The double life of Hasidic atheists - http://aeon.co/magazin...
Feb 11, 2015
from
Ken Morley,
Eivind,
Andrew C (see frenf.it),
Micah,
John (bird whisperer),
Anika,
Back to just Joe,
Iván Abrego,
Jenny H.,
Starmama,
bentley,
and
Jennifer Dittrich
liked this
"Solomon is one of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of men and women whose encounters with evolution, science, new atheism and biblical criticism have led them to the conclusion that there is no God, and yet whose social, economic and familial connections to the ultra-Orthodox and Hasidic communities prevent them from giving up the rituals of faith. Those I spoke to could not bring themselves to upend their families and their children’s lives. With too much integrity to believe, they also have too much to leave behind, and so they remain closeted atheists within ultra-Orthodox communities."
- Mark H
"They call themselves ‘Orthoprax’ – those of correct practice – to distinguish themselves from the Orthodox – those of correct belief. Every time I met one, they would introduce me to a few of their friends, though many refused to speak for fear of being discovered. There are far fewer women in this situation than men, and the women were even harder to draw out. They risk losing their children, especially in New York State, where custody is often given to the more religious parent."
- Mark H
*head explodes*
- Spidra Webster
I wonder if there are really that many fewer women, or if that's an assumption fueled by how much more reticent they are to disclose their situation.
- Jennifer Dittrich
Must be torture to keep conforming to all that bullshit when you've stopped believing you have to or risk the wrath of the mean fucker whose name is Jealous.
- Eivind