Being less religious means less Jewish

[Leo613]

What has being less religious to do with being less Jewish?

It seems in the Jewish community if someone is less religious they are considered less Jewish.

Are we trying to score points with God?

Or trying to impress our friends?

 

[Kori]

Just a form of control. Peer pressure. Whatever. Religion is not something one can really speak for in the name of another. I do not care if someone says I am not Norse enough. That is not their decision.

 

[Tarheeler]

It seems in the Jewish community if someone is less religious they are considered less Jewish.

I've not seen this in the Jewish community. How religious you may or may not be has no impact on whether or not you're Jewish.

No one is "more" or "less" Jewish; you either are or you aren't.
You can be "more" or "less" observant or practice Judaism "more" or "less", but that isn't the same thing.

 

[LuisDantas]

Just a blind guess, but isn't it possible that some people (particularly among Orthodox Jews) are to some degree or another hoping that more Jews become more dedicated to religious practice simply because they value the consequences of that practice?

Not necessarily the alleged metaphysical benefits even, but the more directly observable ones such as the community bonding, mutual communication and establishment of common language, concepts and routine?

It seems to me that it is possible to reasonably hope for such things. Of course, they are not necessarily the best direction for the Jewish community to pursue, but it is not altogether unexplainable nor illogical at face value.

 

[rosends]

What has being less religious to do with being less Jewish?

It seems in the Jewish community if someone is less religious they are considered less Jewish.

I have never seen this or heard of it. Either someone is or is not Jewish. There is no "more" or "less" Jewish.

 

[Poisonshady313]

What has being less religious to do with being less Jewish?

It seems in the Jewish community if someone is less religious they are considered less Jewish.

Are we trying to score points with God?

Or trying to impress our friends?

This is absolutely false.

I'm not particularly observant. When I was a child, and I told my ultra-Orthodox friend that I wasn't "as Jewish as you are", he told me "there's no such thing as more Jewish or less Jewish. We are both Jews."

 

[Leo613]

I have never seen this or heard of it. Either someone is or is not Jewish. There is no "more" or "less" Jewish.

They look down on people who are less religious.

 

[Leo613]

This is absolutely false.

I'm not particularly observant. When I was a child, and I told my ultra-Orthodox friend that I wasn't "as Jewish as you are", he told me "there's no such thing as more Jewish or less Jewish. We are both Jews."

They look down on people who are less religious.

 

[rosends]

They look down on people who are less religious.

I don't know who "they" are or what you mean by "look down" but that is miles away from your initial assertion.