aibu- to think we re not that religious?

[scrummummy]

we are Jewish. we are liberal Jews. we don't keep completely kosher. no pork or shellfish but occasional cheeseburger.
anyway everyone I speak to thinks I'm/we're really religious. we celebrate shabbat we dont do no lights off/ no cooking on shabbat we have 5 min singing/ prayers lighting candles then eat. every Saturday we go to synagogue ( kids go to cheder/ Saturday school). we go to every holiday eg rosh hashanah next Thursday, so kids take a day off school. Am I mad to think we aren't that religious or not ? brought up orthodox so this is not for me

Sounds pretty religious to me.

I'm an atheist, but a lot of people in this country identify as Christian but don't go to church or observe the Sabbath.

Who is 'everyone' in this context, though? Other Jews? Nominal Christians who do church for weddings and funerals only?

Are there degrees of religion? Surely you follow a faith or you don't?

To me, you sound fairly average, but then having strict orthodox parents clouded my view slightly

My Mum self-identifies as C of E but never goes to church or prays - i'd call her 'not religious'.

Worshipping every week (whether Friday as a Muslim, Saturday as a Jew or Sunday as a Christian); keeping some dietary laws and sending the kids to religious classes counts as very religious IMO.

Pretty fanatical if you ask me.

Sounds pretty similar to what I experienced growing up in a practicing RC family, I'm an atheist now so it sounds pretty devout now!

But I think that most people in the UK are only really culturally CofE and, apart from weddings & funerals, feel they are doing well I'd they go to church at Xmas and Easter.

They very fact you identify with being Jewish in itself means yes you are reilgious

What's wrong with a cheesburger? Is that forbidden in Judaism?

I don't go to church, I guess I'm a christian because I was christened as a baby, but to be honest I don't follow any religion.

I find it really quite weird hypocritical when people claim to be of a certain religion but only follow the bits of it that they can be arsed with.

Sorry I didn't answer the question.

No, you're not that religious.

Sounds pretty religious.. but I guess how religious you are ultimately comes down to what you believe.

I know friends who say they are christian but never go to church, some really believe in god but hate the religious aspect of Christianity.
I know others who don't believe in God but go to church, celebrate Christmas, Easter, Lent etc in ways a christian would.. but are doing it for the tradition, not the religion.

dalmatian
that's what I mean its tradition from dh side plus prayers from mine.

It sounds as though you are following tradition in a very healthy and integrated way. My DF was Jewish but married out ( a goyl - is that the right spelling?) And followed no faith - neither did my mother I always thought it rather sad.

We go to church on Sundays and are involved in our Christian community. I like it. I hope you like yours.

And to whoever said it if you are Jewish; you are jhewish whether you follow the faith or not; I shall always be a little bit Jewish because it's in my blood if not my sirituality.

I think that there is a confusion between Judaism as a religion and as a culture, I have heard of many Jews who identify themselves as Jewish and keep Jewish traditions but don't consider themselves religious. And that doesn't really happen in Christianity - obviously many non-Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter, but not as religious festivals (so they wouldn't go to church).

I'm not Jewish but I understand from friends/colleagues that the cheeseburger issue is that meat and dairy should not be eaten together.

I'm also atheist so would consider your lives to be very religious. Does it matter either way so long as it's fulfilling for you and your family?