Can Atheists be Good Jews?

This originally appeared in the American Jewish World

Judaism and atheism - AJW article 2009.doc

Can atheists be good Jews?

My simple answer is no. Atheism is not only the belief that there are no gods but also that the belief in gods is wrong. I believe that true atheists are few and far between and that they would not be able to connect to Judaism because of the second part of their belief.

But, questioning the existence of God, agnosticism, does not conflict with Judaism. The name Israel means to have struggled with God. To be the Children of Israel connects us with a heritage of struggling not only with what God wants of us but also with the belief that there is God. Each generation has struggled with the relevancy of traditions and how to be good Jews while balancing input from society around us. The joy of Judaism is the nuances, the variety, and the potential for personalization of the communal responsibilities.

Jewish rituals and traditions are beautiful. As we practice them, we each find different interpretations and symbolism which makes them our own. For some of us the belief that the practices connect us to God is important. For others, connecting to our heritage and to our history is what’s important. While we may not be certain there is a God, connecting to our ancestors who were certain, allows us to continue our own questioning and our own struggle.

True Atheism believes there are no gods. They are done wrestling. Judaism is challenging. It challenges our spirit, our bodies and our minds. And by wrestling through the challenge, we grow; not only as Jews but as human beings as well.