For many scholars, the Jewish religion is shaped by the model of living as a minority group striving to preserve its authenticity and protect against assimilation. Many studies support this assertion and frame questions in terms of Jewish religious behavior including fasting on Yom Kippur, attending synagogue, and lighting candles ( Lewis, 2007 ). The perception of the Jewish religion has changed, especially in the past three decades, with many people who claim to be Jewish failing to conform to the inherited model of Judaism, which is the Jewish religion. This paper discusses how Judaism has been presented in the 21st Century in order to determine whether this presentation is fair and accurate.
The current depiction of Judaism is that of a pluralist society in which the main determinant of religious identity is individual choice ( Lewis, 2007 ). Thus, Judaism, lie most of the other religions in the world today, has been subject to the increasing inclination towards personal choice rather than culture as a primary factor of religious behavior.
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Also, Judaism as a religion has become quite fluid and associated with personally important life settings. Identifying oneself as a Judaist does not necessarily explain the manner in which one expresses that identity ( Lewis, 2007 ). For instance, many converted Judaists hold that it is essentially the decision of self-identifying that makes them Judaists, even though sometimes it is not entirely clear how such an identity is experienced or expressed.
This presentation of contemporary Judaism is accurate but unfair. The reality is that many religions, including Judaism are changing from the way they were a century ago. Originally, Judaism was associated entirely with the Jews. However, this has changed and many Americans and Europeans are converting to Judaism ( Lewis, 2007 ). As a result, the religion has been influenced by new entrants. While many traditional Judaists practice the religion in its entirety, many converted Judaists only practice it in some of the important life contexts. This presentation of contemporary is unfair because it is a pollution of a religion that has a long history and which should be preserved.
Reference
Lewis, R. D. (2007). The cultural imperative: Global trends in the 21st century . Warn ford, Hampshire S032 3LH.
