Okay, here's something: my wife asked me, "Why would any sane person want to join a persecuted minority?" I might be missing a few words...

So, I've been thinking. I still can't come up with a great answer. Things like "because Jews have a good (religious) path, a sensible culture, have beliefs that don't require I drop all sensibility or common sense, and aren't a cult" resonate, but one could be a Muslim or Catholic and have much of that... So, I must ask myself, "What makes Judaism so important that I would be willing to be persecuted for it, or am I just interested in it while it's not really persecuted?" I live in America, and although I don't live in New York, still, no one goes around making anti-semetic jokes, at least, not in my presense... So, for me, the persecution thing isn't something I worry about too much, although I will admit when I wear a yarmulke I'm pretty constantly aware that I am broadcasting "here I am, shoot me now" (okay, okay, bad joke, mercedes lackey's fans will get it).

So, would I be willing to be jewish even if people were anti-semetic here? Hmmmmm.... I probably would have to do things privately, but in the end, I can't really answer it without actually being there, experiencing it. I also think that after my (hopefully eventual) conversion it wouldn't be a question, the answer would just be "of course".

So, even in this environment, why be jewish? One can do good works without being Jewish (although I don't see other religions, Islam, Catholicism, Wicca, requiring doing good works or having many detailed ways to make it "holy" or elevating it beyond just doing it because it's expected of you). One can eat special diets without being Jewish - Islam has restrictions that are very similar with Judaism here...

For me, I think it's a combination, of a culture that disdains materialism (which I see a being kin to idolatry), specifies many details of ways to do things but still allowing flexibility to "do things your way" while allowing beginners to "just do it" (by following the steps). It doesn't believe it's the "one true way", just a way. When I took the beliefnet quiz on which religion one should be, reform judaism and orthodox judaism were 100% and 98%, respectively. And I think I agree with that. It fits, at least pretty well. I'm still asocial, so it's hard for me to "reach out" to other people.

But just because the religion makes sense doesn't mean that I should join a persecuted people. Maybe I'll get inspiration from a Higher Source (if you're listening up there, could ya send that down soon? thanks!).