Comments on: From Jew to Feminist to Atheist http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/09/from-jew-to-feminist-to-atheist/ Atheism with Positivity Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:52:58 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Alyssa http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/09/from-jew-to-feminist-to-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-219846 Alyssa Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:55:25 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/09/from-jew-to-feminist-to-atheist/#comment-219846 No. Other (orthodox) synagogues I was exposed to through friends, family and the Jewish community I grew up in did, however. No. Other (orthodox) synagogues I was exposed to through friends, family and the Jewish community I grew up in did, however.

]]> By: cipher http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/09/from-jew-to-feminist-to-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-219782 cipher Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:40:43 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/09/from-jew-to-feminist-to-atheist/#comment-219782 Alyssa, You went to a Reconstructionist synagogue - and they had a womens' section? Alyssa,

You went to a Reconstructionist synagogue – and they had a womens’ section?

]]> By: Alyssa http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/09/from-jew-to-feminist-to-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-219625 Alyssa Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:12:57 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/09/from-jew-to-feminist-to-atheist/#comment-219625 Milena is right, the piece wasn't meant as a complaint. Rather, it was an attempt to share how I became an atheist and the role feminism played in that transition. The congregation I personally attended was reconstructionist and it was very progressive, but I was exposed to many other branches of Judaism as well, including modern orthodox, ultra orthodox, and conservative. It was this exposure that really got me thinking about the patriarchy in religion. From there, I started to read more about the other negative aspects of organized religion and then finally started to question my faith in god. Feminism was merely the gateway to that intellectual process. Milena is right, the piece wasn’t meant as a complaint. Rather, it was an attempt to share how I became an atheist and the role feminism played in that transition.

The congregation I personally attended was reconstructionist and it was very progressive, but I was exposed to many other branches of Judaism as well, including modern orthodox, ultra orthodox, and conservative. It was this exposure that really got me thinking about the patriarchy in religion. From there, I started to read more about the other negative aspects of organized religion and then finally started to question my faith in god. Feminism was merely the gateway to that intellectual process.

]]> By: Milena http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/09/from-jew-to-feminist-to-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-219404 Milena Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:24:40 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/09/from-jew-to-feminist-to-atheist/#comment-219404 She wasn't exactly complaining, but rather exposing her own experience of coming to atheism through feminism. She wasn’t exactly complaining, but rather exposing her own experience of coming to atheism through feminism.

]]> By: cipher http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/09/from-jew-to-feminist-to-atheist/comment-page-1/#comment-219097 cipher Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:00:29 +0000 http://friendlyatheist.com/2008/08/09/from-jew-to-feminist-to-atheist/#comment-219097 Alyssa describes her upbringing as progressive, but tells us that she went to a private religious school and that her synagogue was gender-segregated. This indicates that she grew up Modern Orthodox, as opposed to ultra-Orthodox (the black hat crowd; they actually prefer the term "Chareidi" - "those who tremble"). Doesn't really sound to me as though she experienced all that much discrimination. They allowed her to lead morning prayer services at her school. She was able to purchase tefillin, wear them in the presence of others - in the black hat world, she would have been ostracized at best, beaten up at worst. Come back when you actually have something to complain about. The commenters as well - "I'm a feminist atheist!" "<em>I'M</em> a feminist atheist!" I'm Spartacus! Alyssa describes her upbringing as progressive, but tells us that she went to a private religious school and that her synagogue was gender-segregated. This indicates that she grew up Modern Orthodox, as opposed to ultra-Orthodox (the black hat crowd; they actually prefer the term “Chareidi” – “those who tremble”). Doesn’t really sound to me as though she experienced all that much discrimination. They allowed her to lead morning prayer services at her school. She was able to purchase tefillin, wear them in the presence of others – in the black hat world, she would have been ostracized at best, beaten up at worst. Come back when you actually have something to complain about.

The commenters as well – “I’m a feminist atheist!” “I’M a feminist atheist!” I’m Spartacus!

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