun around calling for atheists to kill theists.
When theists write books, give talks, get into debates and even be quite rude about their beliefs, all the things Hitchens does, that is considered a normal part of evangelising, to be called "militant" they really have to be doing something violent.
In the context of calling Hitchens a "militant", what does this say about just how "militant" atheists get compared to the religious?
@TravisMorien Settle down, dude. I generally assume the idea of 'militating against' something and it's RHETORICAL context are common knowledge . I wasn't even criticizing Hitchens' stance, which is avowedly anti-religious. I was contrasting it with, say, a more Holyoake-style secularism. In future, before policing the words of others, try examining your own understanding of them first. Thanks.
Thus, to extend the metaphor, they're more superstructures than foundations; designed to cut across cultures, not reinforce them. In other words a Jew, good or bad, is a Jew because he was born a Jew. A Christian, good or bad, is Christian because of what he BELIEVES.
its an interesting prospect, and i find it hard to disagree that culture need not depend on theism where traditions and certain practices are concerned.
that said, as an outsider who never had a religious culture, it kinda strikes me as a form of spiritual methadone.
@gothatfunk thats a very good analogy, actually, which I think very accurately reflects my hesitancy to involve myself any further in it...
I think maybe its just not designed for me and my type: people who are truly comfortable with the prospect that there is no God. I think my own personal attachment to Jewish culture is perhaps less of an addiction (in a very literal sense of the word) than it is for the people this movement is targeting.
I am a secular, humanistic Jew. I never believed in God (an had no discomfort about it whatsoever) but I always felt very Jew. I have a strong Jewish identity and feel very connected to the history and traditions of the Jewish people. This is no "addiction" to me, neither is an intermediate stage until I become a "full atheist" (as you suggest in one of your comments in the video).
@L0C0Gato I didnt mean to suggest that humanistic judaism is a gateway to atheism for the individual. What I meant was that its a gateway for society.
I have to ask though, if you know that the traditions, specifically, are heavily linked to and inspired by a belief in God (which you do not have), why would you continue them? You are already dissenting to your ancestors' beliefs. Personally, I dont respect people just for believing in God...even if that person is my grandfather.
Because those traditions are multi-layered. Passover, for example, can seen as celebrating an act of God (the deliverance from Egipt). Or you can see it as a festival celebrating freedom, enjoy the celebration, and "use" it as opportunity to think and act in regard to the freedoms of other people. To me, and many others, there is enough richness in the Jewish history, ethics, and culture to make it worth while staying connected to them.
@L0C0Gato I suppose I can understand that...I just haven't had the same experience, I guess. When I deconverted, I understood that my beliefs were in direct conflict to those of my ancestors (who had celebrated the traditions because of those beliefs). And so, while I enjoy a passover seder in the sense that my family gets together and has a nice meal, it goes no further than that for me. The fact that it is passover, to me, is irrelevant. To each his own, I guess...
I am fond of the idea of humanistic Judaism, but I am wary about how it would apply to Christianity and Islam. Perhaps I am too cynical, but I see the worst parts of both cultures surviving (honor killings, assumed right to power/control, racism, etc.) under the protection of cultural-relativists.
Still, even if what I fear comes to pass, I think this would be a good idea. Abuse and dogma are harder to justify without a Divine Judge (who just happens to share your beliefs) to back you up.
@EyeMonniker he was talking about it in another part of the lecture to an extent, discussing it as the fundamental basis for chinese religions...but yeah, its really not a religion per say
@jordler whats your point? Most atheists would disagree that its boring (science is not boring) and would consider the lack of mythology a good thing.
This so called 'Rabbi' is making a fool of himself.
Jewish = Member of the Jewish Faith
Hebrew = Follower of the Hebrew Culture made popular through the Jewish Faith.
Israeli = Person born in Israel (not to be confused with Hebrew)
Cultural Jew = Idiot who doesn't know what Hebrew means.
