Sherman123
DP Veteran
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- Jul 5, 2012
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Quite simply: Is there anyone here who is, or knows of those who are, atheists yet practice the trappings of their religious faith?
I ask as someone who is an extremely secular Jew that professes a sincere atheism. Yet also as someone who, for the sake of family, friends, and in some small ways even for myself, often practices the elements of my 'faith'. There are elements of Judaism that I find relaxing and meditative, I enjoy the sense of community that I believe is rather unique, and the history and sense of tradition is fascinating and I take a completely irrational and undeserved degree of pride in its longevity and communal accomplishments.
Perhaps this is simply more common because of my background as a Jew. The emphasis on practice over belief, or rather the superiority of practice over belief, in Judaism lends itself to a sort of dualism. For example it is often said that the Jew who believes and accepts the commandments, mitzvot, and teachings of the Torah, the Mishnah, the Talmud, etc but does not practice them is less righteous than the doubter, or even the disbeliever, who practices them. Though it is very common, perhaps even well known, to find atheists among progressive strains of Judaism it is also more common than you would think (though still relatively rare) among the more Orthodox strains. Those who have lost their faith but continue to practice the mitzvot, keep shomer shabbos, etc for a variety of reasons.
Some do it for the obvious reason that they do not wish to lose their place in their community, some out of a sense of heritage, some for the sake of familial peace, and others do it because they find meaning in the ritual even though know it is just that--ritual.
So I wanted to open the floor up to see what people had to say on this topic. Please try and keep it civil.
I ask as someone who is an extremely secular Jew that professes a sincere atheism. Yet also as someone who, for the sake of family, friends, and in some small ways even for myself, often practices the elements of my 'faith'. There are elements of Judaism that I find relaxing and meditative, I enjoy the sense of community that I believe is rather unique, and the history and sense of tradition is fascinating and I take a completely irrational and undeserved degree of pride in its longevity and communal accomplishments.
Perhaps this is simply more common because of my background as a Jew. The emphasis on practice over belief, or rather the superiority of practice over belief, in Judaism lends itself to a sort of dualism. For example it is often said that the Jew who believes and accepts the commandments, mitzvot, and teachings of the Torah, the Mishnah, the Talmud, etc but does not practice them is less righteous than the doubter, or even the disbeliever, who practices them. Though it is very common, perhaps even well known, to find atheists among progressive strains of Judaism it is also more common than you would think (though still relatively rare) among the more Orthodox strains. Those who have lost their faith but continue to practice the mitzvot, keep shomer shabbos, etc for a variety of reasons.
Some do it for the obvious reason that they do not wish to lose their place in their community, some out of a sense of heritage, some for the sake of familial peace, and others do it because they find meaning in the ritual even though know it is just that--ritual.
So I wanted to open the floor up to see what people had to say on this topic. Please try and keep it civil.