Judaism is an ancient culture with its own set of traditions. It's not primarily about belief. It's about community and ethics in living everyday life. There's very broad spectrum out there from Ultra-Orthodox to Conservative to Reform (some joke about the Reform movement as referring to the 618 suggestions, not commandments). But belief or no in God, a Jewish family will generally celebrate a wedding ceremony in the traditional way. And have their son circumsized at a bris. and so forth. I know people who are passionately Jewish in their identity (both Zionists and anti-Zionists, to muddy the water a bit more) who do not have any particular faith that God exists. Take a look at a Reconstructionist Siddur -- your local Synagogue will have a copy -- choose a passage, e.g. Moses leading the Hebrews through the Red Sea and the parting of the waters. Find the chapter and verse in the Reconstructionist Humash, the Conservative, and the Orthodox. The translation isn't particularly what's important here, what is important is the commentaries. Compare what each commentary says about that passage and I think you'll get a better idea of exactly how much Judaism is not monolithic! (Then, if you're really interested you could compare the commentaries of the JPS, Fox, and Haart(sp? -- I'm too lazy to go in the library room and look at my copy) and really find some interesting differences <g>! Julie Krueger ========Original Message======== Subj: [lit-ideas] Re: Iran (1), The Revolutionary Imperative Date: 2/3/06 6:51:08 P.M. Central Standard Time From: _aamago@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:aamago@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) To: _lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) Sent on: When I first heard about atheist Jews I thought it was an oxymoron. I couldn't picture it. In fact, it seemed so impossible that I compared it in my mind to being an Catholic Atheist. How does one do that? Now you call yourself a Catholic Atheist. Can you please explain? ----- Original Message ----- From: _Mike Geary_ (mailto:atlas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) To: _lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) Sent: 2/3/2006 3:45:42 PM Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Iran (1), The Revolutionary Imperative beginning my 63rd year as a Marxist Liberal Communist former Catholic Atheist