What part of Judiasm do you still feel drawn to and what part is driving you away? How has your relationship with your family changed over the past year?
Hi Al, I don't remember seeing your name before, so welcome.
Apart from the values I mentioned in the post (which aren't exclusively Jewish), I like being part of an ancient tradition, even if it is based on ancient superstition. It's a connection the the past that is both interesting and a way to connect families and communities.
What's pushing me away is, I think, that I'm still too close to it. I feel that I and many others have been duped and misled by Orthodox Judaism, sometimes deliberately and sometimes through carelessness. And that it can be a lot of effort, considering I don't believe that there's a god being pleased by it all.
We are still secret skeptics so while I feel myself drifting from my family, I don't think they do. I still want to be close to them but I know that will be hard once we eventually go public, which we will, when we feel ready.
BJ, even if I would not be tied, I can't imagine breaking away totally. It's still a rich heritage... Check this out, it sounds like he's desperately trying to stay connected.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/2...2yeshiva-
t.html
Baal I think if BJ really is more connected then she realizes, her leaving will be the start of some return. Perhaps she will find herself more. Wish you hatzlacha BJ. BJ TO isn't really 95 and living in Antartica is he
?
Something is wrong with the time no? Why is it saying on the posting that it is PM instead of AM?
BHB: Yes I read some of that article, up to where you had to subscribe anyway. As I say, I don't know. I have spoken to some people who feel that a complete break is necessary and I sympathize with that. I'm happy to just play by ear.
RG: Thanks. We will find our balance in time, really we haven't been skeptics for that long so I think it's fair to still be readjusting. No, TO is closer to my age and location. Not sure about the timestamp, maybe I didn't set it right at Haloscan. I'll check.
"RG: Thanks. We will find our balance in time, really we haven't been skeptics for that long so I think it's fair to still be readjusting."
You're welcome. It's fair to always be readjusting. I do it. The time to stop readjusting is when dead. Are you and your family going to physically move? Moving can be a lot of work. Well just make sure not to move too many times or else you'll feel like climbing the walls eventually. I moved too many times and barring moving for the sake of others I won't budge an inch anymore. I'm in a good location and that's that.
"I like to think that part of me knew all along that science has a lot more going for it than religion."
BJ,
Without agreeing or disagreeing with that statement, I can't help but think that there's an 'apples and oranges' issue here. The best parts of Judaism (as I think you would agree) really don't seek to answer the same questions that are the proper subjects of science. Judaism at its worst can get a bit dogmatic and wander into scientific territory, but, then, I've seen (rather recently) scientists attempt to do the same sort of thing.
In the end, the good things in Judaism and perhaps even the miracle of Jewish history might warrant a continued attachment, even if some rather antiquated notions of a six-day creation are troublesome.
Regards.
I read the New York Times article quoted above and sensed a POV (i.e. strong point of view). Googling the author's name one quickly finds out why Maimonides School does not want to lay claim to him. He's the ideal graduate:
Dr. Noah Feldman, D.Phil (Oxon), J.D. is an American author and professor of law at Harvard Law School. He worked as an advisor in the early days of the Paul Bremer transitional team in Iraq for the writing of the country's then unwritten constitution. Feldman also was given the Most Beautiful Brainiac award from New York Magazine. He regularly contributes features and opinion pieces to The New York Times Magazine.
except he's no longer frum and has married out of the faith.
Morgan: What I meant was that it's a lot more logical and has more proof, not that Judaism has no intrinsic value. It certainly does, but its value doesn't have a great deal to do with truth.
Al: You're right. Nevertheless, some of the issues he raises are very valid.
Billie
thanks for the update, and letting your readers know where you are holding
have you read "as a driven leaf", i read it many years ago and still have not reconciled within myself what is best for my kids- i.e. do you raise secular and effectively erase jewish identity or allow light brainwashing by frum schools to retain heritage and allow kids to decide, or at least have basic textual skills to appreciate the mesora at least at an intellectual level
Rick, I haven't read it but read an excerpt on Amazon; it looks interesting.
How to bring up the kids is even trickier than what I want to be. I guess I do want them to learn about Judaism, but on my terms, so that I can encourage them to question while learning their history and culture.
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