Haven't really seen any Jewish people on the forum... but...

[Zulik]

I'm a new Testament Jew but that probably doesn't count in this thread.

Please explain a new testament Jew.

[Ekstasis]

Please explain a new testament Jew.

It's my own terminology. Will not find it on the interwebz I reckon.

[Zulik]

It's my own terminology. Will not find it on the interwebz I reckon.

Were you born Jewish?

[Ekstasis]

Were you born Jewish?

Nope, this is purely spiritual and in no way hereditary.

[Zulik]

Nope, this is purely spiritual and in no way hereditary.

Gotcha.

[AcidRaZor]

I wouldnt take AcidRazor too seriously

Guys, please note that the Z in my nick is capitalized. This makes me unique, mkaaay! And for what it's worth, at the time (as in now also) I needed the money (more back then than now). And I'm usually not very serious on these forums. So suck it

I'm a new Testament Jew but that probably doesn't count in this thread.

Why wouldn't it count? Would love to hear what makes you a New Testament Jew. There are some Jewish people who do believe in Jesus. Like I said, an open discussion and thus far I'm loving the mix of serious and non-serious posts in this thread. Makes me feel people have grown a bit more mature since I've last been in these parts of the forums

OP, are you proficient at martial arts?

Whahaahaha, I'm totally getting that t-shirt if I decide to convert. Also the one that says "I'm not a full blooded Jew, I'm Jew-ish"

Acid, I fear that you have a somewhat romanticized view of conversion, necessarily created by your need for acceptance and community. I feel that in any faith, there's a cost benefit. From my experience, orthodoxy of any sort tends toward legalism and fundamentalism. By this, i mean that some followers endure the sacrifice of ritualistic devotion, with the expectation of greater supernatural favour. It's a trade off.

For most adherents, however, faith is an insurance policy and a cultural label which gives you secondary social benefits in the current life.

I fear that you may end up trapped between the insincerity of nominal followers and your own sincerity, vs the supernatural motivations compelling the pious, which you may neither be privy to, nor be in full agreement with.

In all of this, I fear that you may not meet your need to be part of a larger social fabric which values personal sacrifice for the greater good. I also wonder whether a conversion experience is really necessary for these ends either.

You have a lot of fears dude. I'm in no way blinded by my own "romanticized view" of the faith or the conversion process. If I were I wouldn't have bothered asking for opinions on the matter. I agree that I could just live my life with the views I have now, but I also mentioned that I feel like there's something I've missed or am missing in my life.

I agree with you that some do sacrifice with ritualistic devotion as some kind of insurance policy for the afterlife, but this isn't subject to Judaism alone. Sure you get fundamentalists in any culture or religion, but they're the ones usually "missing the boat" entirely. I don't align myself with these people, as I said, I'm very tolerant and accepting towards all faiths, even those who choose to oppress or convict me for my own beliefs.

I'm not doing this to get into the "good graces" of God either. With this looming metaphorical anvil above my head going "If you do something wrong WE KILL YOU AND SEND YOU TO HELL". I'm thinking of doing this because it's the first time I've come across a faith that almost directly mirrors my own beliefs, and being a part of a community of like-minded people is appealing to me, because honestly, I've felt alone for so long in my life thinking I'm the weird one with the weird thoughts and the weird outlook on life and death.

If, what I've read thus far, is true and most people (not the fundamentalist/judging kind) accept me and live by the Torah and it's teachings, then I'm more inclined to push off into the entire process. I would even say, I look forward to it because it's not just a "Stand up in Church and you're accepted" scenario. It'll test my sincerity in wanting to become a Jew and proving that I'm ready to accept the faith, culture and traditions.

I know how it sounds, but to me it's more or a spiritual quest... not that I think I'm going to be persecuted for an eternity or that I suddenly want to go to heaven or need something to believe in, but one that I feel I need to try and follow to give me some kind of direction and purpose in life. Something that'll resonate in my own belief-system and not make me feel like I'm some kind of mistake and that I'm insignificant in any way.

Again, I know how THAT sounds. But I'm pretty level headed even though I can go off on a tangent and spew the most utter crap ever

[CoolBug]

Wow, I just realised that one of my colleagues is actually a Christian Jew, or should I say a Jewish Christian?

He came to a meeting all of a sudden wearing a Yamaha on his head, everyone was like huh wtf? No one else knew.

It's called a Masonic Jew or something along those lines.

They are Jewish but accept the fact that Jesus was the last Messiah.

He isn't adhering to the dietary regulations yet but he says it's a slow progression.

[abzo]

Wow, I just realised that one of my colleagues is actually a Christian Jew, or should I say a Jewish Christian?

He came to a meeting all of a sudden wearing a Yamaha on his head, everyone was like huh wtf?

Yeah i'd be like "huh wtf" too if someone came into a meeting with a motorbike on their head.

[Aqua_lung]

Yeah i'd be like "huh wtf" too if someone came into a meeting with a motorbike on their head.

[AcidRaZor]

lol, at least he had the spelling almost right. And yes, I realize there are many different branches of the Jewish faith (as with Christians)

I love "The life of Brian". If you haven't watched that Monty Python movie yet, DO IT. I laugh my ass off each time when this group of people chase (who they think is the messiah, but actually Brian) and when Brian tells them to f-off and throws a calabash at them, some pick it up and starts calling it the holy calabash. Then when he loses a sandal while running away, others pick it up and calls it the holy sandal and they start infighting with each other which is the true gift from Brian, the sandal or the calabash, and as they're chasing him splits up into two separate groups

****ing hilarious. Same with the "political" party they had going against the Romans. People's Front of Judea and the Judean People's Front. Both have the same goal, both hate and undermine each other.

*giggle* I'm going to watch that again later

[daveza]

The life of Brian - beyond satire, beyond genius.

Everyone on the planet should be forced to watch it.

[Ninja'd]

The life of Brian - beyond satire, beyond genius.

Everyone on the planet should be forced to watch it.

Could've done without the UFO scene.

[Aqua_lung]

lol, at least he had the spelling almost right. And yes, I realize there are many different branches of the Jewish faith (as with Christians)

I love "The life of Brian". If you haven't watched that Monty Python movie yet, DO IT. I laugh my ass off each time when this group of people chase (who they think is the messiah, but actually Brian) and when Brian tells them to f-off and throws a calabash at them, some pick it up and starts calling it the holy calabash. Then when he loses a sandal while running away, others pick it up and calls it the holy sandal and they start infighting with each other which is the true gift from Brian, the sandal or the calabash, and as they're chasing him splits up into two separate groups

****ing hilarious. Same with the "political" party they had going against the Romans. People's Front of Judea and the Judean People's Front. Both have the same goal, both hate and undermine each other.

*giggle* I'm going to watch that again later

Great movie! but Some Jews were offended by one scene and had it edited out before release.

[daveza]

AcidRazor, you're in luck -

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/201...sions-on-offer

Thousands of free circumcisions will be performed by non-profit HIV and Aids organisation Right to Care in the next year, the body said on Tuesday.

[copacetic]

How do you know that by not following ANY God, that you're on the right track?

You don't.

Dedicating your life, based on a faith induced 'what if' is no better than saying I don't know, therefore it is irrelevant to me.