ArcaMax

Q: I feel compelled to email since I read your column every Saturday morning and look forward to perusing the advice that you give. I greatly respect, and mostly agree with your opinions and teachings, even though I consider myself to be an atheist … I think.

Here's my problem: I am 30 years old and was raised in the Protestant Christian faith and have always had bad experiences with people who loudly proclaim their love of Christ. I can count on one hand the number of Christian people that I know who truly show, by their actions and words, that they walk in Christ's footsteps.

I realized about 10 years ago that I was disillusioned by my surroundings and tried so hard to remain faithful to the Church but simply could not believe in a religion whose teachings are not reflected by most of its followers and certainly not all of the mysticism and supernatural occurrences that are the foundations of Christianity. There are parts of it that I do agree with and live by: most of the Ten Commandments, doing good deeds, being kind, helping those who are less fortunate or in need, and just overall doing the right thing – being a moral person. It seems that most organized religions have these same codes by which their followers should live.

As far as my belief in a higher power is concerned, I simply don't know. I read all that I can about science, space and archaeology and am fascinated by the progress of our civilization. I live in Louisiana where most of the people I come in contact with are on Team Jesus, have Jesus bumper stickers and go to million-dollar churches. I pass billboards on the way to work that read, "Kids like our church better" and "You can have more fun at church with us.” These things don't make me angry, they just make me sad because it seems like most of these people really want to be Christians, but their actions and words do not reflect that desire.

Many of my co-workers were shocked and even angered when they asked what church I went to and I answered that I don't really believe in God. I am on several prayer lists at different local churches because of this. I think that it's nice of these folks to think of me but I'd rather it be because of my being a good person instead of my disbelief in their faith.

So, what does that make me? Am I really an atheist or am I some kind of agnostic, humanist, existentialist? Or am I just exhausted by the constant "Christian" sensationalism that surrounds me? – (From M)

A: Dear M, You need to meet some other Christians. The Christians who serve the poor in the soup kitchens I visited. They do not proclaim their faith. They act out their faith. Frankly, I have never seen a soup kitchen run by atheists. Also, I don’t see anything wrong with having fun at church. Gospel church services are truly inspiring. What you disdain are often just the signs of a joyous community proclaiming their faith to a broken and joyless world. Gospel means good news. Try letting that joy wash over you before you judge it.

Q: Dear rabbi, I was born out of wedlock to Jewish parents who were very young when they had me. At birth I was adopted by a Catholic family. I was baptized, confirmed and married in the Catholic Church. What am I? – (From D)

A: Dear D, in your case I am assuming that you were not given a Jewish bris (circumcision) before your adoption. You are fully Jewish because your mother was Jewish. The rituals of baptism in the Catholic tradition are different. Baptism is one of the sacraments essential for salvation and you received that sacrament, as well as confirmation and marriage. At each of those moments you affirmed that you were Catholic. If for any reason you decide to become Jewish, you would not have to convert. You are already Jewish but if you are a man you would have to be circumcised. Your question is quite simple. What do you want to be? If you want to continue your life as a Catholic, you need do nothing. If you want to live your life as a Jew you also need to do nothing. So your question is now not “ What am I?” but, “What do I want to be?”

(Send ALL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS to The God Squad via email at godsquadquestion@aol.com. Rabbi Gellman is the author of several books, including “Religion for Dummies,” co-written with Fr. Tom Hartman. Also, the new God Squad podcast is now available.)

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