I mean seriously, it's not that hard. I certainly don't want to consider Islam a culture as opposed to a religion. Religion holds a stigma nowadays that it deserves. Culture is a good thing, religion is not
Im gonna disagree with you to an extent. Your argument is semantics, really...To say that one is "culturally jewish" I think makes a clear enough distinction regarding one's philosophy and relation to the religion. "Hebrew" I dont think is much of an improvement apart from the fact that it separates one from the term "jewish". Of course, thats somewhat of a fallacy, though, because the whole idea is that the culture came about because of Judaism.
If you watch the rest of his lecture, you will see that really the primary reason for this group is to help secularized jews make the logical step to agnosticism or atheism. Its a legitimate problem, reaching out to these people, because making that change often feels like abandoning one's family and ancestry. If the issue for them relieved by a word choice and a community of like-minded individuals from the same background, I think thats a positive thing for secular humanism as a whole.
Perhaps it serves the greater good, but the if we consider another state where religion has formed the culture. Would you consider Islam a culture, or would you call the culture Persian or Arabian depending on the specifics. I wouldn't call it Humanist Islam that's for sure. It may make the transition easier for some people but it muddies the water for those on the outside and I wonder if the overall effect is possitive. I feel it will give religion a refuge to hide in.
I think there is a difference between persian or arabian culture and islamic culture. They are highly interwoven, but those cultures are slightly more inclusive than islamic culture is. "Hebrew" is a bit more definitive--nobody other than jews really uses the term hebrew anyway.
The biggest concern, as I see it, is the adoption of the term "Jewish" as a secular word, not necessarily referring to the religion. But if that is the difference between abolishing dogma and not? Im all for it.
It think it's a fantastic idea. I was born into a catholic family, then converted at fifteen to Wicca. Once I had lost my faith altogether, I still found myself more or less within the Wiccan practice. I held many of the same traditions, just without the faith. This was actually why I choose Witchcraft to begin with, it had many of the same traditions as christianity.....I wonder how that happened.... I think this is a great idea, and I hope it goes far.
Je talks about Judaism as cultural, I think there are groups called Atheists for Jesus. I think you can buy ideas as interest ones as philosoophies if you wish but I can't think of a non-theistic christianiy or islam or hinduism. I go to Unitarian church and we belive in a non-interventionist god, we have p[hilosohphy readings byut we mediate and also we have prayer candles.
The question is whether or not Unitarians have a unique culture that could exist separate from the religion itself. I think that christianity in general does...perhaps roman catholics especially. I think Islam definitely does have a unique culture, as does hinduism. Speaking from my experience, Judaism definitely DOES have a unique culture which has very little to do with any sort of belief in God.
@ThoughtfulAtheist well cultural Jews are connected because it was a tribal thing. I think it could be another step for people who want to leave the faith but dont want to abandon the culture of it totally.
Well I think its actually quite difficult to abandon the culture completely...especially for someone like me, whose entire family is Jewish, but in a very secular way. I think my family really always connected more with the culture than with the religion. For my mother, she holds onto the belief in God because to lose it I think she would feel her culture was under attack, but in reality, I think she would have a very tough time of justifying her belief in god if I were to actually question her.
When it's all said and done, does it really matter what clubs, affiliations, of beliefs that we held? I highly doubt it. We are all but an ant fart in the grand scheme of time.
@SkepticsUniverse In the grander scheme of things, no probably not. But I think it matters within the individual life we have...and how that affects us psychologically, and how our behaviors affect those around us, especially our children.
I think the Unitarians serve this role to some extent for Christians. I think it is helpful for people who want that kind of community, ceremony, a slightly more formal context to raise there kids within a moral framework.
I also think it can be a good basis for interfaith dialogue.
And as you say, it gives people a more comfortable first step out of there dogmatic faith.
