Judaism!

I think Judaism can be classified primarily as a religion, however the distinctions between its roots as a religion, culture, and ethnicity have been blurred, making it difficult to label Judaism under any one category. Factors in defining who is a Jew include both adherence to specific religious practices and ancestral identification through mothers.

The traditional definition of a Jew is someone born to a Jewish mother. However, controversy arises regarding whether people with mixed parentage should be considered Jewish, whether conversion should be considered valid, and whether those who convert to other religions or do not practice actively should still be considered Jews.

Although Judaism cannot be defined solely in terms of religion, I think that today, religion is the easiest and most typical way to distinguish Jews from non-Jews. The religion of Judaism is broadly characterized by its monotheistic belief in one God, its belief in a special covenant with God with Jews being his ‘chosen people’, the specific laws and practices that must be followed dictated by the Torah, and a sense of territorial identity with the promised land of Canaan or Jerusalem. By defining Jews as those who trust in these beliefs, converted Jews are considered valid, and people with Jewish mothers are not necessarily considered Jews.