If we are close, you probably remember my hardcore atheist phase. If we aren't, well, there you go. Around sophomore year of high school, I found it important to express my views to everyone on Facebook. It's a bit ironic considering I'm still doing that, but hey, at least, it's to a lesser extent.
My phase included exploring the likes of Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Daniel Dennet, all of whom have made advances in the widely growing "unaffiliated" movement. Even through this, watching countless debates on YouTube, and reading "The Portable Atheist", I came out of my phase unchanged in terms of how I identify. I am still Jewish.
A question I have been asked before is, "How can you not believe in God and be Jewish at the same time?" It's a perfectly reasonable thing to ask, being that the foundation of most religions is a belief in God.
I was raised in a reform Jewish synagogue. Reform Jews tend to be accepting of gay marriage, pro-choice, and ultimately, very progressive. It has also been established that to be a member of a reform congregation, one does not have the obligation to believe in God. That's for people like me who still celebrate holidays, go to high holiday services, and of course, keep in touch with the friends I've made at Hebrew school over the years.
But, that doesn't answer the question of why I am still Jewish.
Simply put, it keeps me closer to my family. An argument that many atheists make is that "You are born into your religion, so it really isn't your religion." More or less, they are saying you don't have a choice. When it comes down to it, this is fundamentally true. I didn't choose to be Jewish. My parents were both of the faith and they sent me to religious school (almost by force I may add). Even though I used to back this argument, I have realized it does not hold true for me specifically.
I am actually happy that I was born into the reform Jewish movement. It is the most accepting, progressive, and in my biased opinion, open, of all the branches of Judaism. So yes, I was born into it, but I'm glad I was.
Realistically, every religion should have a branch that allows non-believers to participate. Of millennials born from 1981-89, 34 percent are unaffiliated, and the number grows to 36 percent among millennials born from 1990-96, according to the Pew Research Foundation. This is neither a good nor bad thing, it's just a change, but it is a change that needs to be addressed.
I am certain that there are others out there who share my beliefs of Secular Judaism. I would never deny that religion is an extremely important aspect of history, that would be a lie. I will deny, though, that Judaism will play an important role in my life forever. In fact, I am almost certain that I will not attend services on Yom Kippur, the most somber day on the Jewish calendar. I will, though, let my child decide if he or she wants to attend religious school or not. Of course, I would love for my children to be Jewish, but forcing them to be Jewish goes against everything I believe in.