I was talking about the Unitarian Universalists (but didn't want to type that all out). Some do some don't. Some interfaith couples attend while maintaining their own personal faith. It also may vary somewhat from congregation to congregation as there is a fair amount of autonomy.
wow, those 2, what a real pair of oxyMORONS lol
gunzkillu 4 months ago
As a Humanistic Jew, I can tell you that it's all about community, education, and traditions that are meaningful or made meaningful in a modern society.
ronschwartz1955 10 months ago 2
I appreciate the Thoughtful Atheist clip, and the Sherwin wine clip included in it.
MegaEd4 10 months ago
These subs are WAAAAAAY off.
sabradan 1 year ago
You didn't put a shirt on or comb your hair before making a video? Why should xews be able to join the Gentile world at their whim? Fill out an application.
TheAmazingamerica 1 year ago
I know you don't believe in God... that's fine... but could you believe in a shirt and then put it on?
irgunlehistern 1 year ago 2
Great post - thanks! I'm also Jewish - as i like to describe it - "by default" - i.e. my mother is jewish, but i can't kid myself long enough to believe. And, although i think the religion itself is archaic/exclusive/impractical, I do value jewish culture - and I am not ashamed of having a jewish heritage and beonging to the jewish people.
kelltal 1 year ago
Have you checked whether the Humanistic congregation
offers any T SHIRTS? They may even have your size.
NOTMARBON 1 year ago
I am also a lapsed Jew. I briefly thought that Humanistic Judaism was for me, but I don't necessarily believe in inventing new reasons why the old meshugas rituals are somehow still necessary even without god. I do sometimes read secular Yiddish language short stories and novels, and that replaces all of my former Jewish religious beliefs and rituals and prayer.
lyutsin21 1 year ago
Thanks for the video... but next time please put on shirt
Brybenj 1 year ago
It is fascinating to learn you have Jewish background. The only thing wrong I found with Rabbi Wein's talk is that Judaism is NOT a culture, it is a PEOPLE. And, ironically, he validates this with his own discussion. I would love to discuss Jewish prayer and ritual with someone who thinks it is simply religious nonsense and point out that it is carefully authored to motivate Jewish people to action - its primary purpose.
bunsinspace 1 year ago
@bunsinspace i don't see these as mutually exclusive... the Jewish experience is many things to many people. One or multiple categories apply to any given Jew: a culture, a people, a religion, a heritage, a race (am I allowed to say that?). For Humanistic Jews, I would imply that to them it is a heritage and a culture, variant and disjointed as it may be. There's room for that distinction in our religion, maybe not so much in Islam...
Wezuhley 1 year ago
@Wezuhley Good point.
bunsinspace 1 year ago
Sorry for my ignorance, and my rather poor English, but I don't see anything special in this gentleman's speech. Judaism has always had more to do with the way we treat our fellow human beings, than with a belief in a personal God. For example, the great sage Hillel summarized the whole Torah (Jewish religion) as: "That which is hateful to you, do not do onto others".
Still, congratulations for bringing such an interesting subject. Shalom
RabinoBoricuaVirtual 1 year ago
You know what they call Humanistic Judaism in gentile America don't you ?
BEING A DEMOCRAT! LOL!
I'm a social conservative atheist, yes there is one actually one.
My fellow Republicans always ask me what denomination I am when I say skygod bless America.
I like to say secular Orthodox lol!
Curas1 1 year ago
This is really fascinating. I think it's perfectly reasonable for someone to enjoy the traditions with which they grew up in a secular context. Culture is the expressive aggregate of choices that we all make as individuals. Culture enhances our experience of life. This goes way beyond just judaism, of course - there being tons of beautiful and interesting things about all kinds of cultures with a religious background. It's positive overall as a means of deriving essential human satisfaction.
fuerve 1 year ago
It might depend upon to what you are comparing.. If you are comparing to secular humanism, its not a step forward, but if you are comparing to religious culturalism, it is most definetly a step forward, and since it is most relevant to the religious,. yes.. forward.
sp4zzer 1 year ago
@sp4zzer
A step forward to what? Not to get into a fight here, but why a "cultureless" secular humanism (if such thing exist) is "better" than something like Secular Humanism? I am a secular Jew. According to this, if I drop my history, my traditions, a big chunk of my identity, then I become a "better" humanist? This is nonsense.
