"Those reasons aren't because God will be mad with us, they are because God asked it of us."
This gets back to my core point, though: WHY would God ask it of us? To prove our faith? Because if God is asking us to do pointless things to prove our faith, I maintain my original thesis that we need a better class of God. Read more
C.A. Pinkham
Ubertrout
Conservative Jews are actually ok with Reform Jews. I never had a problem with them. You're thinking specifically of the Orthodox - and actually, Reform/Conservative Jews, when put together, make up a majority of the religion in general. Read more
That might be the case with Orthodox Jews, but it isn't my experience with Reform Jews. My father had to do some studying, but it was his choice, and it's not like they made him go through religious boot camp. The Temple we went to was very welcoming of his desire to convert from moment one.
There's a difference… Read more
Seriously, the last line was such a downer... Read more
Oh my God, that's perfect... Read more
Kinda sorta. The Orthodox work that way with regards to Israeli citizenship, but Conservative and Reform Jews are generally extremely welcoming of converts in all regards, and Reform Judaism in particular doesn't care which parent was Jewish.
It's not so much that your RELIGION is determined by birth as it is your… Read more
Not the first time I've see Israeli authorities be dicks to other Jews. I know someone who moved to Israel and married an Israeli, but they were assholes about him obtaining citizenship. For those of you who don't know: if you're Jewish by lineage, you're supposed to automatically have citizenship. I have… Read more
Burger King DELIVERS now?! I'm sorry, I stopped reading at that point, because you just made my year. Read more
Wait, when was Neil Grayston on Supernatural?! I love that little dude! Read more
I made a comment to the same effect that I wish I had known that going in. It does have an effect on the landscape; that explains why she didn't want to talk to her mother about it (because her mother is a rape victim blamey-type, at least according to her). At the same time, if you were really trying to avoid the… Read more
I think the reason it isn't able to establish that connection comes down to honesty. Complete honesty is difficult when you're writing; it's what makes pieces such as the essay by Mary HK Choi linked to on the main page so good - the author is completely, painfully honest about her relationship with her mother.
But… Read more
"Finally, if only you crapped out of your vagina — then this story could be called "Diamond in the Muff"."
You are a precious and wonderful snowflake, Laura. Read more
Heaps is, but there's two variants to "I reckon." One is Australian, the other is an American West/South thing (though now it's largely archaic). Read more
Well, now I feel like a dick. Also, the fact that your mom is a Fox News/Tea Party kind of person is something I wish we'd been able to see in the original article. Read more
I enjoy your use of the word "heaps" here because you probably use fewer colloquialisms than any Australian I've ever known (and I've known a fair few). I haven't once yet seen you say "can't be fucked," for instance. Read more
You're modifying your lifestyle by denying yourself something, though. It's the same principal as Lent. Read more
*sigh* Ok, let's start over.
Intellectually, I understand that not all Orthodox Jews are as snobby and awful as the shitheaded kids I went to school with. I do understand that. I haven't met any of them, but that's probably my own fault, because I've also spent the rest of my life deliberately avoiding Orthodox Jews… Read more
I never had a problem with any Conservative Jews I knew in Grade School. Actually, almost without exception, those were the kids I was friends with, mainly because they didn't look down on me for being Reform.
I'd love to hear more about how questioning the dietary laws led to you giving up eating meat altogether. :-) Read more
I don't think she's looking for doubt and skepticism, though. She says she is, but talk is cheap. Read more
I've really never understood the concept of self-denial as a way to become closer to God. I just can't see that connection. Read more