FWIW, I identify as a Jewish Humanist Atheist. You have no idea what kind of flack I get from some Jewish friends and relatives who say- "How can one be Jewish *and* Atheist"?
Letting go of the idea of a god/God years ago, has been the most liberating, wonderful thing that has happened to me. I call it my religious experience in reverse... At my temple, our rabbi is gay. The Torah is kept in the library, as we view it as an important piece of literature, and Bar/Bat Mitzvah's are a time when a child, coming to age, give speeches on a chosen Jewish hero whom they identify with. This, according to our rabbi Sherwin Wine, who was one of the founders of Humanistic Judaisam, is a more meaningful experience than reading Hebrew from the Torah on a topic that a 13 year old would probably not relate to nor remember. I'm not a religious scholar by any means, and have only skimmed the posts on this topic. But to the atheists out there, you aren't alone. To the believers out there, Mazol Tov- believe in what works for you. My best friend is Lebanese, American born, who lives in the largest Arab-populated city outside of the Middle East (Dearborn, Michigan). I know her neighbors, her relatives and have been taken in with kindness and love. Anyway, I won't be entering in many of these discussions mainly because my feelings, my "take" on all of this has little backing because of my lack of knowledge of religious history. I can only speak from my own reality and 49 years on this earth. Terry <A HREF="http://www.addconsults.com";>www.addconsults.com</A> In a message dated 1/9/2003 7:33:27 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > I'm beginning to get worried here: am I really the only atheist on > the list??
