I thought you might appreciate this “lesson”, on Atheism and Judaism. Of course it carries no weight as “JEWISH thought” more-so than any other position that can be read and debated, it is not right nor wrong in our religion, rather it reflects a view that is important to share.
There is a famous story told in Chassidic literature that addresses this very question. The Master teaches the student that God created everything in the world to be appreciated, since everything is here to teach us a lesson.
One clever student asks “What lesson can we learn from atheists? Why did God create them?”
The Master responds “God created atheists to teach us the most important lesson of them all — the lesson of true compassion. You see, when an atheist performs and act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone in need, and cares for the world, he is not doing so because of some religious teaching. He does not believe that god commanded him to perform this act. In fact, he does not believe in God at all, so his acts are based on an inner sense of morality. And look at the kindness he can bestow upon others simply because he feels it to be right.”
“This means,” the Master continued “that when someone reaches out to you for help, you should never say ‘I pray that God will help you.’ Instead for the moment, you should become an atheist, imagine that there is no God who can help, and say ‘I will help you.’”
ETA source: Tales of Hasidim Vol. 2 by Martin Buber
Yes one can be an atheist and a Jew, although I am not. But from friends and readings on the subject it seems often that Judaism is more accepting of atheists than are other religions. Shrug.
I am not Chassid… I am your typical Liberal conservative Jewish fellow.
But if you’re not familiar with the Chassidic view of life, (they are of course orthodox) one paragraph sums it up, and shows why the above quote makes “sense” from their perspective:
Thus the chassid is full of life, joy and passion.
When you do something because you must, you do it because you must. But when you do something from the inside, you do it joyously. Your excitement fills the room and infects everyone within a five-mile radius. The very deed glows with life.
All I can say is that the above is of interest to me and I thought I would share it.