I’m happy to be here! From browsing the forum, I see a lot of interesting topics.
I joined several weeks ago but I’m just now sitting down to write my introduction. Let me start by explaining where I’m coming from.
I was born a Jew (by lineage) but raised as an evangelical Christian. Growing up, I don’t think I ever understood Christianity. I always had endless theological questions and (true story) I was baptized 3 times because it never felt like my faith stuck. Not sure what I was expecting, but moving into adulthood I still felt lost and confused.
Through several different influences in my life, chief of which was marrying a Jewish girl, I became inspired to explore my Jewish roots. For several years I studied and learned on my own. I went through a seriously cynical stage where I toyed with atheism. But in the end, I decided to become a more active participant in mainstream Judaism.
I talked with several Rabbis and decided that, though I was already a Jew in rabbinic opinion, to undergo conversion. I thought it would be a tremendous benefit for someone not raised in Judaism, like myself. I recently completed my “conversion” and am honored and humbled to be a member of the tribe.
This brings me to today. I am very curious about many traditions. Not just within Judaism, but also Islam (I’ve had a group of Muslim friends that I used to hang out with), and I became fascinated by the Daoist texts during college (I had to translate several passages from the Dao DeJing for a degree program I was pursuing). I have a hunch that many (perhaps all) religious traditions are really saying the same things using different terms. Just a hunch…
Here are some things I believe (though I’ve changed my mind on these so many times, they will probably be different by tomorrow)
I believe in Gd, though not necessarily a personal, entity-type Gd (though I am open to that as well). I find the “Gd as ordering force in the universe” concept as described by Mordecai Kaplan to be very compelling.
I believe the Hebrew Scriptures are revealed truth, though not necessarily literal truth. I think the Bible is a spiritual book, not a science book.
I have no opinion on the afterlife. It would be nice if there was something after life on earth, but I’m content if there isn’t.
I think that about does it. Some more things about myself?
I am a geologist by trade, a US Military veteran, endlessly curious, and I love the outdoors.
I can’t wait to meet/learn a little bit from all of you!
I joined several weeks ago but I’m just now sitting down to write my introduction. Let me start by explaining where I’m coming from.
I was born a Jew (by lineage) but raised as an evangelical Christian. Growing up, I don’t think I ever understood Christianity. I always had endless theological questions and (true story) I was baptized 3 times because it never felt like my faith stuck. Not sure what I was expecting, but moving into adulthood I still felt lost and confused.
Through several different influences in my life, chief of which was marrying a Jewish girl, I became inspired to explore my Jewish roots. For several years I studied and learned on my own. I went through a seriously cynical stage where I toyed with atheism. But in the end, I decided to become a more active participant in mainstream Judaism.
I talked with several Rabbis and decided that, though I was already a Jew in rabbinic opinion, to undergo conversion. I thought it would be a tremendous benefit for someone not raised in Judaism, like myself. I recently completed my “conversion” and am honored and humbled to be a member of the tribe.
This brings me to today. I am very curious about many traditions. Not just within Judaism, but also Islam (I’ve had a group of Muslim friends that I used to hang out with), and I became fascinated by the Daoist texts during college (I had to translate several passages from the Dao DeJing for a degree program I was pursuing). I have a hunch that many (perhaps all) religious traditions are really saying the same things using different terms. Just a hunch…
Here are some things I believe (though I’ve changed my mind on these so many times, they will probably be different by tomorrow)
I believe in Gd, though not necessarily a personal, entity-type Gd (though I am open to that as well). I find the “Gd as ordering force in the universe” concept as described by Mordecai Kaplan to be very compelling.
I believe the Hebrew Scriptures are revealed truth, though not necessarily literal truth. I think the Bible is a spiritual book, not a science book.
I have no opinion on the afterlife. It would be nice if there was something after life on earth, but I’m content if there isn’t.
I think that about does it. Some more things about myself?
I am a geologist by trade, a US Military veteran, endlessly curious, and I love the outdoors.
I can’t wait to meet/learn a little bit from all of you!
