The Atheist Jew

One of the arguments I’ve encountered from people who don’t believe in the legitimacy of the state of Israel is that “Jews are a religion, not a people.”

I met a man the other day who called himself an “Atheist Jew.”

Given your understanding of belief in God as the central tenet of the Jewish religion, does that make sense?

Is there such a thing as an Atheist Christian or an Atheist Muslim?

Can you deny Christ’s existence or Allah’s existence and still be a believer in the religion?

I don’t believe you can.

However, for Jews, it works.

Why?

Because Jews are, first and foremost a People.

It’s a people that has a genetic lineage going back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (aka “the Patriarchs.)

Now, the Jewish People have a religion that is at the core and a Land that is at the core, but, as you can see, you need not be an adherent of the religion (or a dweller in the Land) to be a member of the People (or, in the vernacular, “the tribe.”)

However, for those who want the full People experience, the religion and the Land are integral parts (at least, in my opinion).

Of course, as they say “2 Jews, 3 opinions.”

Originally posted on my blog:? https://mirror.xyz/0x7201079Be2BDD71CbE9B999373752E731139fe33/j_qGfHBTkUakYnKk_zplEml3uASG2c3PtP90lcqQJWs