Judaism Beyond God (Library of Secular Humanistic Judaism) [Hardcover]

Sherwin Wine (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 289 pages
• Publisher: Ktav Pub Inc; First Edition edition (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881255181
• ISBN-13: 978-0881255188
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,003,024 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rabbi Sherwin Wine was the founder of Humanistic Judaism, a fifth alternative in Jewish life. Founding rabbi of the Birmingham Temple in Farmington Hills, Michigan (the first congregation Humanistic Judaism), he was also instrumental in the organization of the Society for Humanistic Judaism in 1969, the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in 1985, and the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews in 1986. Sherwin Wine was a modern-day Renaissance man whose interests ranged far and wide, leading him to found the Center for New Thinking in 1977, where he was primary lecturer for 30 years.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must read" for every atheist jew, November 16, 2000

By 

Sidney Schneider (Vancouver, BC Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Judaism Beyond God (Library of Secular Humanistic Judaism) (Hardcover)

This is a MUST READ for any jew who questions her/his role or identity as a jew in a world where creationism is indexed under 'mythology' (or should be). The old rabbinic explanations of "who is a jew" are replaced by simpler, believable secular-humanist definitions. For those jews who are confirmed atheists, you are not alone. Now there is a philosophy behind how one can be both an atheist and a jew, without a hint of hypocrisy. This book is not found in the catalogs of the my local Public Library (Vancouver), which in my opinion says much for the strength of the religious lobby in community education. If the philosophy of this book was made known to all jews then I believe jewish identity will be carried proudly by all jews, secular as well as religious, through the coming generations.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Future of Judaism, July 20, 2008

By 

John Brodsky (Swarthmore pa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Judaism Beyond God (Library of Secular Humanistic Judaism) (Hardcover)

Judaism Beyond God - Sherwin Wine

A the oldest of the three major monotheisms, it can be expected that Judaism would be in the forefront of the move toward agnostic secularism and the recognition that the major philosophical question - "Why is there something instead of nothing?" - cannot be answered. Wine follows in the footsteps of Russell, who, in his 1927 talk before the South London Branch of the National Secular Society, stated "Why I Am Not a Christian." Wine differs by emphasizing a cultural identification; saying that a Jew is someone who identifies with the history and the fate of the Jewish People. Russell by contrast emphasizes core beliefs. As a rabbi with a rich personal connection to his cultural roots, Wine is not willing to advance the march of progressive cicvilization away from tribalism and advocate for the disappearence of group markers as a step toward a more inclusive humanism; but his argument obviously accepts this possibility.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars You need to be an atheist and a jew, December 17, 2005

By 

Mike R. "mikee_r" (Bedminster, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Judaism Beyond God (Library of Secular Humanistic Judaism) (Hardcover)

The reviewer who wrote that Humanists can't have it both ways (being Jewish and a Humanist) exposes how unqualified he/she is to give advice to Jews or Humanists when he/she uses the term Godhead in the context of Jewish Theology. As in: How can it be Judaism when one leaves out the Godhead. Ha Ha! Judaism leaving out the Godhead....is Judaism EXACTLY!
Anyway, only we Atheists who feel an affinity or affection toward other Jews while having no interest in Torah or Talmud can understand why a book like this and the movement started by the author could be relevant. Look, maybe it's just conditioning by having been raised a Jew but that's my life and I'm not going to artificially renounce my feelings to please atheists anymore than I'd pretend I believed in the Torah or what have you for Jews I come in contact with.
I think that, ironically, fundamentalist and orthodox religionites and activist Atheists share this either-or proposition. The quicker both groups get over it the happier this planet is gonna be!