Is there such thing as the "Jewish race" can you be jewish without practicing...

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TheBlackRabbitofInlé

Member
"An atheist, anti-religious, Jew who was born of a Jewish mother would still be considered halakhically Jewish, and therefore accepted as such by his fellow Jews." - Page 11

“In a modern context there is considerable resistance among traditional Jews to the characterization of Judaism as a religion, for this seems to imply a belittling of its status. They do not consider Judaism of a class with Christianity, Islam, or Buddhism, it is unique and in a category of its own as recording the divinely revealed teaching mediated through God’s Covenant with Israel.” page 5

The Jews: Their Religious Beliefs & Practices (1999 Edition)
http://books.google.com/books?id=y3--5jTheDUC&pg=PA128&lpg=PA128#v=onepage&q&f=false

Author: Orthodox Jew Alan Unterman
http://pipl.com/directory/people/Alan/Unterman
 
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idlenessss

New member
currently the US supreme court does consider there to be a jewsih race, distinct from the religion.

Many people call themselves jewish, even though they do not practice the religion.
 
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Curtis

Member
I don't like the term "race", but there is a cultural and ethnic group that is jewish and yes, you can be jewish without being a practitioner of Judaism.
 
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SpireofSulfuron

New member
Many "races" (read: different variants of colored skin) are "Jewish."
Declaring a "Jewish race" is like saying there's a non-Jewish "race."
"Jewish" is simply someone adhering too the religion of Judaism.
Religion =/= "race."

"It's definitely more than a religion!"
It is a religion. Anything "more" than that would be a byproduct of different Jewish
groups contributing too their communities with a cultural blend of sorts.

"can you be Jewish without practicing Judaism?"
That makes absolutely no sense, the very definition of someone being "Jewish" is practicing/adhering too Judaism. You can't have a contradiction, it just doesn't work. Being "Jewish" requires some sort of consistency, that means the capability of practicing Judaism when a Jew is called too the aid of his Jewish community.
Can a Christian be "Christian" without practicing Christianity? no.
Can a Muslim be "Muslim" without practicing Islam? no.
Why is Judaism exempt from this logic? I don't know.
 
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Cecile

New member
Definitely.
It is known that early christians are mix of Jewish converts and gentiles; such known as St Peter with the circumcise and St Paul for uncircumcise.
So, christians are half jewish and pagan gentiles. What about that for history. LOL
 
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KaliAz

New member
No, Judaism is a religion. Generally people referring to jews as a race are usually talking about israel, either that or they are just ignorant.
 
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Denny

Member
Judaism is not a race, it is a religion. You don't go call Christians or Muslims a race, so why Judaism?
You can be identified as Jewish without the religious aspects but only carry out the cultural side of Judaism. Judaism is one of few religions that have a big cultural side of it so it's important for a Jew to take part with the culture.
Anyone who calls Jews a race are either really uneducated or anti semitic.
 
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