THREAD: On Jewish Atheism. People frequently ask whether you can be a Jew and be an atheist. When speaking to Jews about atheism, Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi would famously say “I don’t believe in the same God you don’t believe in.” This is the basis of my answer. 0/

Atheism as we think of it in common popular culture in America is primarily based on a Christian worldview. Atheism in this form is in contrast to Christian views of belief, belief in Christ being the integral key point to Christianity. This is not parallel in Judaism. 1/

In order to be an atheist in Judaism, you have to actively believe something very specific: The materiality of the world as we see it is definitely all there is, without any meaning or purpose. Arch materialists like this certainly exist, but I find them exceedingly rare. 2/

Throughout Jewish history the theology has been incredibly diverse. The idea of a man in the sky pulling the strings has not been prominent for over a millennium. Even Biblically it wasn't the norm. For great Biblical theology, check out this book: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/bodies-of-god-and-the-world-of-ancient-israel 3/

Classical Rabbinic ideas varied widely. Merkabah Mystics did transcendental journeying for experience of the supernatural realm; Tzadokim denied the supernatural realm; the Mishnah (below) simply said don't go there. Jews always went There, but never settled on what "There" is.4/

Since Saadia Gaon the Aristotelian (10th c) conception has been widely popular. The Kabbalists went towards something like neoplatonism. Spinoza (one of my favorites) was accused of atheism, but has a whole book of theology. Hasidim took Kabbalah to a pantheistic conclusion. 5/

Early Reformers (18th c) focused on talking about "the God idea" rather than God per se. More recently, R. Mordecai Kaplan denied God as supernatural, and defined God as the power which makes possible personal salvation, or "worthwhileness of life." https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/rabbi-mordecai-kaplan 6/

These examples are the tip of the iceberg. What it boils down to is that in order to be a Jewish atheist, there would be a denial of all mystery in the world. And, the Rabbis taught us that the Mystery doesn't decide our behavior. 7/

In his powerful book "Nothing Sacred," @rushkoff wrote: "By keeping God unnamable and unknowable, Jews could also keep this deity universal.” I agree, and therefore, atheism (a primarily Christian frame) isn't usually the issue. The actual issue is idol worship. 8/

Rather than atheism, idol worship is the banned theology of Judaism. Idol worship requires clearcut claims of direct and exclusive knowledge of what God (or a god) is. Being b'nei Yisrael is being the people that struggle with God- it is an active, ongoing, undefined process. 9/