L0C0Gato 1 year ago
@L0C0Gato If the goal is a secular humanist society, chaning from dogmatic theistic, to secular "theistic" (well.. you know what i mean) is a huge step forward. However if the goal is secular humanisitc and you move from secular humanism to secular "theism", is by definition a step back in regards to that goal.
sp4zzer 1 year ago
@L0C0Gato My point was that if you ask if this is "better" or "a step forward" you need to define a goal for wich the definition "forward" applies. My response therefore had to include such a definition for me to be able to answer.
sp4zzer 1 year ago
@sp4zzer I meant "Secular Judaism" instead of "Secular Humanism" in my post. But now I agree with you. To me, of course, being "Jewish-less" is not better than being "Jewish-full".
L0C0Gato 1 year ago
Good vid! I guess, to answer your question, it depends on what you think the "humanist project" or what have you, is about. If you think it's about secualrism and freedom of conscience, then it shouldn't really matter what sort of communal practices, within reason, people undertake together. I, for example, don't find anything hypocritical about a former Christian celebrating Christmas; though I don't.
TheOuroborosWyrm 1 year ago
If, however, you're threatened by the very idea of dogma, cultural or otherwise, you might come to a different conclusion. Hitchens often talks about this sort of thing, though I still think of him as being rather "militant".
Also, Jews are somewhat unique, in that they have a cultural foundation based on common ancestry, ethnicity, history and community, in addition to faith. So far as I can tell, often the ONLY thing many Christians or Muslims have in common is belief.
TheOuroborosWyrm 1 year ago
@TheOuroborosWyrm
I don't recall ever seeing Hitchens waving a gun around calling for atheists to kill theists.
When theists write books, give talks, get into debates and even be quite rude about their beliefs, all the things Hitchens does, that is considered a normal part of evangelising, to be called "militant" they really have to be doing something violent.
In the context of calling Hitchens a "militant", what does this say about just how "militant" atheists get compared to the religious?
TravisMorien 1 year ago
@TravisMorien Settle down, dude. I generally assume the idea of 'militating against' something and it's RHETORICAL context are common knowledge . I wasn't even criticizing Hitchens' stance, which is avowedly anti-religious. I was contrasting it with, say, a more Holyoake-style secularism. In future, before policing the words of others, try examining your own understanding of them first. Thanks.
TheOuroborosWyrm 1 year ago
Thus, to extend the metaphor, they're more superstructures than foundations; designed to cut across cultures, not reinforce them. In other words a Jew, good or bad, is a Jew because he was born a Jew. A Christian, good or bad, is Christian because of what he BELIEVES.
TheOuroborosWyrm 1 year ago
its an interesting prospect, and i find it hard to disagree that culture need not depend on theism where traditions and certain practices are concerned.
that said, as an outsider who never had a religious culture, it kinda strikes me as a form of spiritual methadone.
gothatfunk 1 year ago
@gothatfunk thats a very good analogy, actually, which I think very accurately reflects my hesitancy to involve myself any further in it...
I think maybe its just not designed for me and my type: people who are truly comfortable with the prospect that there is no God. I think my own personal attachment to Jewish culture is perhaps less of an addiction (in a very literal sense of the word) than it is for the people this movement is targeting.
ThoughtfulAtheist 1 year ago
@ThoughtfulAtheist
I am a secular, humanistic Jew. I never believed in God (an had no discomfort about it whatsoever) but I always felt very Jew. I have a strong Jewish identity and feel very connected to the history and traditions of the Jewish people. This is no "addiction" to me, neither is an intermediate stage until I become a "full atheist" (as you suggest in one of your comments in the video).
