tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1608061228567966670.post7477249673313881393..comments2023-06-17T01:07:34.844-07:00Comments on Jewess on the Move: TinkeringJewmanistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05868500104382636918noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1608061228567966670.post-79490461420141643532012-01-11T08:55:27.459-08:002012-01-11T08:55:27.459-08:00Hello Wandering Jewess and welcome to the Jewish b...Hello Wandering Jewess and welcome to the Jewish blogosphere! I love your quest and questions. <br /><br />The answers may not be as far away as you think. At least in my synagogue, the rabbis have firmly defined Reform Judaism as a "big tent" kind of Judaism that is distinguished by its willingness to welcome a variety of beliefs about God and ritual. That would include atheists like you (and me). <br /><br />I suppose a lot depends on the rabbinic leadership at your particular Reform shul and the tone they set. <br /><br />I am taking part for the first time in an annual project where the sisterhood writes its own Friday night service -- write personal versions of all the prayers. I wrote a version of the Ma'ariv that does not mention the word God. Everyone in the group loved it! It was spiritual without being God-centric. I don't think anyone even noticed that I left out the G-word.<br /><br />My husband and I attended a Humanistic Judaism Bat Mitzvah a few years ago, and while we appreciated the effort to re-write the prayers in a more modern and meaningful fashion, it was too weird to leave out Torah completely. <br /><br />Personally, I don't mind saying the word "God" in prayers. I substitute in my own definition of "miracle of the universe" so I am not saying God is holy, I am saying life and the universe are holy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com