Question about Religion

Quick question. My DH's mother is Jewish and his father was Protestant. They never practiced any religion all his life. They did celebrate Hanukkah by getting one present (not each night). Now, I know for the Catholic Religion, you have to receive your sacraments. What about for the Jewish religion? He has never stepped foot into a temple or a Protestant church. He has been in a Catholic Church plenty of times (we got marriend in a Catholic Church and had a full Mass). I am just confused over this. Does he consider himself Jewish, even though he has never one practiced the religion? TIA

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i would think that if you got married in a Catholic Church and had a full mass....

did he convert?

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nope, he did not. Many churches dont make you do that anymore. I was suprised...if he had to though, he would have.

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my cousins are a lot like your DH

their dad (my uncle, brother of my dad) was raised Catholic
their mom, jewish..

they weren't raised either way specifically but observed some holidays of both...

I don't think they consider themselves one OR the other...

ETA...but yes i do believe there is a similar process in the Jewish religion leading up the Bat Mitzvah

Message edited 4/8/2006 10:45:14 AM.

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What he considers himself is up to him. I am protestant, but was never baptized because my parents wanted us to make the decision of what religion to follow ourselves. If he wants religion in his life, I would say he should research the differences and see what he feels is most close to what he believes. DH is catholic, but I feel strongly that I do not want my children raised catholic, so we are looking into other religions (for us presbyterian and episcopalian).

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Well, when we got married in the Catholic church, we both promised to raise our children Catholic. I feel that he needs a formal religion in his life, and I think that is would be wonderful if our whole family would be of the same religion.

Also, can someone tell me what the difference between Judaism and Catholism is? Also, in order to be Jewish, do you need to receive anything, such as the catholic Communion and Confirmation?

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ETA...and yes...

Bat/Bar Mitzvahs

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so, if he did not receive a bar mitzvah, then he is not considered Jewish. So that means that he would not have to convert. He would just need to take classes to become Catholic?

Also, does anyone know how you go about doing this?

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As for your DH, did he have a bris when he was born? According to the jewish religion it is passed down through his mother's side so he would technically be jewish unless he converted to another religion. At this point, I would ask him what he wanted to be and proceed from there.

Message edited 4/8/2006 11:01:35 AM.

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According to Jewish law-- your mother's religion is your religion. In terms of "receiving" anything-- there is nothing, besides being Bar Mitzvahed- which is not a requirement to "be Jewish"- it is probably more so for a man though, and less for a woman, since traditionally, women did not get bat mitzvahed, and I do believe that orthodox women/girls do not get bat mitzvahed now. Anyway, it really depends on how reform you are.

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This is in my opinion a big difference:

Judaism does not accept the notion of original sin, the idea that people are bad from birth and cannot remove sin by themselves but need an act of grace provided by the sacrificial death of Jesus as atonement for all of humanity's sins. For Christians, there are no other forms of salvation other than through Jesus.

In contrast, the Jewish view is that humans are not born naturally good or naturally bad. They have both a good and a bad inclination in them, but they have the free moral will to choose the good and this free moral will can be more powerful than the evil inclination. Indeed, Jewish ethics requires the idea that humans decide for themselves how to act. This is so because temptation, and with it the possibility of sin, allows people to choose good and thus have moral merit. The Jewish view is not that humans are helpless in the face of moral error.

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Message edited 4/8/2006 10:55:04 AM.

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Message edited 4/8/2006 10:54:43 AM.

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Thank you to everyone who gave thei opinion. Its just something that has been on my mind alot, and I just wanted to get the facts straight. Thank you!

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In response to your other questions:

Also, can someone tell me what the difference between Judaism and Catholism is?


Jews do not believe that Jesus was the son of g-d. Nor do Jews beleive in the holy trinity. Jews are waiting for the messiah to still come and do not beleive that Jesus died for their sins. There is a lot more than this but basically the bible is only made up of Genisis, Exodus, Levidicus, Numbers and Duderonomy and the Mishnah (or commentary) may also be read; but there are no other books to the bible for Jews. Jews do not beleive in the New Testiment. Also Jews do not beleive you need an intermediary like a priest od the pope to talk to G-d, but that everyone has a direct connection with G-d.


Also, in order to be Jewish, do you need to receive anything, such as the catholic Communion and Confirmation?

To be Jewish a boy has a bris 8 days after he is born to make a covenant with G-D. A girl has a baby naming ceremony. A child of 13 has a bar or bat mitzvah when they are called up to read from the torah and then they are a man or woman in the eyes of the community and before G-d. Jews do not receive communion.


Also -- I meant bris when I asked about circumcision.

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Judiasm and Christianity are connected religions. Jesus was born, lived and died a Jew and followed all traditions of the Jewish faith. Christians are followers of Jesus. Jews have the Torah, which Christians call the Old Testament. Christians not only follow the Old Testament, but, also, the New Testament, which begins with the birth of Jesus. According to tradition, if your mother is Jewish, you are considered to be, also. In Christianity, you are baptized into the faith. Whether you choose to practice or not, is an individual choice. Catholic (which means "universal") is one of many branches of Christianity. Just because you were married in a Catholic Church with a full Mass, doesn't mean that your husband is not Jewish. In order for him to be considered a Christian, he would have to convert (this involves taking classes and being baptized--all churches are different as to what they require). I'm sure you had to promise that you would raise your children as Christians before you were married. In doing so, you will not only be teaching them about Christianity, but, also, about Judaism. I've never been one who believed that it was a good idea to not do anything and let your children decide once they are older. How can you make a decision on something you know nothing about? At least, with some background about some faith, you can make an informed decision. Faith is the greatest gift you can give your child. Toys are broken and gone, money is spent, people come and go, but, faith is constant. I''m sure, when the time comes, you will do what is best for your child. In the meantime, have faith that the answer will come to you.

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Message edited 4/8/2006 11:46:15 AM.

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There are actually a lot of different schools of thought on what makes one Jewish. Some people say if you mom is jewish, you're jewish, period, end of story. Some say if either parent is jewish, you're Jewish, and some say you have to have a bris at least, and possibly a bar/bat mitzvah. So it really runs the gamut.