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THREAD: On Jewish Atheism. People frequently ask whether you can be a Jew and be an atheist. When speaking to Jews about atheism, Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi would famously say βI donβt believe in the same God you donβt believe in.β This is the basis of my answer. 0/
Atheism as we think of it in common popular culture in America is primarily based on a Christian worldview. Atheism in this form is in contrast to Christian views of belief, belief in Christ being the integral key point to Christianity. This is not parallel in Judaism. 1/
In order to be an atheist in Judaism, you have to actively believe something very specific: The materiality of the world as we see it is definitely all there is, without any meaning or purpose. Arch materialists like this certainly exist, but I find them exceedingly rare. 2/
Throughout Jewish history the theology has been incredibly diverse. The idea of a man in the sky pulling the strings has not been prominent for over a millennium. Even Biblically it wasn't the norm. For great Biblical theology, check out this book: https://t.co/tq6tk2OSUj 3/
Classical Rabbinic ideas varied widely. Merkabah Mystics did transcendental journeying for experience of the supernatural realm; Tzadokim denied the supernatural realm; the Mishnah (below) simply said don't go there. Jews always went There, but never settled on what "There" is.4/
Atheism as we think of it in common popular culture in America is primarily based on a Christian worldview. Atheism in this form is in contrast to Christian views of belief, belief in Christ being the integral key point to Christianity. This is not parallel in Judaism. 1/
In order to be an atheist in Judaism, you have to actively believe something very specific: The materiality of the world as we see it is definitely all there is, without any meaning or purpose. Arch materialists like this certainly exist, but I find them exceedingly rare. 2/
Throughout Jewish history the theology has been incredibly diverse. The idea of a man in the sky pulling the strings has not been prominent for over a millennium. Even Biblically it wasn't the norm. For great Biblical theology, check out this book: https://t.co/tq6tk2OSUj 3/
Classical Rabbinic ideas varied widely. Merkabah Mystics did transcendental journeying for experience of the supernatural realm; Tzadokim denied the supernatural realm; the Mishnah (below) simply said don't go there. Jews always went There, but never settled on what "There" is.4/
Excellent thread by Rabbi Reuvane about the level (or lack thereof) of Jewish literacy amongst Progressive American Jews. It speaks directly to a conversation I was having yesterday with a congregant in his 20s. He recently started attending Chabad shiurim, and loves them. 1/10
He was baffled by his Jewish education topping out at the Babylonian and Roman exiles. He was enthralled with the lives of the early Rabbis, and how Jewish intellectual culture developed over the centuries. There was more than a little bit of anger at what he'd been deprived. 2/
I had the same experience when I did my MA in Hebrew Bible at JTS. I grew up very involved in my synagogue through high school, and went on the Alexander Muss program in Israel. I came out of all that not even knowing what the Mishna or the Talmud were, and I'm a good student. 3/
My honest appraisal is that most of our Progressive synagogues were created to be institutions that helped new Jewish immigrant families integrate into American culture, and we haven't shifted from that. My one quibble with @RabbiReuvane is with the de-assimilation piece. 4/
It's not about de-assimilation, but re-integration. Our institutions broadly accomplished the goal of helping folks like my Ashki great grandparents and their descendants gain access to mainstream acceptance just like other white European immigrant groups in America. 5/
Our community - American Jewish parents, schools, synagogues, & org\u2019s - have failed. We & our children are virtually all illiterate. I mean that literally. Most of us don\u2019t understand Hebrew or any Jewish language. We lack basic familiarity w/ our history & the Jewish bookshelf.
— Rabbi Reuvane (@RabbiReuvane) December 16, 2020
He was baffled by his Jewish education topping out at the Babylonian and Roman exiles. He was enthralled with the lives of the early Rabbis, and how Jewish intellectual culture developed over the centuries. There was more than a little bit of anger at what he'd been deprived. 2/
I had the same experience when I did my MA in Hebrew Bible at JTS. I grew up very involved in my synagogue through high school, and went on the Alexander Muss program in Israel. I came out of all that not even knowing what the Mishna or the Talmud were, and I'm a good student. 3/
My honest appraisal is that most of our Progressive synagogues were created to be institutions that helped new Jewish immigrant families integrate into American culture, and we haven't shifted from that. My one quibble with @RabbiReuvane is with the de-assimilation piece. 4/
It's not about de-assimilation, but re-integration. Our institutions broadly accomplished the goal of helping folks like my Ashki great grandparents and their descendants gain access to mainstream acceptance just like other white European immigrant groups in America. 5/