Top Document: soc.culture.jewish FAQ: Reform Judaism (10/12) Previous Document: Question 18.4.5: Fallacy: Intermarried couples have exactly the same rights as non-intermarried couples in Reform Congregations Next Document: Question 18.4.7: Fallacy: There are no 3rd or 4th generation Reform Jews See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge Answer: Individual beliefs of Rabbis and congregations are personal, and not subject to scrutiny by the movement. However, there has been a case where a congregation was refused membership in UAHC because they removed all references to G-d from their liturgy, and refused to allow prayers mentioning G-d to be said in their santuary. Note that there are rabbis and laypeople in all of the Jewish denominations who go through a crisis of faith, have uncertainties about the nature of G-d, or who are agnostic or atheist. Faith can not be forced. An atheist or agnostic is not someone who thinks "There really is a G-d, but I shall not admit it". Rather an atheist or agnostic is someone who thinks "I see no evidence for G-d's existence, and am certain (or fairly sure) that G-d does not exist." By definition, one can never force someone to change their beliefs; that can only come about from something internal to that person. Does Judaism demand that such a person be considered as if they are in contempt of Judaism? No. They are only held accountable for their actions, for while beliefs are not a matter of choice, actions are. The Talmud of the Land of Israel (Talmud Yerushalmi) posits that G-d says about them "Would they were to forsake Me, providing that they keep My law, for as a result of occupying themselves with it, its light will bring them back to the right path" (Tractate Hagigah 1:7, 76c). User Contributions:Top Document: soc.culture.jewish FAQ: Reform Judaism (10/12) Previous Document: Question 18.4.5: Fallacy: Intermarried couples have exactly the same rights as non-intermarried couples in Reform Congregations Next Document: Question 18.4.7: Fallacy: There are no 3rd or 4th generation Reform Jews Single Page [ Usenet FAQs | Web FAQs | Documents | RFC Index ] Send corrections/additions to the FAQ Maintainer: SCJ FAQ Maintainer <maintainer@scjfaq.org>
Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
|
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: