I did not have time to fill out more information before, but my views go back very long ago, some into ancient Judaism, some to the Middle Ages.
I have mentioned in other threads how I have used Maimonides before as a main starting point, but obviously you don't tend to recall this, nor the name Spinoza, nor Enrich Fromm or Mordecai Kaplan, all of whom developed a body of teachings that changed Judaism drastically both religiously and in the secular form. These came before the "minimalists" you mentioned.
And I have repeatedly illustrated how Jews and Judaism hold to views on and within a spectrum upon which we constantly flow at will. A Jewish theist can and will embrace Humanistic (non-theist) views one moment and suddenly claim agnostic ones another, all the while preserving their place in the synagogue.
My views are a combination of all forms of Judaism, from the left to the right and everything in between. I may not adhere to it, personally, but I know it.
You, for some reason--I don't know why--have a need to fit me into some type of label that fits your understanding. You have got to let this go. Apples are not oranges. I don't expect you to understand Judaism.
I don't expect you to get me. But I do appreciate it if you stop trying to make me be something you think I am. You're not what I think you are. You are more than your posts. Guess what? So am I!
I come from a different culture that reads from right to left. We also don't "believe" or have "faith" or see the Bible like you keep thinking we do.
But my culture wrote it. You sound silly trying to tell me some of the things you do. You don't go around telling Japanese people how to understand Shinto writings or the Muslims how to read the Quran or Native Americans how to understand their religion and folklore. Why tell me, a Jew, what you do about our holy writ? Don't you think it should be the other way around? Can you even speak my native languages (plural) as well as I can? Then why are you talking to me like this?
At least give me a break, show some respect and stop trying to label me. You're smart. You can believe what you want. I don't care.
Now, reality check. You do have some "learning" yet to do when it comes to Jewish thought. You don't have me pegged at all. I can be pegged however. It's hard. Like I said, the book I recommend above does a pretty close job of it, but it may be mind-bending compared to what you showed me you are thinking about. (Biblical Minimalist--no. But why that?) So if you really want to label me, it will take a bit of investment. It may be a rabbit hole, however. It seems like a need from my end, but I could be wrong.
I am so tired to be honest at this point. There is little JW discussion left. It is all weirdness of people seeming to want to prove points. I have no use here anymore.
