PRINCIPLES
OF HUMANISTIC JUDAISM
This is a supplemental page to
the innovative, new web site,
HATIKVAH
FOR SECULAR JEWS.
[The
following list of the Principles of ‘Humanistic Judaism’
are taken mainly from Wikipedia, but we will leave
you to do
your own, more complete searches.]
1.
A Jew is someone who identifies with the history, culture and future
of the Jewish people.
2.
Judaism is the historic culture of the Jewish people, and religion is
only one part of it.
3. People
posses the power and responsibility to shape their own lives
independent of any supernatural authority.
4.
Ethics and morality should serve human needs and choices should be
based upon consideration of the consequences of actions, rather than
pre-ordained rules and commandments.
5.
Jewish history, like all history is a purely human phenomenon.
Note that the history of the ideology becoming an organisation in recent times was largely influenced by Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine who established the ‘Jewish Humanistic Society’ in 1963. While they are Jewish people with common interests as Jews, they are ‘non-religious.’
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Some
notes about Secular Humanism, a non-religious philosophy.
To
understand this philosophy we submit some beliefs and definitions of
Secular Humanism:
“Knowledge is only by human
beings finding truth by reason and logic by observable
evidence.”
“Optimism. Humanism features an
optimistic attitude to other people’s capacity for good, but
does not believe human nature (of every person) is capable of living
up to the ideals of rationality and morality. They agree it requires
‘hard work’ and ‘the help of others’.”
Philosophy
– (Generally speaking), “That all life forms are
equal and have survived by evolution”. Some humanists (e.g.
Peter Singer) state that all species of life forms are equal, and it
is the -“ruthless exploitation of other sentient beings”
- that has caused the world’s great problems. In other words it
is human ‘sentient’ beings that are responsible for the
world’s disasters!
‘Sentient’ from
‘sensations’ means:
1)
the facility of sense perception.
2)
experiencing sensation or feeling.
[This is the only quality that supposedly unites all breathing creatures according to Secular Humanism. This web site would disagree with that statement – we believe Human beings were created superior.]
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Jewish
Humanism
Jewish Humanism is only one stream of a broad
category of ethical philosophies, which appeal to “universal
human qualities.” There are 3 large Humanistic Jewish
Organisations, with an estimated 50,000 members in 13 countries. The
‘New Age Philosophy’ – a form of secular humanism,
is a popular one for many Jews.
Polls in Israel show about 74%
of Jews identify themselves as ‘non-religious’ or
non-religious- cultural Jews, otherwise called ‘Secular or
Humanistic Jews’. As there are approximately 15 million Jews in
the world, it can be estimated that possibly 10 million of them,
would consider themselves to be ‘Secular Jews’.
[Please
be sure to read our special
‘NOTE’ at the end of this
page.]
Relationship
to Israel by non-resident Jews.
Among Jewish people a proportion are keen Israel
supporters, (‘Non-religious Zionists’) but there are a
proportion that are relatively unconcerned with Israel or Israeli
life.
In Israel there is growing support for movements like
‘Birth-right’ and Nefesh B’Nefesh - that seek to
encourage a more active awareness of Israel, even to encouraging
‘Aliya’ among young Jews, especially and more from
‘western nations. Generous financial help is offered to assist
this. [For meanings of Hebrew words click here.]
Of
the various Religious streams of Judaism, the Reform Movement is
more favourable to individuals making their own decisions, about life
and Jewish practice. Inter- marriage with non-Jews is more
acceptable. However more religious-practicing Jews are concerned
about this.
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MODERN
DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMANISTIC JEWISH TRENDS
‘Age
of Enlightenment’ included Jews – Mid 17th –
18th C. Books and discussion encouraged this.
‘Fiddler
on the Roof’ written 1895, – introduced some awareness of
the trends in the Play.
The Russian revolution – 1917 First
World War (WWI) – 1914 – 1918, possibly encouraged
changes to more open-minded thinking, but also doubts about long held
beliefs and convictions.
Book – ‘What is
Enlightenment’ by Immanuel Kant 1784 ‘ the freedom to use
one’s own intelligence’, became popular.
Organisations
for Secular Jews
‘Society
of Humanistic Judaism’
was founded by Rabbi Sherwin T Wine, 1963.
The Congress of Secular
Jewish organisations – ‘International Federation of
Humanistic Jews’ (3 Organisations combined.)
Founded 1986 – estimated membership = 50,000 in 13 countries.
They
have 5 Affirmations of Philosophy or beliefs – as given by
Society
for Humanistic Judaism.
Also
see ‘Branches of Judaism’ – available from here:
http://judaism.about.com/od/humanisticjudaism/Humanistic_Judaism.htm
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NOTE:
As the sponsors of the new website,
‘HATIKVAH4SECULARJEWS.COM’,
we have included these notes to show that we have done our research,
so as to understand the situation for such a large number of Jewish
people, called ‘Humanistic Jews’ ~ possibly some 10
million out of 15 million.
Also to offer, (as we have said),
alternative ideas, and facts that you may not have had the chance to
learn about. This is as honestly as we know how to say it ~ to
prepare Jewish people for the great global changes
that we believe from the Tanakh are coming soon to this world.
Sadly, many of these are not as good as they might seem after
investigation. Please see our website here.
We
have the opposite point of view to many Christians and even New Age
people, for ISRAEL. This is ~ that while the WORLD will have a bad
time, it will be ISRAEL’S time to have amazing blessing
and success and real peace in their own land of Eretz Israel. Just
image that!
Here
is a verse from the Tanakh for ISRAEL ~ for you to think about what
it might mean:
“Arise,
shine! For your Light has come, and the glory [Shekinah] of ADONAI
rises on you. See darkness covers, [the rest of] the Earth and
thick darkness is over the Peoples. But ADONAI rises upon you, and
His glory appears over you.”
This is from Isaiah/ Yesha-yahu chapter 60: 1 – 3, in the Tanakh/ O.T. but we would like you to read this wonderful chapter for yourself and go over every word carefully! You will be blessed! The Tanakh offers far better concepts, and philosophies for true Jewish people!
Now
we invite you to return to our Home
page
and look at articles numbered 1, 2 and 3.