(July 3, 2017 at 3:13 pm)Die Atheistin Wrote:(July 3, 2017 at 2:14 pm)Aliza Wrote: The whole of Judaism believes that Judaism is only for Jews, it is not intended for non-Jews, and that other people have perfectly valid ways of life. The vast majority of Judaism holds that the Torah’s depiction of creation need not be taken literally and that there is plenty of room to interpret the Torah differently so it makes more sense with facts of the natural world. Reading through Jewish commentary dating back through 900 years in the past will firmly support my assertion.I appreciate your response. I wouldn't force anyone to have my beliefs either. But I have another question, if you would find something wrong about a religious institutuion, would you want to change it?
I am, by your definition, a moderate theist. I also don’t know how the world works, but I rely on a combination of science and religious views to explain it to myself. I’m content with my explanations, yet I’m not emotionally connected to them, and I do not think my way of thinking is better than yours, as you suggested. As new information comes in, I’m prepared to reevaluate my thinking. I insist on my views to myself because they make me happy, and for no other reason. I do not insist on my views (to others) because I can’t prove them to your satisfaction and I don’t think you need to believe the way I believe to live a happy, full life. I stand to gain nothing from insisting on my views to anyone other than myself.
… and if anyone doesn’t like the way I privately view the world, especially when it doesn’t affect them in any way what-so-ever, then those people are emotionally and socially maladjusted.
Aliza's representation of judaism is accurate. I was taught by my grandmother about Tikkun Olam (sp?) sorry haven't studied this stuff since very young. My Jewish family believed in the necessity to try heal the world and certainly wasn't anti-science or anti-rationality per-se. The Judaism I was taught was ll about personal moral standards and trying to understand the nature of HaShem. And a lot of rules as well.
I also was interested in the rules for others and had to ask, and was told about the B'nei Noach (sp?) (sorry secular Jewish parents and I have never studied this deeply)
The Judaism I was taught as a kid was actually very benign, and then my ex-wife was a Palestinian Muslim. I had lots of great conversations with on many trips to Israel/Palestine, good people.
I am and always have been an atheist, but I won't throw the baby out with the the bathwater. HaShem means, roughly, The Name.
To me the name is reality, and I don't need a g-d for that(Jewish joke), but there is some good stuff there, but unfortunately a bucketload of evil, un-evidenced or batshit crazy stuff too..
The soft Judaism I learnt was, just try to be nice!!!
