What do Jews believe happens to Non-Jews when they die? (Christians, beliefs)
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Do you believe we are all equal and children of God? Jews and non-Jews?
Is it a mystery to you, or does your religion actually give you any thoughts on non-Jews at all?
In trying to understanding another's religion, sometimes, it's good to start with how they view/understand someone who isn't a part of THEIR religion.
In Christianity, there are a lot of different views of non-Christians and also what happens to them when they die depending on who you ask. Just curious if it will be the same in Judaism... (different answers depending on who you ask OR if there is a very solid, clear-cut answer that is basically agreed upon by most/all Jews.)
Do you believe we are all equal and children of God? Jews and non-Jews?
Is it a mystery to you, or does your religion actually give you any thoughts on non-Jews at all?
In trying to understanding another's religion, sometimes, it's good to start with how they view/understand someone who isn't a part of THEIR religion.
In Christianity, there are a lot of different views of non-Christians and also what happens to them when they die depending on who you ask. Just curious if it will be the same in Judaism... (different answers depending on who you ask OR if there is a very solid, clear-cut answer that is basically agreed upon by most/all Jews.)
Thanks for any views anyone wants to share.
peace,
sparrow
Judaism recognizes that everyone has access to G-d and the world to come regardless of their religion. For this reason Jews do not proselytize. Jews do not seek converts. Conversion is actually discouraged. One of the reasons is because a person does not need to be a Jew to connect to God.
yes, we are all children of G-d, all of humanity.
non-Jews have fewer "laws to follow" only 7 (the Noahide laws).
Jews on the other hand have to follow 613. so y'all have it way easier.
"The Noahide Laws are seven laws considered by rabbinic tradition as the minimal moral duties required by all. While Jews are obligated to observe the whole Torah - 613 commandments, every non-Jew is considered a "son of the covenant of Noah" and he who accepts these obligations (the seven Noahide laws) is considered a righteous person who is guaranteed a place in the world to come."
also in Judaism there is no "hell" there is not "eternal punishment." at all. for anyone.
"The Almighty's justice is not served by punishing someone forever. Justice means the punishment fits the crime. Since we are finite and our sins are finite, then our punishment or atonement must be finite. To take it one step further, the very connection with wrongdoing is an act of connecting to that which is temporary, physical, devoid of Godliness. On the other hand, when you do a mitzvah, you become one with God who is eternal. Evil and bad by definition do not exist forever; therefore the atonement period for wrongdoing is a fixed period of time.
"This temporary place of atonement is called Gehenom, and lasts for 11 or 12 months after someone passes away. Also, the suffering is not fire and brimstone, but rather something more like the embarrassment of standing before God, aware of your transgressions. What could be more painful than that? This embarrassment wipes away the barrier you created between you and God when you committed the transgression, and therefore is a great benefit. The atonement process is not so much a punishment as it is a spiritual washing machine to rid you of any blemishes you may have on your soul before you enter into oneness with God."
Jews believe everyone has access to G-d and the world to come regardless of their religion. For this reason Jews do not proselytize. Jews do not seek converts. Conversion is actually discouraged. One of the reasons is because a person does not need to be Jew to connect to God.
yes, we are all children of G-d, all of humanity.
non-Jews have fewer "laws to follow" only 7 (the Noahide laws).
Jews on the other hand have to follow 613. so y'all have it way easier.
"The Noahide Laws are seven laws considered by rabbinic tradition as the minimal moral duties required by all. While Jews are obligated to observe the whole Torah - 613 commandments, every non-Jew is considered a "son of the covenant of Noah" and he who accepts these obligations (the seven Noahide laws) is considered a righteous person who is guaranteed a place in the world to come."
also in Judaism there is no "hell" there is not "eternal punishment." at all. for anyone.
Thank you for answering, I appreciate it.
What I put in blue above, those are my beliefs as well, so that's good to know.
When you say "guaranteed a place in the world to come".. what exactly would that look like, do you think, in as far as... how can I word this..... are you still "Jews" and "non-Jews" in the world to come, or do all people become brothers and sisters (equal to each other) in the world to come? Is there some sort of special status (or something similar, not sure how to word that either) that Jews would enjoy that others would not? This is one thing I'm curious about in other religions.
My sole reason for asking these questions is just to gain understanding of others. (Not a debate or anything like that.)
the focus for Jews is doing good in this world, during our lifetime here, not on what happens in the afterlife.
We are asked to leave the afterlife in God's hands. we trust that God is good, and so too is the afterlife.
Last edited by Tzaphkiel; 10-21-2021 at 09:53 PM..
the focus for Jews is doing good in this world, during our lifetime here, not on what happens in the afterlife.
We are asked to leave afterlife in God's hands.
yes, not all non Jews and even not all Jews condemn homosexuality and eating live animal. These are not thought to be against God as much as against ancient tradition.
yes, not all non Jews and even not all Jews condemn homosexuality and eating live animal. These are not thought to be against God as much as against ancient tradition.
I know of one Reform Judaism congregation in New Jersey that has a gay female rabbi. (I also personally know this rabbi.) I currently belong to a Conservative congregation, and many Jewish congregations do not condemn homosexuality as a "sin" because one chooses to sin. If we accept that there are people who are born homosexual and that homosexuality is not a choice, then neither can it be a sin.
As for eating a live animal... I don't know of any Jew who is observant on any level who would condone such cruelty.
also in Judaism there is no "hell" there is not "eternal punishment." at all. for anyone.
"The Almighty's justice is not served by punishing someone forever. Justice means the punishment fits the crime. Since we are finite and our sins are finite, then our punishment or atonement must be finite. To take it one step further, the very connection with wrongdoing is an act of connecting to that which is temporary, physical, devoid of Godliness. On the other hand, when you do a mitzvah, you become one with God who is eternal. Evil and bad by definition do not exist forever; therefore the atonement period for wrongdoing is a fixed period of time.
"This temporary place of atonement is called Gehenom, and lasts for 11 or 12 months after someone passes away. Also, the suffering is not fire and brimstone, but rather something more like the embarrassment of standing before God, aware of your transgressions. What could be more painful than that? This embarrassment wipes away the barrier you created between you and God when you committed the transgression, and therefore is a great benefit. The atonement process is not so much a punishment as it is a spiritual washing machine to rid you of any blemishes you may have on your soul before you enter into oneness with God."
I know of one Reform Judaism congregation in New Jersey that has a gay female rabbi. (I also personally know this rabbi.) I currently belong to a Conservative congregation, and many Jewish congregations do not condemn homosexuality as a "sin" because one chooses to sin. If we accept that there are people who are born homosexual and that homosexuality is not a choice, then neither can it be a sin.
As for eating a live animal... I don't know of any Jew who is observant on any level who would condone such cruelty.
Sadly, there are human beings who do condone that kind of barbarity. Some people believe that cutting pieces of flesh off a live animal provides some kind of delicacy for their palates. The inhumanity of human beings is beyond my comprehension.
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.. are you still "Jews" and "non-Jews" in the world to come, or do all people become brothers and sisters (equal to each other) in the world to come? Is there some sort of special status (or something similar, not sure how to word that either) that Jews would enjoy that others would not? This is one thing I'm curious about in other religions. 
