Do you believe in God?

Answer: Humanistic Jews believe that people have the power and responsibility to shape our own lives independent of supernatural authority. Beyond this, personal belief is a private matter.

Is it possible to be spiritual when one is a Secular Humanist?

Answer: Yes. Humanistic Judaism espouses natural spirituality such as the feeling one gets when exposed to something of overwhelming beauty and strength. We do not believe that there is a supernatural, spiritual world.

Do you believe there is life after death?

Answer: Humanistic Judaism focuses on life before death. We concern ourselves with things on this earth and in our time.

How can we believe in people after all of the terrible things that people do?

Answer: Human beings have the capacity to choose right and wrong. There are good and bad people in all religious and ethnic groups.

How can we accept science after all the terrible things that science has done?

Answer:  “Science” has done nothing. It is a tool that people use to prove or disprove certain hypotheses. Humans can use science for good or for the detriment of humanity.

Should we take away a support system that is so important to so many people?

Answer: Humanistic Judaism is not for everyone. It is available to those who want a close connection to Judaism but feel the need for a system of belief that does not rely on supernatural intervention as an answer to life’s challenges.  

What does it mean to be rational?

Answer: Rational means having the ability to reason. Reason depends on good judgment, logic, sound sense, and fact for its occurrence. Fact relies on evidence.  

How can you have ethics without God?

Answer: Ethics are principles of right or good conduct and are specific moral choices made by individuals. They are not supernatural or divinely ordained behaviors and therefore are unrelated to any gods.

Why should I be good if I will not be rewarded or punished?

Answer: Humanistic Jews look at experiences in terms of consequences and the satisfaction of human needs like survival, pleasure, and dignity.

Why should I be concerned with the welfare of others?

Answer: By helping others you serve the basic need in yourself to share and to be generous.  

What do you mean be the separation of religion and government?

Answer: All people have the fundamental right to freely determine the course of their own lives and to control the use of their own bodies, and each person must accept the responsibility that goes along with this freedom.

Who is a Jew?

Answer: A Jew is anyone born to a Jewish parent or who identifies with the Jewish people, culture, history and future.  We welcome anyone who wants to be part of the Jewish family.

Can non-Jews be converted to Secular Humanistic Judaism?

Answer: To become Jewish means, from our point of view, that you wish to be identified with and tie your future to the Jewish people.  We do not require conversion.

How are we related to the rest of Judaism?

Answer: We are the fifth branch of Judaism. The others are Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionism.

What do you do about the holidays / life cycles?

Answer: Humanistic Jews have the same life cycle events that our ancestors had and share many of the same experiences. We have re-interpreted life cycle events to emphasize personal autonomy and a naturalist perspective.

Would I be allowed to wear a kippah (tallis, tefillin) at your service?

Answer: Humanistic Jews respect other points of view. We emphasize personal autonomy and the right to choose our lifestyle so long as we do not harm others.  If wearing certain traditional garb brings you comfort or linkage, that is fine.  

Why be a Secular Humanist Jew? Isn’t there too much separation already?

Answer: There has never been just one response to Judaism.  The very diversity of Jewish thought has kept it vital, in step with the times, and relevant to each age. Humanistic Judaism is another way to express Judaism.

For more information on Humanistic Judaism see (philosophy) and Society for Humanistic Judaism website.