Rabbi says that it isn't necessary to believe to be a Jew...it is just necessary to practice. Seems that not everyone agrees with this.
I went to the kids’ Purim service today. As delightful and well-managed as it was, my wife was disturbed by a couple of things. I had to agree. One was the idea that Jews don't bow to anyone but G_d. She said, “That's isn't just Jews ... many people don't bow to anyone but G_d." And then she said, “Why is it emphasized that this is about Jews. Isn't it really about human beings.” Sometimes I get the impression that Jews are a super race beyond being human. This is just the idea that Hitler had of his super race (though different humans). Would I like my children to say, “I am a Jew,” or “I am a human being”? I think it would be the latter.
I think you have to place many religious constructs in historical context. When other cultures bowed to kings, etc (like Jews never bowed to a ruler). But mostly I think there is a lot of 'my people are better than your people' going on in every culture. Don't ask your inherited culture to be above that.
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