L0C0Gato 1 year ago
@L0C0Gato I didnt mean to suggest that humanistic judaism is a gateway to atheism for the individual. What I meant was that its a gateway for society.
I have to ask though, if you know that the traditions, specifically, are heavily linked to and inspired by a belief in God (which you do not have), why would you continue them? You are already dissenting to your ancestors' beliefs. Personally, I dont respect people just for believing in God...even if that person is my grandfather.
ThoughtfulAtheist 1 year ago
@ThoughtfulAtheist
Because those traditions are multi-layered. Passover, for example, can seen as celebrating an act of God (the deliverance from Egipt). Or you can see it as a festival celebrating freedom, enjoy the celebration, and "use" it as opportunity to think and act in regard to the freedoms of other people. To me, and many others, there is enough richness in the Jewish history, ethics, and culture to make it worth while staying connected to them.
L0C0Gato 1 year ago
@L0C0Gato I suppose I can understand that...I just haven't had the same experience, I guess. When I deconverted, I understood that my beliefs were in direct conflict to those of my ancestors (who had celebrated the traditions because of those beliefs). And so, while I enjoy a passover seder in the sense that my family gets together and has a nice meal, it goes no further than that for me. The fact that it is passover, to me, is irrelevant. To each his own, I guess...
ThoughtfulAtheist 1 year ago
@ThoughtfulAtheist
You are right... to each his own. :) Keep up with the good comments and videos!
L0C0Gato 1 year ago
I am fond of the idea of humanistic Judaism, but I am wary about how it would apply to Christianity and Islam. Perhaps I am too cynical, but I see the worst parts of both cultures surviving (honor killings, assumed right to power/control, racism, etc.) under the protection of cultural-relativists.
Still, even if what I fear comes to pass, I think this would be a good idea. Abuse and dogma are harder to justify without a Divine Judge (who just happens to share your beliefs) to back you up.
AndrewTheEternal 1 year ago
HA! He asks if we can have secular Confucianism...It's not a religion!
EyeMonniker 1 year ago
@EyeMonniker he was talking about it in another part of the lecture to an extent, discussing it as the fundamental basis for chinese religions...but yeah, its really not a religion per say
ThoughtfulAtheist 1 year ago
atheism is boring. no cool mythology like ra and thor and so forth yawnz.
jordler 1 year ago
@jordler whats your point? Most atheists would disagree that its boring (science is not boring) and would consider the lack of mythology a good thing.
ThoughtfulAtheist 1 year ago
This so called 'Rabbi' is making a fool of himself.
Jewish = Member of the Jewish Faith
Hebrew = Follower of the Hebrew Culture made popular through the Jewish Faith.
Israeli = Person born in Israel (not to be confused with Hebrew)
Cultural Jew = Idiot who doesn't know what Hebrew means.
I mean seriously, it's not that hard. I certainly don't want to consider Islam a culture as opposed to a religion. Religion holds a stigma nowadays that it deserves. Culture is a good thing, religion is not
TornadoCreator 1 year ago
Im gonna disagree with you to an extent. Your argument is semantics, really...To say that one is "culturally jewish" I think makes a clear enough distinction regarding one's philosophy and relation to the religion. "Hebrew" I dont think is much of an improvement apart from the fact that it separates one from the term "jewish". Of course, thats somewhat of a fallacy, though, because the whole idea is that the culture came about because of Judaism.
I just don't see the point you're making (cont)
ThoughtfulAtheist 1 year ago
If you watch the rest of his lecture, you will see that really the primary reason for this group is to help secularized jews make the logical step to agnosticism or atheism. Its a legitimate problem, reaching out to these people, because making that change often feels like abandoning one's family and ancestry. If the issue for them relieved by a word choice and a community of like-minded individuals from the same background, I think thats a positive thing for secular humanism as a whole.
