Can you be a jew and an atheist at the same time ?

I’ve heard of Hillel and Maimonides, though I have never read them. I looked up Rashi and I’m surprised I never heard of him, or if I did in my long ago studies I’ve forgotten. I’ve got great respect for them. Still you’re going to have to find some quotes for me to believe that any of them would agree that a Jew does not have to believe in God.

Let’s just take what that Rabbi in the video said. He said that basically it’s not the laws of Judaism but the values of Judaism. Well, by his definition, I’m a Jew. All Christians are Jews. Everything he said applies to Christianity, Islam, and probably Buddhism. I was ready to concede that one could be an ethnic Jew and not believe in God, but he doesn’t even say that. He reduces it down to values. Well, that’s about as tangible as air. The first three of the Ten Commandments are about God. And if it reduces down to values, then circumcision isn’t a value, it’s a law. Do you think one can be a Jew without circumcising your male children? Not having idols before you, that’s not a value, that’s a law. Do you think one can be a Jew while having idols? Or observing the Sabbath: that’s not a value, that’s a law. None of those things make sense if you don’t believe in God. Can a Jew ignore Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18?

If you don't believe in God, why would a jew practice all the difficult laws defined by the Lord?

There was a point in my life I was a lapsed Catholic, and for even a short time I was even an atheist. It was a long time ago, so I can't recall how i described myself, but i would say I was an ethnic Catholic. But carefully, it was all meaningless fluff.

According to Jewish law, a child born to a Jewish mother or an adult who has converted to Judaism (meaning the Jewish People) is considered a Jew; one does not have to reaffirm their Jewishness or practice any of the laws of the Torah to be Jewish. According to Reform Judaism, a person is a Jew if they were born to either a Jewish mother or a Jewish father. While Judaism has a religious component, you don't have to believe in Gd or follow the Torah to be a Jew. Note all the 'secular' Jews living in Israel, the US, the world.

You said ... "Well, by his definition, I’m a Jew. All Christians are Jews". Were you born from a Jewish mother (or father) or converted into Judaism? That's the definition of a Jew.

Yes, one of the most important 'laws' of the Jewish People is not to worship other gods, not to make or worship idols. But if you are an athiest who doesn't worship any god or idol you are still considered a Jew. The first 3 commandments do not say you must believe in Gd, just that you must not worship other gods, not make idols, not profane Gds name.

No where in the 10 Commandments does it say "You must believe that there is Gd". There is no where else in the Torah a formulation that we would recognize as a Categorical, Theological Imperative. There is no detailed description of what a person is expected to believe in. A major difference between Judaism and Christianity is ... Judaism is not based on 'belief'. Christianity is based on 'belief' (belief that Jesus is the Messiah and you must believe in him to be a Christian).

You ask why would a Jew practice all the difficult laws if they didn't believe in Gd? They don't have to practice all those difficult laws and they don't have to believe in Gd.

Maybe it's difficult for a Christian to understand being a Jew w/o believing in Gd because they look at this subject from a Christian 'belief-oriented' perspective.

"According to Jewish law, a child born to a Jewish mother or an adult who has converted to Judaism (meaning the Jewish People) is considered a Jew; one does not have to reaffirm their Jewishness or practice any of the laws of the Torah to be Jewish."

Ok, if these are the sole criteria, then at what point does a generation stop being Jewish? If a daughter is born of a Jewish woman who doesn't follow Torah or even consider herself Jewish, then the daughter by that definition is Jewish. And if that daughter isn't even conscious of being Jewish, doesn't marry a Jewish man, are her children Jewish? Where in the lineage does she stop being Jewish? And if the answer is, it never does, then isn't that silly? I might be Jewish and not know it.

You're right, it's probably difficult as a Christian to see this, but then why do Jews follow all or any of the laws do it? It can't even be guilt, since they are free to do so.

"No where in the 10 Commandments does it say "You must believe that there is Gd". There is no where else in the Torah a formulation that we would recognize as a Categorical, Theological Imperative."

Yes, that may be true, but it is certainly implied. If Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac by God, and then God stopped him; if Moses through God freed the Isarelites from Egypt and established the Passover; if Moses received the Torah from God, and all these events and others are predicated on God as the lynchpin, how can one consider himself a Jew if he's an atheist? It has to be implied. Otherwise there's no identity.

Peace to you. I enjoyed this discussion.

Thank you for your kindness Raven. I understand the difficulties of faithfully observing the Judaic laws. My goodness I would say it’s impossible. I’ve been around Jews all my life. My wife is Jewish, though not observant. I like to say I’m Jewish on my wife’s side. ;) But even before my marriage, I grew up in Brooklyn and had Jewish friends; I went to Brooklyn College, which must have a majority Jewish enrollment; I worked part time while going to college in a supermarket in Boro Park, which has to be the heart of Hasidim, and in a supermarket you really get to know the neighborhood. And even now my neighborhood in Staten Island is very heavily Orthodox. I’m familiar. I can see where that rabbi in the video is trying to speak to Jews who are like my wife, who has a sense of belief, considers herself ethnically Jewish, and wants to have some tie to Judaism. He’s telling them what they want to hear.

I’m not saying that one can’t be a Jew if you don’t follow all 613 laws as outlined. The dietary laws are impossible, though I have a neighbor who’s Orthodox and they follow it. Judaism has divided between Reformed, Conservative, Orthodox, and others that are beyond my comprehension. I’m not criticizing any of those divisions. It wouldn’t be proper for me to. How one compromises with God and the law is up to individual conscience. But surely it’s all meaningless if one doesn’t at least believe in God. That’s basically my point. Without that it’s like a building with no support. It’ll collapse.

Take your time in responding. I’m grateful for a nice conversation.