The only “real” first-hand experience I have with the Jewish culture/religion is with my sister’s boyfriend (of 8 years). He fulfills ALL of the expectations of the Jewish culture (Russian Jew). He’s highly educated, attended Jewish schools, lives in a Jewish community in Chicago, is a dentist, is frugal with his money, etc." But, from a religious standpoint, he simply isn’t all that religious. We’ve had some interesting discussions with him during holidays, etc. We’re a CHristian family, and found it interesting that as a Jew, he wasn’t taught anything about Jesus … the name is rarely if ever mentioned in his upbringing and schooling. We’ve shared ideas without trying to force it on him.
It would appear (and I am only basing this on observation and discussion), that being “Jewish” is very important to him, from a cultural and societal standing, with him … but the religious aspect isn’t a big focus with him. The differences in culture have been a major obstacle with he and my sister getting married (Simply, his parents, specifically a dominant mother, demand he marries a Jewish girl). He has wishes that his children (when/if they have them) attend Jewish schools, and are brought up the traditional Jewish culture way … but doesn’t seem pre-occupied with the religious aspects and traditions.
I find it very interesting, and I find him to be the type of guy an older brother would want his sister to marry. It was sort of surprising to me that people could be so involved in the Jewish aspect of things, but not the religion part, as I was always under the impression that the two were inseperable and intertwined significantly.
Ironically, he celebrates Christmas with us (more of an American culture thing, not in a religious way), but does not celebrate Hannakuh, nor does he attend Temple or anything related.
Ken, I have always viewed Dawkins as a “military atheist” in that he goes full throttle against religious people with the “mentally inferior” type of sentiments … and I admit that bothers me (not in an angry way). I also understand where Dawkins comes from with his passion because he has routinely been ambushed, intentionally misquoted, and “set up” by the ID crowd and those that try to equate religion with science in terms of the creation v. evolution debate. In short, creationists haven’t displayed very “Christian” behaviors when dealing with Dawkins and he seems pretty jaded by his experiences with them. In short, he doesn’t view religious people very highly or as being very moral people. Simply put, I get the feeling he views many of them (perhaps all) as being hypocrits that say one thing, but live another.
I notice that you have quoted him a few times, and wonder (from a personal interest standpoint) if you feel that his views are interesting to you and if they represent your own views in any way? (If you would rather answer this in a PM, feel free … I don’t want to create the perception that I am calling you out in any way, and I would hope that you would know that). Also, have you read any of his books? I have been meaning to read his “The Blind Watchmaker” and “The Selfish Gene”, but have yet got around to it. He, more than any other “atheistic” writer, seems to mix his philosophy and science (at least in his books, not his scientific papers) in a way where it could be hard for a neophyte reader (to the subject) to determine what is “science” and what is “philosophy”. That used to bother me, but once I understood that he is presenting his own views and conclusions in his books, doesn’t trouble me any more.
At the very least, I find him to be an interesting guy. Certainly, I don’t agree with many of his comments, but I also find him to be thought-provoking. He’s one of those guys that you hear or read his writings and you are compelled to feel something. You can’t ignore him or hand-wave him aside … I guess that’s what I am getting at.