Jayjay

It just occurred to me that I can't remember a single religious Jew posting here at IIDB. It's quite possible that this is something I've missed because I haven't been paying attention, but on the other hand I do recall seeing muslims, pagans, buddhists and pretty much all brands of christianity. So where are all the representatives of Judaism? And if there really aren't any, is there a reason for their absence?

Shadowy Man

Do Jewish atheists count?

If so, there are a few here.

Jayjay

Nope. Just like I wouldn't count myself as an atheist Lutheran.

EDIT: Also, I know there are some ex-religious Jews, so those don't count either. The real mystery for me is the (perceived?) absence of religiously motivated Jewish debators.

MortalWombat

Is part of it because Jews generally don't make it a point to try to convert people?

Jayjay

Probably. But also, I'd expect religious Jews to counter christian arguments and contribute that way.

Toto

Religious Jews who counter Christians are referred to as anti-missionaries. They are only interested in countering the Christian arguments when they are made as an attempt to convert Jews to Christianity, not as a general debating point.

In any case, the Christian arguments on this board are pretty pathetic and don't seem to have converted any infidels.

MortalWombat

That doesn't stop them from trying.

Heathen Dawn

Religious Jews don't missionise to the Gentiles, except for the Habad loonies with their "Noahide Laws" propaganda. They do missionise to secular Jews to make them observant of the Torah. Yours truly was a victim of such missionising for two years. Yes, I was "on fire for HaShem" in the years 1997-9 - a true fundamentalist, tephillin-donning, synagogue-going, young-earth creationist Orthodox Jew.

Magus55

Well one reason is Jews are a very small minority in the world. You're less likely to find Jews because for every 1 Jew, there are a few thousand Christians. And even though no one here accepts it ( as if I care), I am a Jew and always will be. I just don't follow Orthodox practices.

architect

I, too, describe my self, and think of myself as being Jewish. Though, I don't believe in God and I think the bible is no more true than the greek mythologies.

I know quite a few Jews that also think of themselves as spiritually atheists but culturally Jewish. There is a branch of Judaism, Humanistic Judaism, that purports no supernatural beliefs.