Jewish atheism

[11][12] The Jewish philosopher Howard Wettstein has advanced a non-metaphysical approach to religious commitment, according to which metaphysical theism-atheism is not the issue.

[13] Harold Schulweis, a Conservative rabbi trained in the Reconstructionist tradition, has argued that Jewish theology should move from a focus on God to an emphasis on "godliness".

This "predicate theology", while continuing to use theistic language, makes few metaphysical claims that non-believers would find objectionable.

A high proportion of Israeli Jews consider themselves secular, rejecting some religious practices (see Religion in Israel).

While some non-believers of Jewish ancestry do not consider themselves Jews, preferring to define themselves solely as atheists, others believe Judaism is a culture and tradition that can be embraced without religious faith.

[17][18] In the documentary series Еврейское счастье (Jewish Happiness), alongside exploring other aspects, the question "Who is a Jew?"

Specifically, it provides the opportunity to spend a whole day communicating with one's children, free from pervasive modern issues like phubbing and FOMO.

[19] Some Jewish atheists are active in secular and humanist movements that advocate separation of church and state, human rights, and a scientific worldview.

[20][21] Famous atheist or agnostic Jews include Albert Einstein, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud.

Marx was born into an ethnically Jewish family but raised as a Lutheran, and is among the most notable and influential atheist thinkers of modern history; he developed dialectical and historical materialism, which became the basis for his critique of capitalism and theories of scientific socialism.

But careful application of these concepts can shed light on the unique perspectives of Jewish atheists who still value their cultural heritage.

[citation needed] Ayn Rand, a Russia-born American philosopher of Jewish descent, was a staunch atheist and considered atheism an integral part of her philosophy of objectivism.

[43][44][45] Confirming the diverse history of Jewish atheism, reflecting a wide range of views and approaches to faith and identity, a blog entry by Vladimir Minkov on the Times of Israel portal notes that a significant portion of modern U.S. Jews identify themselves as atheists or agnostics.