Times like these make me thank my lucky star I'm a Jew.

That’s a six pointed star I take it?

Jews don't seek converts. They discourage them.

And the Jew-hating trash stampede here in 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . .

Or you know, you could just be an atheist and forget about all these toxic religions.

Yeah now I think about it, I could do that. I dont like ham bacon or pork anyway, am already cut, so its not like it would be a difficult transition for me as long as we arent going too Orthodox with all them eules

Sheol, Olam Habah, Gehinom aren't concepts of the afterlife in Jewish tradition, OP?

Theologically speaking, Jews don't "not have a belief in the afterlife"—they simply don't espouse to understand exactly what the afterlife consists of, unlike Christians. In a secular sense, most Jews are only "culturally" Jewish anyway; same with Catholics.

^ and don't forget abput gilgil.

Oops...gilgul

This is the most ridiculous post I've seen on DL. Of course there is an afterlife belief in Judaism. The World to Come, or "Olam ha Ba" is discussed constantly in the Talmud. Jews recite the Kaddish prayer for the dead for 11 months after the death to help the soul get through purgatory. OP is likely a Reform Jew who knows almost nothing about actual Judaism beyond not believing in Jesus, and eating bagels.

Jews are a national and cultural entity. There are 613 mitzvot (מצבות) that are required to be performed daily to insure a fair, cohesive and harmonious society. HaOlam Habah (העולם הבא) and gilgul nishemot (גלגול נשמות) are philosophical ideas and have zip to do with how Jews are required to navigate their daily lives.

Living a Jewish life deals with the here and now. Failure to do so, "punishment" as it were, is a society filled with discontent, disharmony and discord, a "Hell" on earth.

What happens after you die is completely irrelevant. You're dead. Who gives a fuck.

[quote] Jews recite the Kaddish prayer for the dead for 11 months after the death to help the soul get through purgatory.

Jews don't believe in purgatory. That's Xtian. Kaddish is said for 11 months because that's Jewish law. Why is yet another philosophical idea.

Are you recruiting?

I always find the concept of Jewishness being bestowed by the mother only... interesting. I’ve heard casual snobbery about someone not being a “real Jew” because their mother wasn’t.

R13 not op here but it raises so many questions about identity. Interestingly, I have heard people from non Jewish ethnic groups state the same general belief that a person of mixed lineage is essentially what their mother is. And of course mitochondrial DNA is indeed passed down through the mother. On the other hand, I recall a study being released a few years ago that we use more of the DNA from our fathers side. It's really a can of worms.

OP, I don’t need any cult, religion or imaginary man in the sky to know that this life is all we have — and I’m fine with that.

R14 In Islam and Xtianity, identity is patrilineal and the mother's identity is irrelevant. Jewish identity is matrilineal because you may not know who the father of the child is, but you'll always know who the mother is. The worst is having a Jewish father and Xtian/Muslim mother. No one wants to claim you.

Religious Jews believing in magic, spiritualism, mysticism, fortune telling, the after life and a host of other arcane and esoteric teachings. So what? Why are the secular Jews the loudest and most insistent of the bunch?

R17 because they like the superficial cultural currency that comes with being able to say that one is Jewish.