Personally, I feel that Judaism is a religion, but merely by default. I don’t think that it can be categorized as either a race or a culture because if someone converts to Judaism, and is formally and religiously recognized as Jewish, their race and historical culture don’t instantly change. The difficult thing with Judaism is that it means something different for so many people. Some people follow it as a way of life, as a belief or practice, whereas some people merely say they're Jewish, without practicing or believing the religion. I think as long as people fit the historical religious requirements for being Jewish (mother was Jewish) then it’s fair to call oneself Jewish, even if the person doesn’t believe in the ideas of Judaism because while they may hold little religious significance for a person, perhaps there is another type of significance that ties a person to that faith.
I find it difficult to classify any belief. Religion, Judaism included, is such a personal thing, that I feel people have the right to chose whatever faith they want to be, and they can classify that belief in any way they want, with the knowledge that anyone can dispute them about it. The classification of beliefs as religions and races and cultures is just another way to divide the population, but as long as religion remains a personal belief and not something that influences the lives of all others around a person, it doesn’t really matter what a certain faith is classified as.
4 comments:
I liked your point about how someone's religion can change by conversion, but their race and cultural background doesn't automatically change. I never really thought about it that way. But one question for you: You said that as long as pepople fit the historical religious requirements then one can call oneself Jewish. Then you said that people can choose their faith (which I also believe). But I'm wondering... Do you think that if someone doesn't fit the Jewish "religious requirements" then they can't call themselves Jewish, or is it more like if they believe in Jewish beliefs then they can call themselves Jewish?
To Nicola,
I think that a person should call themselves Jewish if and only if they practice and share Jewish beliefs. I know it's kinda harsh to say but I believe that with every religion a person shouldn't make a false representation of themselves as "Catholic", or "Jewish" if they don't practice either religion. One of my greatest pet peeves is when people say "Oh I'm a Catholic and I go to church", when in actuality they only go to church on holidays and they don't believe in God or Catholicism at all.
I found myself writing some of the same phrases as you when I was starting my response; our opinion is really similar. Your thought that someone who may not appear to be practicing or very religious, but is ethnically Jewish may have some other tie to their religion. I think the personal relationship specific to each person with their religion is the most important, and I like that you touched on that in your response.
Nikki-
My opinion, in response to your question, is that people who don't practice a religion shouldn't consider themselves in anyway tied to that religion. If you don't believe in something, don't say you're connected to it just because your family may be. Similar to Erin, I find it very annoying when people connect themselves to a religion that they have no faith in. I think the most important factor in a religion is faith, and even if someone doesn't fit the "religious requirements" they should still be considered a part of a religion as long as they believe in it. Also, it seems to me that it would be mildly offensive to a religious person, for someone else to consider themselves a part a religion, when actually, they don't believe in it.
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