Judaism Why do you love Judaism?

[James the Servant]

I think it is time that you told us a bit more about yourself and your Jewish education, both formal and informal.

The attitudes you have expressed in this thread and elsewhere on the forum are, how shall I put, unusual, and it would help to know where you are coming from.

Rabbi,

I have no formal Jewish education. I have taught myself everything I "know" informally. I consider myself an artist, a creative thinker. I think outside the box.

I started off as a Catholic, but around the age 24 I walked away and searched for deeper answers. I'm 29 now.

I became an atheist for a time, and learned how to think skeptically and rationally from them.

One day, I came across the book "The Singularity is Near" by Ray Kurzweil. After reading it, my view on life changed dramatically.

I noticed that there were some similarities between Singularitarianism and Judaism, as I have read the Tanakh in the past, especially Isaiah and Ezekiel. The idea of immortality was predicted 2500 years ago by the Jews and Zoroastrians. This fascinated me and made me want to dig deeper into Jewish thought.

So, although I cannot explain it logically, I feel there is something special about the Tanakh and the purpose of the sons of Israel. Again, this is just a feeling, and trying to quantify these feelings has proven a challenge for me, but I enjoy challenges.

I go by this verse:

"For thus says the LORD: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever."
Isaiah 56:4-5


I consider myself a foreigner who subscribes to Jewish thought. I have no proof that I am part of the family biologically.

Again, I feel that the sons of Israel (in particular Jews) are special because they have drastically changed the world (the spread of Judeo-chrisianity and ingenious Jews contributing to modern science, economics, and other fields).

I hope this clarifies things, sir.