Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Bumface
What's the main reason? I ask because every Jewish friend I have seemed to have a lot of family pressure to marry Jewish. This is like 3 data points, so I'm not claiming statistical significance.
They also explained to me that from a religion perspective, they aren't exactly looking for new recruits, and it's not a super paved path for a gentile to join up. I don't love me a door knocking evangelical by any means, and really appreciate the fact I've never had someone try push their Jewish faith on me. It does make me wonder if the fact many Christian and Muslim sects are trying to attract people of all walks of life breaks down the ethnic barrier aspect of things a bit within those groups.
To say it more succinctly, are there cultural and religious factors that led to the lack of mixing and staying on the periphery of society (or being straight up ostracized) in many countries?
|
I had no pressure at all to marry Jewish and many of my friends would probably say the same thing. Could be different with different families. I suppose the pressure can be due to what other groups have tried to take away from us, so that is a way to keep it all together. Pretty much the main reason we celebrate Jewish holidays yet are not religious at all. Someone took away that right or wants to take away the right, so watch me celebrate.
Judaism does not try to convert people, it is basically from birth (on the mother's side). Jews also don't have an afterlife like the other religions, so those other religions have had some pretty aggressive time periods of conversions and willingness to die for their cause (Jews don't have that feature). Lots of books on the subject if you are really interested.