ThoughtfulAtheist 1 year ago
@ThoughtfulAtheist
Perhaps it serves the greater good, but the if we consider another state where religion has formed the culture. Would you consider Islam a culture, or would you call the culture Persian or Arabian depending on the specifics. I wouldn't call it Humanist Islam that's for sure. It may make the transition easier for some people but it muddies the water for those on the outside and I wonder if the overall effect is possitive. I feel it will give religion a refuge to hide in.
TornadoCreator 1 year ago
I think there is a difference between persian or arabian culture and islamic culture. They are highly interwoven, but those cultures are slightly more inclusive than islamic culture is. "Hebrew" is a bit more definitive--nobody other than jews really uses the term hebrew anyway.
The biggest concern, as I see it, is the adoption of the term "Jewish" as a secular word, not necessarily referring to the religion. But if that is the difference between abolishing dogma and not? Im all for it.
ThoughtfulAtheist 1 year ago
It think it's a fantastic idea. I was born into a catholic family, then converted at fifteen to Wicca. Once I had lost my faith altogether, I still found myself more or less within the Wiccan practice. I held many of the same traditions, just without the faith. This was actually why I choose Witchcraft to begin with, it had many of the same traditions as christianity.....I wonder how that happened.... I think this is a great idea, and I hope it goes far.
skywize 1 year ago
I think it is a great thing to see happening.
ogrish84 1 year ago
Je talks about Judaism as cultural, I think there are groups called Atheists for Jesus. I think you can buy ideas as interest ones as philosoophies if you wish but I can't think of a non-theistic christianiy or islam or hinduism. I go to Unitarian church and we belive in a non-interventionist god, we have p[hilosohphy readings byut we mediate and also we have prayer candles.
bossman103 1 year ago
The question is whether or not Unitarians have a unique culture that could exist separate from the religion itself. I think that christianity in general does...perhaps roman catholics especially. I think Islam definitely does have a unique culture, as does hinduism. Speaking from my experience, Judaism definitely DOES have a unique culture which has very little to do with any sort of belief in God.
ThoughtfulAtheist 1 year ago
@ThoughtfulAtheist well cultural Jews are connected because it was a tribal thing. I think it could be another step for people who want to leave the faith but dont want to abandon the culture of it totally.
bossman103 1 year ago
Well I think its actually quite difficult to abandon the culture completely...especially for someone like me, whose entire family is Jewish, but in a very secular way. I think my family really always connected more with the culture than with the religion. For my mother, she holds onto the belief in God because to lose it I think she would feel her culture was under attack, but in reality, I think she would have a very tough time of justifying her belief in god if I were to actually question her.
ThoughtfulAtheist 1 year ago
very intresting
smashbeans 1 year ago
When it's all said and done, does it really matter what clubs, affiliations, of beliefs that we held? I highly doubt it. We are all but an ant fart in the grand scheme of time.
SkepticsUniverse 1 year ago
@SkepticsUniverse In the grander scheme of things, no probably not. But I think it matters within the individual life we have...and how that affects us psychologically, and how our behaviors affect those around us, especially our children.
ThoughtfulAtheist 1 year ago
I think the Unitarians serve this role to some extent for Christians. I think it is helpful for people who want that kind of community, ceremony, a slightly more formal context to raise there kids within a moral framework.
I also think it can be a good basis for interfaith dialogue.
And as you say, it gives people a more comfortable first step out of there dogmatic faith.
jokidder 1 year ago
@jokidder Unitarian do beleive in god and actually encompasses all religious and philosophical thoughts.
bossman103 1 year ago
@bossman103 "Unitarian do beleive in god"
I was talking about the Unitarian Universalists (but didn't want to type that all out). Some do some don't. Some interfaith couples attend while maintaining their own personal faith. It also may vary somewhat from congregation to congregation as there is a fair amount of autonomy.
jokidder 1 year ago
Interesting. Added to my "Living without gods" playlist.
jokidder 1 year ago